To Affirm That Pastoral Formation in the Synod Is Done by Synod-Approved Seminaries

WHEREAS, The Office of the Holy Ministry has been instituted by Christ Himself (John 20:19–23; Eph. 4:11–16); and

WHEREAS, An objective of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is to “recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers and provide opportunity for their continuing growth” (Const. Art. III 3); and

WHEREAS, A central purpose in the formation of the LCMS, 179 years ago, was to share together in the task of preparing and recognizing LCMS pastors, whom LCMS congregations would then be free to choose and call for service. Thus, the Synod has, from its beginning, supported and operated its own seminaries: Concordia Seminary (CSL) and Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW); and

WHEREAS, In May 2025, the presidents of CSL and CTSFW wrote letters to the Synod responding to questions about non-LCMS online theological programs appealing to LCMS students and donors; and

WHEREAS, The presidents of CSL and CTSFW clearly stated in their letters that graduates of these non-approved programs may not be ordained or installed in an LCMS congregation or ministry and that these non-approved programs are neither owned, operated, nor governed by the Synod; and

WHEREAS, These two presidents (of CSL and CTSFW) are two of the three members of the Pastoral Formation Committee, whose primary role is “ensuring that the Synod’s objective of training pastors is fulfilled consistently (Constitution Art. III 3)” (Bylaw 3.10.4); and

WHEREAS, The 2023 Synod convention, in Resolution 6-02A, “To Encourage Proper Pastoral Formation through Our Synod’s Seminaries,” resolved that “districts and members of the Synod honor, use, and promote Synod-approved programs and not create independent programs of pastoral preparation or direct men to pastoral preparation programs outside of our Synod’s seminaries” (Proc., 160–61); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention acknowledge and affirm Bylaw 2.5.2 regarding calls and proper service, which states: Congregations that are members of the Synod and their association schools shall call and be served only by (1) ordained ministers who have been admitted to their respective ministries in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in these Bylaws and have there by become members of the Synod; (2) candidates for the pastoral ministry who have satisfied the qualifications and requirements for assignment of first calls by the Council of Presidents acting as the Board of Assignments; or (3) ordained ministers who are members in good standing of church bodies that have been formally recognized to be in altar and pulpit fellowship with the Synod when agreements for such calls are in place.

and be it further

Resolved, That any congregation that should call or be served by a man not certified to serve as a pastor in the Synod be addressed by the appropriate Synod disciplinary process as described in Bylaw 2.5.4, which states: Congregations that violate these requirements and persist in such violation shall, after due admonition, forfeit their membership in the Synod.

and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention also acknowledge and affirm Bylaws 2.6.2. and 2.6.4, regarding qualifications for and the right to Synod membership, which state: Individuals who have been declared qualified for a first call and assigned first calls in accordance with Bylaw sections 2.7–2.9 shall, by the rites of both ordination or commissioning and installation in accordance with Bylaw section 2.10, become members of the Synod. … There is no inherent right to membership in the Synod, and the decision as to qualification for a first call and the assignment of first calls shall be at the sole discretion of the Synod.

and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for the work of our seminaries, CSL and CTSFW, and the Gospel they proclaim.