Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 109

2026 Convention Workbook
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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
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congregations they will serve to steer them toward the fuller initial preparation of the residential 
M.Div. program. 
 
The Synod must wrestle with a simple but vital question: “How do we train men to serve as 
pastors according to God’s institution of the office for the sake of His church?” Since AC IV, 
“Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or 
works. People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are 
received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made 
satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight (Romans 3 and 4 
[3:21–26; 4:5])”
14 forms the material principle of our confession, AC V confesses a vital truth 
for our Synod: “So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and 
administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through 
instruments, the Holy Spirit is given [John 20:22]. He works faith, when and where it pleases 
God [John 3:8], in those who hear the good news.” The Office is given to the church for 
delivering the Gospel through the Means of Grace by “a worker who has no need to be ashamed, 
rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). 
 
Many desire that pastors should be better trained in business and relational acumen. Yet 
leadership and business skills, as valuable as they might be, are not essential characteristics or 
roles of the office. (Indeed, just as the members of a body do not and cannot do the same thing, 
the many members of the Body of Christ should and do make up for what is missing in any one 
member [Rom. 12:4–8]). These strengths are noted with the consistent observation of 
accompanying biblical and theological deficiencies compared to residentially formed pastors. 
Yet the office is given precisely for the Word and Sacraments. The church does not desire for her 
pastors to be under-formed or less formed in reading and interpreting God’s Word, in preaching 
and teaching the full counsel of God as taught in the Scriptures and confessed in the Book of 
Concord, in administering the Sacraments according to our Lord’s own institution and will. 
Scripture and theology cannot be replaced with emotional intelligence or cultural understanding 
as the main qualification for the clergy of the LCMS.  
 
Jesus gave His church the gift of the pastoral office (Eph. 4:11) to make disciples of all nations 
through Word and Sacrament (Matt. 28:19), to forgive sins (Matt. 16:19; John 20:23), to preach 
His Gospel (2 Cor. 5:20), and to administer His Sacraments (1 Cor. 4:1). This ministry takes 
place in the midst of God’s people and within various cultural manifestations. God’s Word alone 
instructs the church on what is essential for the Office to be the Office as our Lord desires and 
gave it to the church. Each man called into a concrete situation must learn how to preach and 
teach God’s Word to the people in that setting. This will always require growth in understanding 
the unique challenges and joys of that community. Yet the essence of the call is not visionary 
leadership or community understanding, not budget administration or congregational 
organization. The essence of the call remains the Word of God and the primary duty of the 
Office is the preaching of the Word and administration of the Sacraments. And the church must 
seek men who are well-trained in that Word, those who can stand against the devil’s schemes 
(Eph. 6:10–17) and proclaim Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 1:23). In so doing the pastor will 
provide salvation for all who hear (1 Tim. 4:16). Relationships, friendliness, leadership, 
 
14 All references to the Lutheran Confessions are from Paul T. McCain et al., eds, Concordia: The Lutheran 
Confessions, 2nd ed. (St Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2005).  
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organization, cultural awareness or whatever other human qualifications and abilities may be 
found in or desired in a man called to the Office must all exist in service to the ministry of Word 
and Sacraments. When human qualities become the primary qualification or even desired 
characteristics of one in the Office, the church places herself in danger of losing not just the 
Office, but the very Word of the Gospel itself.  
 
Many describe our current culture as post-Christian or post-Constantinian, as one dominated by 
normal nihilism or characterized by “nones.” Into such a setting, God continues to call men as 
His undershepherds to care for His flock (John 21:15–17), which He purchased with His own 
blood (Acts 20:28). The care His lambs need the most is that which comes through and from 
God’s Word (Rom. 10:17), the only source of eternal life (John 6:68). Those called to be pastors 
must be fully trained (as much as possible) in this Word of God. Pastors must know deeply the 
confessions of the church and the history of that confession. Let us not listen to the itching ears 
of this world, seeking pastors who are earthly leaders who employ earthly strategies to “grow” 
the church. Let us trust our Lord’s own will and direction, that His church will continue in the 
steadfast confession that He is Lord, which comes through His Word (Rom. 10:9–17). Let us 
never tire in our meditating on that Word (Psalm 1) and thus rejoicing in God’s gracious 
justification through faith in Christ alone (Rom. 3:24–25).  
 
Pastoral training must focus on instruction in the Word, trusting that the Word of Christ is the 
only means through which God’s people receive salvation, deliverance from death and the power 
of the devil. God gave His Word to us in Hebrew and Greek. Those called to proclaim that Word 
must be equipped to read and interpret His Word fully and with complete confidence, confessing 
the Lutheran Confessions with boldness. Where this theological knowledge and ability is 
lacking, the Synod must seek to better equip and train, for faith in God’s own promises in the 
efficacy of His Word (Isaiah 55:10–11) thus compels us (2 Cor. 5:14–15). 
 
The organizational and functional needs of congregations cannot be fully taught in the seminary, 
but are learned in part during vicarage and in fieldwork. These skills are often learned more fully 
through experience in each unique setting. Pastors in the field should be encouraged to pursue 
learning in various fields to best serve their congregation. Pastors may acquire such skills and 
knowledge through official continuing education through the universities of the Concordia 
University System working with the seminaries, or by learning from laypeople who are experts 
in leadership, budgeting and other organizational elements. Such continuing education must be 
available to all pastors regardless of their route to ordination.  
 
Growth in understanding the Word of God will continue until Christ returns, as Paul encourages 
the church to “Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly” (Col. 3:16). Therefore, the LCMS 
provides continuing education opportunities for her clergy, where they can gather to study God’s 
Word and address today’s concerns in accord with the confession of the church based on the 
Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord has described the blessed life as one marked by day 
and night mediation upon His Word (Psalm 1).  
 
Our Lord bid His disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest for workers (Matt. 9:38). He promised 
that the harvest is plentiful (Matt. 9:37). And so we pray, and we trust. We pray that the Lord 
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continue to give His church faithful shepherds, and we trust that His Word will continue to 
accomplish exactly what He intends and desires (Isaiah 55:10–11; John 8:31–32).