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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 445

music, director of church ministries, and director of Christian 
outreach (LSB Agenda, 210, 218); and 
WHEREAS, In the last several years, approximately twice as many 
pastors of the Synod have been exiting the pastoral office due to 
retirement or death compared to newly called and ordained pastors; 
and 
W
HEREAS, In April 2024, there were 51 unfilled calls of 
congregations requesting a seminary candidate, 406 congregations 
calling a sole pastor, 56 congregations calling a senior pastor, 67 
congregations calling an associate pastor, and 529 congregations 
vacant congregations not calling for various reasons; and 
W
HEREAS, In 2023, there were requests from schools of the 
Synod to our Concordia universities for 455 new teachers, but there 
were only 84 graduates, and there were requests for 79 other 
commissioned workers, but only 64 graduates from Concordia 
universities; and 
W
HEREAS, Set Apart to Serve was established by the 2019 Synod 
convention with the overarching goal of developing a culture of 
church work formation and recruitment in every congregation, 
school, and entity of the Synod; and 
WHEREAS, Set Apart to Serve  is in full partnership and 
collaboration in this church work initiative with our two seminaries 
(including Christ Academy and Vocatio ), all Concordia 
universities, all 35 districts, Concordia Publishing House (CPH), 
Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF), LCMS Youth Ministry, 
LCMS School Ministry, Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral 
Ministry, Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry, LCMS 
Church Worker Wellness, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary 
League, Higher Things, the Lutheran Educator’s Association, the 
National Association of Directors of Christian Education, the Black 
Clergy Caucus, the Hispanic Missionary League, Chinese 
Lutherans in Mission Building, Concordia Plan Services, the LCMS 
Foundation, and more; and 
W
HEREAS, Through comprehensive research, Set Apart to Serve 
has identified pastors, Lutheran school teachers, DCEs, all other 
commissioned workers, parents, and laity as the primary influential 
adults who form, recruit, and encourage youth, from early 
childhood through grade 12, to consider full-time church work; and 
W
HEREAS, Set Apart to Serve , especially through partnerships 
with pilot congregations representing all 35 districts, has developed 
many high-quality resources for pastors, commissioned church 
workers, laity, and districts as they form, recruit, and encourage our 
youth to consider full-time church work, and these resources are 
available at resources.lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve; and 
W
HEREAS, The most essential experiences that have an impact 
on and influence youth to consider church work include regular 
attendance in the Divine Service to receive Christ’s Word and 
Sacraments (“faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the 
word of Christ, ” Rom. 10:17), authentic relationships with 
influential adults, opportunities for age -appropriate service in the 
church, participating in like -minded communities (e.g., youth 
group, LCMS Youth Gathering, Higher Things, Christ Academy at 
Concordia Theological Seminary, Vocatio at Concordia Seminary, 
LCMS camps), and engaging in conversations about godly 
vocations and church work vocations; and 
W
HEREAS, Set Apart to Serve, in partnership with CPH and with 
support from LCEF and the Concordia universities, has made 
available, at no cost to schools and congregations of the Synod, a 
church work formation and recruitment curriculum for early 
childhood through adult; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Mid -South District establish a Set Apart to 
Serve church work recruitment committee (e.g. working group, task 
force) to lead and assist congregations, schools, and church workers 
in their efforts of church work formation and recruitment; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That all congregations be encouraged to establish a Set 
Apart to Serve committee (e.g. working group, task force) to form, 
recruit, and encourage their youth (from early childhood to grade 
12) and adults to consider a full-time church work vocation; and be 
it further 
Resolved, That all pastors, Lutheran teachers, commissioned 
church workers, and laity intentionally form, recruit, and encourage 
youth to consider a full-time church work vocation; and be it further 
Resolved, That congregations, schools, and entities of the Synod 
make use of the many tested, high -quality Set Apart to Serve  
resources available at lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve and the CPH Set 
Apart to Serve  curriculum available at cph.org/set -apart-to-serve-
school-resource-kit; and be it further 
Resolved, That district and congregation leaders and committees 
enhance their financial support of individuals who are enrolled in 
church work programs at our Concordia universities and 
seminaries; and be it finally 
Resolved, That district and congregation leaders intentionally 
address the compensation and overall wellness, love, and 
appreciation of all ordained and commissioned church workers in 
district congregations, schools, and entities. 
Mid-South District 
Ov. 6-77 
To Encourage Recruitment  
of Commissioned Workers 
WHEREAS, Jesus tells us, “The harvest is plentiful, but the 
laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest 
to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2); and 
W
HEREAS, The Synod has established the Set Apart to Serve  
initiative which “encourages youth and adults t o consider church 
work vocations primarily through their continued, faithful 
involvement within their congregation” 
(files.lcms.org/api/file/preview/sas-faqs-general); and 
WHEREAS, Lutheran education has been a substantial part of the 
Synod since its foundation; and 
WHEREAS, It is increasingly difficult to find qualified Lutheran 
teachers and commissioned ministers to serve in our Lutheran 
schools and churches; therefore be it 
Resolved, T hat t he pastors, commissioned workers, and 
congregations of the Texas District identify and encourage children, 
students, and adults to enter these much- needed vocations; and be 
it further 
Resolved, T hat t he pastors, commissioned workers, and 
congregations of the Texas District support commissioned workers 
through prayer, scholarships, other financial gifts, and mentorship 
to attend one of the universities of the Synod to be trained as a 
commissioned minister; and be it finally 
Resolved, T hat t he Texas District memorializes the Synod in 
convention to encourage congregations to do the same. 
Texas District 
2026 Convention Workbook
410 PAST ORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES