Official Workbook PDF page source text

2026 Convention Workbook 81

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

17 2. If the SMP-supervising pastor serves more than one SMP vicar/pastor, he will receive $_____ for each additional student. The pastor-supervisor will not be reimbursed by the district or the seminary for any expenses.

3. The SMP-supervising pastor’s status for tax purposes will be that of a self-employed person rather than that of an employee, since the seminary does not have the authority to control the methods or means by which any pastor- supervisor conducts his services.

Terms of Service

Ordinarily, the SMP-supervising pastor will serve until the SMP vicar/pastor completes the program.

Following completion of the program, the president of the district in which the specific ministry pastor is serving will designate a pastor who is not a specific ministry pastor to provide ongoing supervision for the Specific Ministry vicar/pastor. The district president will be responsible for all matters concerning the membership status and limitations of the SMP (2023 LCMS Bylaw 2.13.1).

________________________________ ________________ SMP-Supervising Pastor Date

________________________________ ________________ District President Date

________________________________ ________________

Seminary SMP Director Date

________________________________ ________________ SMP Vicar/Pastor Date

18 Partnership Covenant for Participation in the Specific Ministry Pastor Program Participation in the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program requires a relationship of trust among those involved in this unique opportunity to prepare LCMS pastors for the holy ministry . A candidate for the SMP program does not initiate the admission process himself, but rather is nominated and supported by those who represent and are responsible for the specific ministry context into which the candidate will be placed. This document articulates the covenant of trust and responsibility that exists among the seminary, the district, the sponsoring entity, the SMP -supervising pastor, and the SMP vicar/pastor.

The seminary promises its support to the SMP vicar/pastor by

• Providing theological education through its program of studies;

• Providing orientation, support, and encouragement for the SMP-supervising pastor;

• Intentionally including SMP vicars/pastors in the corporate life of the seminary student body through prayer, encouragement, and student services; and • Working, with local and district supervision, to provide evaluation leading to certification as a Specific Ministry Pastor.

The district of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, through its district president, promises

• To provide overall supervision of the progress of the candidate, including doctrinal supervision, and to endeavor to support the candidate in every way possible ;

• To ensure that once the SMP candidate is ordained as a Specific Ministry Pastor, the district will monitor his continued progress in the program, and should a student refuse to complete the study program for SMP certification, will remove that student from the roster of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod;

• To ensure that once the Specific Ministry Pastor has completed his study program, he will work in a situation which will provide supervision by an LCMS M.Div. pastor (non-SMP)

(Period C); and • To be responsible to ensure that tuitions and fees are remitted to the seminary in a timely manner.

The sponsoring entity (a calling agency of synod) promises

• To pray for the candidate and support him, his family, and his ministry spiritually and emotionally as coworkers in God's Kingdom ;

• To develop and support a financial plan in which the costs of education and the support of the student are met in a realistic way;

• To utilize the SMP vicar/pastor only as prescribed by the LCMS Constitution and Bylaw s;

Policy Requirements for the SMP Program; A Comprehensive, Uniform, Synodwide Specific Ministry Supervision Plan; and Seminary SMP Handbook ; and • To require that the SMP vicar/pastor complete the study program as administered by the seminary; and To encourage and support him in subsequent continuing education and reception of ongoing supervision.

The SMP-supervising pastor promises to fulfill all responsibilities outlined in the document “SMP- 19 Supervising Pastor: Position Description. ”

The SMP vicar/pastor promises

• To apply himself diligently to his study program;

• To conduct himself in a way that is worthy of the office of the holy ministry of Christ's church;

• To respect those in authority over him in his ministry, particularly his SMP-supervising pastor;

• To complete the SMP program in the specific ministry context into which he was called and ordained;

• To agree that refusal to complete the SMP study program following call and ordination will result in his removal from the roster of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod;

• To take ultimate responsibility for the financial obligations of the program; and • To acknowledge and agree to serve gladly within the restrictions of SMP rostering, including participation in and reception of ongoing supervision throughout his career as an SMP pastor.

In good faith, the undersigned agree to this covenant and will do everything within their power to uphold it.

Date District President

Date Seminary Representative

_______________________________________ Date SMP-Supervising Pastor

Date Calling Entity Official Representative

Date Candidate for Specific Ministry Pastor

20

APPENDIX B

SMP Annual Supervision Plan for the SMP-Supervising Pastor and Specific Ministry Pastor

Supervision Plan for __________, __________ to __________, __________ Month Ye a r Month Yea r

Name of Specific Ministry Pastor __________________________________________

Name of SMP Supervisor__________________________________________________

Date and Length of meeting time SMP supervis ing pastor and specific ministry pastor shall meet in person at least 40 hours per year.

Note: 1 continuing education unit is the equivalent of 10 hours actual class time .

Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________ Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________ Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________ Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________ Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________ Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________

Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________ Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________ Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________ Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________ Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________ Date__________ Length of Meeting_____________

Topics of Continuing Education discussed during this time together:

See “Responsibility of the SMP-Supervising Pastor”

Biblical text ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Lutheran Confessions (Book of Concord )

________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Theological book discussion ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Review of a sermon written/delivered by the SMP ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pastoral care focus ________________________________________________________________________________________________