RESOLUTION 13-04

Report R64 (CW, pp. 268–289)

WHEREAS, The 2013 Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) adopted Resolution 5- 14A, which reads, simply:

WHEREAS, The Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Task Force Report notes that there are eight routes to ordained ministry; and

WHEREAS, The SMP Task Force Report recommends for the sake of clarity and simplicity that a study of the non-Master of Divinity routes to the Pastoral Office take place; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod President appoint a task force (chaired by the Executive Director for Pastoral Education) to conduct a study of the non-Master of Divinity routes to the Pastoral Office, and that it report its findings and the recommendations regarding the appropriateness of each route, the optimal number of such routes, etc., to the Synod President by the end of 2015 for action at the 2016 Synod convention. and be it further

WHEREAS, The task force has concluded that all the several means by which the church recruits, trains, and certifies men to be placed into the pastoral office are both appropriate and needed for the life and mission of our Synod and ought be recognized as such by the Synod. The task force recommends that the Synod by resolution recognize that each of the means we have for the church to recruit and train men for pastoral office is appropriate and needed; and

WHEREAS, The task force recommends that eligibility for regular colloquy be clarified 1 in the Synod’s Bylaws; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention receive with thanks the Report of the Task Force; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention amend the Bylaws of the Synod by adding after Bylaw 3.10.2.2 the following new paragraphs to be numbered 3.10.2.3, 3.10.2.4, and 3.10.2.5, respectively:

See resolution for proposed wording



and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank the members of the task force for their, time, communication, care, listening, and recommendations to continue to prepare men for the pastoral office in the different routes.