To Support and Participate in Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support and “Preach the Word”

WHEREAS, The members of the Synod have agreed to and adopted the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws that order our life together in service of the Gospel; and

WHEREAS, “A district is the Synod itself performing the functions of the Synod” (Bylaw 4.1.1.1), as set forth in:

• Bylaw 1.3.2, “The Synod divides itself into districts and authorizes its districts to create circuits. The criteria for the creation of districts and circuits are determined by the Synod in convention. Districts and circuits are included among the component parts of the Synod.”

• Bylaw 1.3.4.1, “Members agree to uphold the confessional position of the Synod (Constitution Art. II) and to assist in carrying out the objectives of the Synod (Constitution Art. III), which are objectives of the members themselves.”

• Bylaw 4.1.1, “The Synod is not merely an advisory body in relation to a district, but establishes districts in order more effectively to achieve its objectives and carry on its activities.”

• Bylaw 4.1.1.1, “Resolutions of the Synod are binding upon the districts”; and

WHEREAS, District presidents shall represent the Synod in the district in which he was elected, as detailed in:

• LCMSConstitutionArticleXII9a,“[The district presidents] shall see to it that all resolutions of the Synod which concern the districts are made known to the districts and are carried out by them.”

• Bylaw 4.4.2 (a), “He shall cause the resolutions of the Synod to be implemented in the district, encouraging the congregations and schools to embrace the mission and ministry emphases adopted by the national convention for the triennium.”

• Bylaw 4.4.4 (b), “In his official visits [the district president] shall seek to bring about to the greatest possible degree the achievement of the Synod’s objectives as expressed in Article III of its Constitution.”

• Bylaw 5.2.3 (g), “[The circuit visitor] shall assist in the development and attainment of Synod-wide mission and ministry emphases”; and

WHEREAS, Congregations and members of Synod commit themselves to the Constitution and Bylaws of Synod in our life together as stated in:

• Bylaw 1.1.1, “Committed to a common confession and mission, congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod join with one another in the Synod to support one another and to work together in carrying out their commonly adopted objectives.”

• Bylaw 1.3.1, “Individual Christians are joined together in a worshiping and serving community, the congregation. Congregations, the basic units of the Synod, have joined together to form the Synod and relate to one another through it.”

• Bylaw 1.3.4, “Congregations together establish the requirements of membership in the Synod Constitution Art. VI). In joining the Synod, congregations and other members obligate themselves to fulfill such requirements and to diligently and earnestly promote the purposes of the Synod by word and deed.”

• Bylaw 1.3.4.1, “While congregations of the Synod are self- governing Constitution Art. VII), they, and also individual members, commit themselves as members of the Synod to act in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod under which they have agreed to live and work together and which the congregations alone have the authority to adopt or amend through conventions”; and

WHEREAS, Synod in convention has adopted resolutions that call for the encouragement, support, endorsement, and intentional, consistent usage of the following Synod initiatives and programs:

• Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support (PALS). PALS helps pastors and their wives transition from seminary into the first three years of his call (lcms.org/how-we- serve/education/pastoral/post-seminary-applied-learning- and-support)—in LCMS conventions taking place in 1998, 2013, 2016 and 2019; and

• Preach the Word (PTW). PTW helps pastors work together to improve their preaching through video modules with accompanying resources and by interacting with seminary professors and fellow preachers(resources.lcms.org/preach- the-word/)—in LCMS conventions taking place in 2016 and 2019;

therefore be it

Resolved, That all districts and district presidents carry out and implement PALS and PTW in each respective district of Synod and not replace these programs and initiatives with district substitutes;

and be it further

Resolved, That all the Synod congregations and church workers be encouraged to support and participate in PALS and PTW in our life together in service of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastoral Formation Committee