To Ensure Pastoral Ministry in the Synod during Times of Shortage

WHEREAS, 2023 Synod convention Resolution 6-02A, “To Encourage Proper Pastoral Formation through Our Synod’s Seminaries,” “affirm[s] the necessity and fruitfulness of Synod- approved alternate routes to ministry to be used in appropriate ministry settings and for appropriately qualified candidates (currently, the Specific Ministry Pastor program, the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology, the Center for Hispanic Studies, the Specific Ministry Pastor-Español/English Program, the Cross- cultural Ministry Center, and the Residential Alternate Route program; previously, DELTO)” (Proc., 161) and “‘strongly encourage[s] [district presidents and seminaries] to direct men to residential pastoral ministry routes [at our Synod’s seminaries]* as the preferred option’ (2019 Res. 6-02, [“To Promote Residential Seminary Education as the Preferred Option for the Preparation of Men for Pastoral Ministry,”] Proc., 159, *brackets original)” as the way that the church operates during normal circumstances; and

WHEREAS, The Synod faces a growing pastoral shortage. The number of available pastors is inadequate, and congregations often wait an average of 24 months to complete the call process. This challenge is expected to intensify in the coming years; and

WHEREAS, Within 15 years, the average age of the current pastoral workforce will rise to 74, leading to a critical shortage of pastors. This will impact not only small congregations that cannot afford full-time pastors but also larger, well-resourced churches. Without intervention, there will be too few pastors to serve even half of existing congregations, let alone to support church planting and growth; therefore be it

Resolved,Thatthe Synod gives thanks to God for the faithfulness of our Synod in providing this variety of scriptural ly and confession ally faithful pathways of pastoral formation to fulfill the need for laborers for the Lord’s harvest; and be it further

Resolved, That to ensure the ongoing proclamation of the Gospel and administration of the Sacraments, the 2026 Synod convention authorize district presidents to utilize all existing Synod-approved pastoral formation programs at their discretion, allowing them to determine the most suitable training pathway for candidates in their district; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod direct its seminaries to provide equal financial support for all approved pastoral formation programs, removing financial barriers and expanding access to pastoral training. By strengthening multiple formation pathways, the Synod will be better equipped to meet the needs of congregations and to continue advancing the mission of the church.