To Encourage and Expand Support for Immigrant and Non-Anglo Pastoral Formation through Learning in Ministry, Non-Residential, Distance Programs that Lead to Ordination

WHEREAS, Jesus said, “The Harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37–38); and

WHEREAS, Jesus set an example of what a robust theological education looks like by teaching His disciples theology while they were, at the exact same time, engaged in real-world, real-time, hands-on ministry with Him; and

WHEREAS, The Apostle Paul educated and raised up new pastors and leaders by inviting them to join him and assist him and work alongside him in real-world, real-time, hands-on ministry; and

WHEREAS, God is bringing thousands of new immigrants to our communities and there by providing our congregations with new and vast harvest fields; and

WHEREAS, Our Pacific Southwest District pastors and congregations are identifying new potential pastoral leaders in and among these immigrant, non-Anglo communities; and

WHEREAS, The pool of men who are interested in and gifted for pastoral ministry and who are, at the sametime, ableto giveup jobs, sell homes, and relocate their spouse and children to either St. Louis, Mo. or Fort Wayne, Ind. continues to get smaller; and

WHEREAS, An unintended consequence of Synod promoting residential seminary education as the preferred option for the preparation of men for pastoral ministry (2019 Res. 6-02, Proceedings, 158) is that non-residential, immigrant students receive, proportionally, a lower percentage of tuition aid from the seminary to cover the costs of their academic programs than do residential students; and

WHEREAS, Pastors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod are retiring in larger numbers than ever before (an estimated 1/3 of our congregations will be without a pastor by 2035) and the number of men entering our seminaries is less than what is needed to replace these faithful servants and expand further mission and ministry;

therefore be it

Resolved, That the district in convention encourage its pastors, leaders, and congregations to continue to cultivate, from our immigrant, non-Anglo communities, new leaders who are intentionally engaged in the mission of God; and be it further

Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize the 2023 Synod convention to encourage the seminaries to maintain and strengthen their non-residential, learning-in-ministry, distance programs, and to award financial aid more equitably toward the students in these programs.