To Affirm Appropriate Standards for Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program

WHEREAS, The 2019 Synod convention received a number of overtures (listed as references for 2019 Resolution 6-03A) that proposed changes to the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program, including (1) whether to require study of biblical languages as part of the SMP program, and (2) whether ordination should occur at the end, rather than the midpoint, of the four-year program; and

WHEREAS, Currently, SMP students at both seminaries serve at least the first two years of the program as a vicar at the specific ministry site and then, once certified, are eligible to be called and ordained to serve as a supervised SMP during the remaining two years of the program, and to continue in that ministry after the completion of the SMP program; and

WHEREAS, The 2019 Synod convention chose not to adopt an amendment to 2019 Res. 6-03A that would have required that SMP students complete the entire four-year program prior to ordination; and

WHEREAS, The SMP is a non-degree certificate program, delivered primarily online, that does not require a bachelor’sdegree for admission, and neither seminary requires SMP students to complete any biblical language coursework; in contrast, the Master of Divinity isaresidentialprogramthat requiresabachelor’sdegree for admission, requires students to study both Greek and Hebrew, and leads to an accredited academic degree; and

WHEREAS, Input was requested from the joint boards of regents of the seminaries by 2019 Res. 6-03A, which directed, “That the joint boards of regents prepare an overture to the Synod on the timing of vicarage and ordination for the SMP program for consideration in convention in 2022”; and

WHEREAS, 2013 Res. 5-04B resolved that “the authority over admission to and administration of the SMP program remains with the seminaries”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod affirm that, as stated in 2016 Res. 6- 02, “In keeping with God’s own mandate for filling the Office of the Holy Ministry, we confess in AC XIV, ‘Concerning church government it is taught that no one should publicly teach, preach, or administer the sacraments without a proper [public] call’ (KW, German), as the Scripture says, ‘And how are they to preach unless they are sent?’ (Rom. 10:15)”; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod affirm that, as stated in 2013 Res. 5- 04B, “the SMP program be retained” and that “SMP pastors are properly called in accord with Article XIV of the Augsburg Confession;”and that district presidents should not approve specific ministry sites which could reasonably be expected to support a general pastor or sites where a minister of religion–commissioned could fulfill the duties; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod affirm that, as stated in 2007 Res. 5- 01B for SMP students, “Ordination vows may be taken prior to the conclusion of a complete course of study provided that the ordained has received a preparation sufficient to preach and teach the Gospel rightly, administer the Sacraments correctly, and take his vows with integrity,”and “‘specific ministry pastor’ will be the designation for those educated for a specific ministry context through distance education”; and be it further

Resolved, That the current practice of not requiring Greek and Hebrew proficiency of SMP students, who in many cases are studying and serving bi-vocation ally and who, in all cases, serve under the supervision of a pastor who has been trained with the biblical languages, be retained; and be it finally

Resolved, That the current timing for both vicarage and ordination be retained because the current timing is appropriate for the purposes of the SMP program.