Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 76

2026 Convention Workbook
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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
liefs. These areas of study have been specified in the LCMS Bylaws 
or the CCCM policy manual since 1960. In addition to these six 
core courses, each of the seven colloquy programs also requires 
other coursework that is necessary for that particular type of com-
missioned ministry. 
CUEnet is authorized to offer the six core courses online to col-
loquy students in any of the seven colloquy programs. As far as the 
remaining “program-specific” courses, CUEnet offers those only 
for teacher colloquy.
2 Colloquy students in the other six commis-
sioned colloquy programs must take their program-specific course-
work through one of the CUS colleges or universities.
CCCM Composition
The general composition of the CCCM is stipulated in Bylaw 
3.10.3.1. Specific members are listed in the Convention Workbook’s 
Directory—Officers, Boards, and Commissions of the Synod. This 
triennium, Concordia University, Nebraska, President Dr. Bernard 
Bull replaced Dr. John Nunes, who resigned in early 2021, and 
Concordia University, Irvine, Professor Dr. Cari Chittick was add-
ed as a third CUS university faculty member because of a 2023 
change to Bylaw 3.10.3.1.
Work Performed
The CCCM met 13 times since the writing of its last convention 
report—10 times via internet conference, and the three most recent 
in person. Going forward, the committee plans to meet in person at 
least half of the time. In 2025, the CCCM began using BoardEffect 
for its meeting dockets.
Most of our meeting time has consisted of discussion and de-
cisions on policy revisions, though requests for policy exceptions 
(or clarifications) have also consumed a fair amount of time. These 
requests for exceptions and clarifications have resulted in continu -
ing conversation on recent policy changes with an eye toward a 
relatively minor update in the next triennium.
Policy Update
After almost five years of work, the CCCM adopted a signifi-
cantly revised policy manual on Sept. 30, 2024. Significant features 
of this revision include
•	 replacing the former pre-requisite for teacher colloquy: “past 
or present state certification, or an advanced degree in the 
field of education from a regionally accredited institution” 
with the following new language: “past completion of an 
education program from an accredited institution OR three 
years of experience in the field of education;”
•	 removing, for the six non-teacher colloquy programs, the 
prerequisite that one had to be “trained to do the work of 
[that specific type of ministry, e.g., DCE] through an accred-
ited institution that offers an equivalent degree” and replac -
ing it with the prerequisite of “three years of experience in 
the field of [that specific type of ministry]” as one way of 
giving “evidence of being a competent worker in the field of 
[that specific type of ministry],” per Bylaw 3.10.3 (b);
•	 clarifying the length of LCMS membership required for col-
loquy, namely one year prior to application and two years 
prior to final interview and certification;
•	 requiring applicants and colloquy directors to forward appli-
cations to LCMS district offices at the beginning of colloquy 
coursework;
Statistics
During the three years prior to this report, 295 colloquy applica-
tions were forwarded to the Office of First Vice-President (OFVP) 
by the Concordia University Education Network (CUEnet) and the 
CUS colloquy directors. Two hundred seventy-two of these were 
for teacher colloquy. Teacher colloquy applications increased 67 
percent during the third year of the triennium  compared with the 
second year, with a similar percentage increase in comparison with 
the first year of the triennium. As far as the human component of 
this great blessing, this can likely be attributed to Set Apart to Serve 
efforts, the policy and application overhaul, and great work on the 
part of CUEnet and the CUS colloquy directors.
Table 1: Commissioned Colloquy Applications Received 
February 2023–January 2026
Colloquy Partners
Though the CCCM “directs” the Synod’s activity in matters of 
colloquy (Bylaw 3.10.3.2), it cannot carry out the Synod’s commis-
sioned colloquy programs by itself. Rather, the Synod’s colleges 
and universities, assisted by the CUS, are key partners in adminis -
tering commissioned colloquy programs on behalf of the Synod as 
part of their bylaw responsibility for the “preparation of commis -
sioned ministers for service in the Synod” (Bylaw 3.6.6). In doing 
so, the Synod’s colleges and universities, as well as the CCCM, rely 
on the valuable assistance of CUEnet.
CUEnet was founded in 1996 as a service organization of the 
CUS. In 2001, CUEnet began offering the Concordia Online Teach-
er Colloquy Program. The relationship between CUEnet, the col-
leges and universities of the Synod, the CCCM, and commissioned 
colloquy is explained further at lcms.org/colloquy-ministers-of- 
religion-commissioned#cuenet. 
As of this writing, the full cost before scholarships for teacher 
colloquy through CUEnet is $8,014, which includes the following:
•	 $7,792 – tuition for eight courses ($974 per course)
•	 $172 – Concordia Electronic Theological Library
•	 $50 – endorsement processing
It is important to note, however, that tuition assistance is avail -
able through a generous grant that CUEnet has received for the last 
several years—a gift that CUEnet anticipates will continue. Cur -
rently, the tuition grant for students is just over 40 percent of tuition 
costs. In addition, most students also receive financial assistance 
from their congregation, school, and district.
A more detailed report from and about CUEnet can be found in 
the CUS report (Report R14).
Program of Study
Common to all seven commissioned colloquy programs are six 
core courses—Old Testament, New Testament, History of Theolo-
gy, Lutheran Confessions, Christian Doctrine, and Varieties of Be-