To Give Thanks for the Work of, and To Amend Bylaws to Conclude, the Pastoral Formation Committee

WHEREAS, Prior to the restructuring implemented by the 2010 Synod convention, there existed a 14-member Board for Pastoral Education (BPE), all of whose voting members were elected by the Synod in convention (see 2007 Bylaw 3.8.2f.); and

WHEREAS,The BPE,in addition to acting as are source for advice and coordination, had significant and substantive governance authority over the seminaries, including the right to approve seminary master plans; to approve new programs; to establish guidelines for distribution of Synod grants; to grant prior approval of faculty; to approve capital projects; to recommend consolidation, relocation, or divest it ure of a seminary; to oversee pastoral colloquy; to set policies that were binding upon each seminary’s board of regents; and to appoint members of the seminary boards of regents for vacancies in Synod-elected positions; and

WHEREAS, Two convention cycles after abolishing the BPE, the Synod in convention created the Pastoral Formation Committee (PFC) by adopting 2016 Resolution 6-01, which was based on the recommendation of the 2013 Res. 5-14A task force “that there be an entity ensuring that the seminaries do coordinate and collaborate with respect to” the various routes to ordination in the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The PFC’s responsibilities do not include any of the substantive governance responsibilities listed above as previously held by the BPE; and

WHEREAS, The PFC consists of only three voting members, none of whom is elected by the Synod in convention: namely, the two seminary presidents and the Chief Mission Officer of the Synod, together with the executive director of the Office of Pastoral Education, who is a non-voting advisory member. Consequently, only two individuals, both serving in similar contexts, can direct the course of the PFC’s actions; and

WHEREAS, To the extent the PFC is “responsible for ensuring that the Synod’s objective of training pastors is fulfilled consistently” (Bylaw 3.10.4)and is directed to “review … seminary and pre-seminary education programs” (Bylaw 3.10.4.3) and to “monitor and receive reports from all directors and committees charged with oversight of all routes to ordination”(Bylaw3.10.4.4), its structure creates a circular process, the two seminary presidents effectively reviewing and monitoring their own performance and that of their institutions—a function that belongs to the respective boards of regents (under Bylaws 3.10.5.1 and 3.10.5.6.1) and, for broader policy matters, to the Synod in convention; and

WHEREAS, Because the PFC lacks the substantive governing authority, broad membership, and direct accountability to convention of the former BPE, and because the PFC creates a redundant level of monitoring and review of seminary-related activities by a committee controlled by the seminary presidents (“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged”[1Cor. 11:31 KJV]), it is an unnecessary addition to the seminary governance structure. As such, we should give thanks for the work done to date and sunset the PFC; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.4.3.8 be removed as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Chief Mission Officer 3.4.3 The Chief Mission Officer shall be responsible to the President of the Synod for the mission, ministry, and any programmatic and coordinative functions which are implemented according to the policies adopted by the Board for National Mission and the Board for International Mission. … 3.4.3.8 The Chief Mission Officer shall, on behalf of the President, provide leadership, coordination, and oversight for pre-seminary education programs, seminary education, and post-seminary continuing education, and by providing advocacy for pastoral education and health within the Synod. He shall serve as the chairman of the Pastoral Formation Committee.

and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaws 3.10.4–3.10.4.7 be amended as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING D. Pastoral Formation Committee Seminary Education Matters 3.10.4 The Pastoral Formation Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that the Synod’s objective of training pastors is fulfilled consistently (Constitution Art. III 3).The Executive Director of the Office of Pastoral Education shall, on behalf of the President, provide leadership, coordination, and oversight for pre-seminary education programs, seminary education, and post-seminary continuing education, and provide advocacy for pastoral education and health within the Synod. 3.10.4.1 The committee shall recommend any new routes leading to ordination for approval by resolution of the Synod. Such a recommendation shall follow consultation with the two seminary boards of regents in their annual joint meeting. 3.10.4.2 Seminaries will implement new routes to ordination only upon approval by resolution of the Synod. 3.10.4.3 The committee shall review, assess, coordinate, support and make suggestions for improvement of all existing non colloquy routes leading to ordination in the Synod, including seminary and pre-seminary education programs. 3.10.4.4 The committee shall monitor and receive reports from all directors and committees charged with oversight of all routes to ordination and shall foster coordination and collaboration among them. 3.10.4.5 The committee shall consider the long term strategic direction of pastoral formation within the Synod and facilitate discussion of the same with the two seminary boards of regents in their annual joint meeting. 3.10.4.6 The Pastoral Formation Committee shall comprise the following members: Voting Members: Nonvoting Advisory Member: The Executive Director of the Office of Pastoral Education 3.10.4.7 The Pastoral Formation Committee shall meet at least once per year, and shall report on its work at the annual joint meeting of the two seminary boards of regents. Additional meetings shall be determined by the chairman in consultation with the committee members.

and be it finally

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.10.5.3 be amended as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING E. Seminary Boards of Regents 3.10.5 Each seminary of the Synod, with its president and faculty, shall be governed by a board of regents, subject to general policies set by the Synod. … 3.10.5.3 Once annually, the two seminary boards of regents shall meet jointly on a seminary campus. Some of the meeting sessions shall be conducted jointly.As part of the joint meeting, the joint boards shall review, assess, coordinate, support, and make suggestions for improvement of existing non-residential routes to ordination. Only the Synod in convention may approve any new routes leading to ordination.