Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 77

2026 Convention Workbook
42 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
“lowering the bar” too much, especially with regard to collo-
quy admission requirements;
•	 Understanding what the phrase “currently serving in minis-
try roles” means (Bylaw 3.10.3), as well as the term “minis-
try” in the phrase “complete dedication to the ministry” (By-
law 2.8.1 [b]) (This question is important for understanding 
whether Lutheran school administrators, other than princi -
pals, should be eligible for teacher colloquy; the same ques-
tion applies to counselors at Lutheran schools.);
•	 Interpreting and applying the new policy that “three years 
of experience in the field of [teacher, DCE, etc.] ministry” is 
one way of fulfilling the bylaw requirement of giving “evi -
dence of being a competent worker in the field of [teacher, 
DCE, etc.] ministry” (Bylaw 3.10.3 [b] and CCCM Policies 
X.1.1.5.2) (For example, is three years of helping out with a 
congregation’s youth ministry for several hours per month 
“three years of experience in DCE ministry”?);
•	 The fact that several important colloquy prerequisites and 
requirements, that were formerly in the Synod Bylaws, were 
reassigned to the policy manual by the 2010 Synod conven-
tion;
•	 The amount of time that sometimes elapses between sub-
mission of application and the OFVP’s ability to publish the 
applicant’s name in the Reporter; and
•	 The temporary inability to offer director of family life min-
istry (DFLM) colloquy due to recent changes at CUWAA.
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Future Priorities
CCPM priorities for the coming triennium include the following:
•	 Continuing to clarify questions that have arisen from the re-
cent policy revision, especially the “three years in the field 
of [one of the seven types of commissioned] ministry,” as 
explained above;
•	 Continuing to improve the application and application pro-
cess;
•	 Seeking to define or understand better the word “ministry” as 
it is used in Bylaws 3.10.3 and 2.8.1 (b);
•	 Developing “academic and theological standards for each 
of the colloquy programs” as directed in Bylaw 3.10.3.2 
(b), yet in concert with the commissioned ministry program 
standards that are currently being developed by the CUS per 
Bylaw 3.6.6.4 (c);
•	 Working with the CUS university faculty examining com-
mittees for colloquy to strive for greater consistency in those 
assessments; and
•	 Considering a convention overture for the 2029 Synod con-
vention to move some things back from policy to bylaw that 
were removed from the bylaws in 2010.
Conclusion
The committee is honored to serve the Synod in this important 
work. We are thankful for the improvements that have been made, 
the tremendous increase in colloquy applications that we have seen, 
and the great working relationships with others throughout the 
commissioned colloquy system. And we pray that, through the min-
istry of the commissioned ministers who are rostered through the 
colloquy process, the people of God in the congregations, schools, 
•	 adding a (recent) background check as an admission require-
ment; and
•	 adding a policy section to “facilitate the examination, reme-
diation, and qualification for first call of suitable candidates 
from disaffirmed or discontinued programs applying under 
Bylaw 2.8.4.1,” per Bylaw 3.10.3.3. This new bylaw and 
policy directive were required by 2023 Resolution 7-04B as 
a result of the situations with Concordia University Texas 
and the CUS colleges and universities that have closed in 
recent years.
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Application Update
In addition to revising the policy manual, the CCCM also sig-
nificantly revised the application and application process. Most 
significant was consolidating to a single colloquy application de-
signed to be used by all CUS schools and CUEnet for any of the 
seven commissioned colloquy programs. Previously, CUEnet and 
at least several CUS universities had their own applications, and 
there were no applications that were specifically designed for use 
with non-teacher colloquy programs. Second, the new application 
is now a fillable PDF.
Other Work
In addition to the major policy and application revision, the 
CCCM, primarily through its chairman, the LCMS First Vice-Pres-
ident and his office, also accomplished the following:
•	 Revamped the commissioned colloquy website;
•	 Conducted annual Zoom meetings with the Conference for 
[LCMS District] Education Executives (CONFEDEX);
•	 Conducted annual Zoom meetings with the CUS colloquy 
directors; and
•	 Collaborated with the LCMS Office of Pastoral Education 
and Standing Partnership on a Set Apart to Serve initiative 
for second career teachers. See the Oct. 15, 2025, webi-
nar, available at lcms.org/colloquy-ministers-of-religion- 
commissioned, at which a colloquy mapping PowerPoint 
was unveiled and discussed.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities
The major strengths of the CCCM are
•	 a very capable and dedicated committee;
•	 an excellent working relationship with CUEnet and the CUS 
colloquy directors; and
•	 a very capable and efficient executive administrative assis-
tant in the OFVP.
Possible weaknesses are
•	 limits on meeting time due to the other primary duties of 
committee members; and
•	 limits on work that can be undertaken due to the other duties 
of the LCMS First Vice-President, who chairs the CCCM.
A definite opportunity exists to educate, vet, and roster many 
more teachers and other commissioned workers through colloquy.
Challenges
Challenges that the CCCM has identified include the following:
•	 Carrying out its work without unduly undermining the com-
missioned minister programs at our CUS schools or without