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2026 Convention Workbook 42

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

“lowering the bar” too much, especially with regard to colloquy admission requirements;

• Understanding what the phrase “currently serving in ministry roles” means (Bylaw 3.10.3), as well as the term “ministry” in the phrase “complete dedication to the ministry” (Bylaw 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 question 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 convention;

• The amount of time that sometimes elapses between submission 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 ministry (DFLM) colloquy due to recent changes at CUWAA.

4 Future Priorities CCPM priorities for the coming triennium include the following:

• Continuing to clarify questions that have arisen from the recent 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 process;

• 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 committees for colloquy to strive for greater consistency in those assessments; and • Considering a convention overture for the 2029 Synod convention 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 ministry 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 requirement; and • adding a policy section to “facilitate the examination, remediation, 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.

3 Application Update In addition to revising the policy manual, the CCCM also significantly revised the application and application process. Most significant was consolidating to a single colloquy application designed 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-President 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, webinar, 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 assistant 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 commissioned minister programs at our CUS schools or without