RESOLUTION 13-03

Reports R62, R64 (CW, pp. 235, 268) ; Overtures 6-14–15, 13-01–07, 13-09, 13-11–12, 13-14–19, 13-21–24, 13- 27–29, 13-31, 13-38–42, 13-50 (CW, pp. 360–362, 437–442, 444–457, 460–461, 464)

WHEREAS, In its history, the Lutheran Church has in various ways prepared men for the Office of the Public Ministry; and

WHEREAS, The church in every era requires pastors who are “able to teach” (in a manner appropriate to the situation), of good character (“above reproach”), properly called, faithful to the Scriptures and the Confessions, and recognized by the wider church; and

WHEREAS, Congregations and missions will continue to experience financial, geographic, and demographic challenges, and the Synod must address the need to provide the ministry of Word and Sacrament in such circumstances; and

WHEREAS, Long-term concerns of mission and ministry have raised questions about how the divinely instituted pastoral office may be preserved, while remaining faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions even in unique and exceptional circumstances; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) faces a declining pool of candidates for pastoral ministry, while there is a simultaneous increase in the ethnic diversity of the American population that is not reflected in the current membership of the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention establish a task force to be convened by the Council of Presidents (COP) to include five members of the COP who are representative of the geographic diversity of the Synod, two persons appointed by each seminary, two non-ordained individuals appointed by the Concordia 1 University System (CUS) board, and four lay persons appointed by the Synod Board of Directors

•To help the Synod address the needs of small, rural, urban, ethnic, immigrant, financially challenged, and geographically isolated congregations
•To recommend ways to identify candidates to address future needs in the LCMS
•To provide strategies for reaching the increasingly diverse population of the U.S.
•To establish minimal standards for pastors (while keeping the optimum in view)
•To explore alternative methods for ministerial preparation in light of changing needs
•To recommend avenues to finance preparation of pastors
•To consider relevant recommendations in the 4-06A and 5-14A task force reports
•To consider other matters relevant to their task as may be identified

and be it further

Resolved, That the task force provide a report to the next regular convention of the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That in its work the task force encourage the ongoing work of the district lay training programs and the CUS programs for evangelism and outreach, in order to identify, equip, encourage, and empower men and women for mission, witness, and service to Christ and His Church; and be it finally

Resolved, That the LCMS thank and commend the Res. 4-06A and Res. 5-14ATask Forces for their work and reports.

[The estimated cost to implement this proposed resolution appears in the Report of the Finance Floor Committee – found in Sunday’s issue of Today’s Business.]