RESOLUTION 17-01
Overture 17-01 (CW, p. 477)
WHEREAS, Pastors are called to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2) and to “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it…” (2 Tim. 3:14); and
WHEREAS, Our Synod is blessed with excellent seminaries where the foundation for pastoral formation is properly laid and the theological grounding so necessary for pastoral ministry is established. In the tradition of Luther, however, our Synod also recognizes that pastoral formation is a life-long endeavor and that the early years of ministry are a critical time in that learning process and a time of significant and critical transition for them and for the congregations they serve; and
WHEREAS, The PALS (Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support) initiative was designed as a collaborative partnership between The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) districts and the Synod to support new pastors and their wives in their first few years in the ministry, facilitating the transition from seminary life to parish ministry, offering opportunities for new pastors to apply their seminary education as they begin ministry with a unique flock in a specific place; and
WHEREAS, During the PALS meetings, the new pastors worship, study and discuss new ministry experiences in the company of an experienced pastor. They choose topics to study and ministry skills to hone that are most pertinent to their and their congregation’s specific needs; and
WHEREAS, Our culture and society have become increasingly secularized and hostile to the faith, our pastors need more than ever to be engaged in a process of life-long education and development to be best prepared to raise up disciples for Christ by teaching the faithful, reaching the lost, and sharing Christ’s love through care and acts of mercy for this generation and generations to come; and
WHEREAS, While presently over 200 pastors are involved in PALS, over 500 pastors are involved in continuing education events hosted by the seminaries, and another 70 pastors are enlisted as Doctor of Ministry students each year; and
WHEREAS, One can never know the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions too well, or study and practice ways to apply this knowledge and skills in specific ministry contexts too much; and
WHEREAS, In 2013 the Synod in convention passed resolution 5-08B “To Establish a Standard for Continuing Education of Pastors” and also passed resolution 5-02A “To Support and Encourage participation in Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support Initiative” in follow-up to similar resolutions passed in 2010, 2007, 2004, 2001, and 1998 calling for continued study and how best to certify clergy and encourage continuing education; and
WHEREAS, A task force comprised of members of the seminary faculties and Council of Presidents has met over the past three years to begin developing a list of qualified continuing education resources and activities allowing for a seamless process for continuing education that will be utilized by pastors following seminary graduation; therefore be it
Resolved, That every pastor in the LCMS be encouraged to develop a continuing education portfolio which may be recorded under question 27 of the Council of Presidents’ Self Evaluation Tool (SET) from the time he graduates from the seminary until he retires, thus modeling for his members a discipline of life-long learning; and be it further
Resolved, That pastors participate in at least one continuing education experience annually and that each pastor decide which continuing education experiences would be most beneficial; 1 and be it further
Resolved, That the first three years of continuing education for newly ordained pastors can be met through the PALS program or equivalent program; and be it further
Resolved, That pastors be encouraged to make use of existing venues for continuing education such as our seminary symposia and seminary seminars, classes offered by our Concordia University System on campus or on8 line, pastors conferences, Grace Place, Doxology, etc.; and be it finally
Resolved, That because Synod expects pastors to be involved in continuing education, congregations be encouraged to support these efforts with time and necessary finances.