To Mandate Continuing Education for Parish Pastors

WHEREAS, The Divine Call to the pastoral office is a sacred gift from the Holy Spirit, who appoints overseers through the Church (Acts20:28), andonceapastor is certified, examined, ordained, and installed, no human authority can impose conditions that imply the call’s insufficiency or place undue burdens that undermine the freedom of the Gospel; and

WHEREAS, Scripture nevertheless exhorts pastors to ongoing diligence in study and growth: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) and “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance” (Prov. 1:5), recognizing that faithful ministry requires continual honing of skills amid changing cultural, doctrinal, and pastoral challenges; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), in its Constitution (Const. Art. XII 7), bears responsibility for supervising doctrine, practice, and the welfare of its member congregations, including protecting them from pastors who, through neglect of ongoing formation, may falter in equipping the saints (Eph. 4:12) or guarding against false teaching (Titus 1:9), without impugning the validity of the Divine Call itself; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has long recognized the value of continuing education, as evidenced by programs such as Post- Seminary Applied Learning and Support for new pastors and resources from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, which provide advanced degrees, workshops, and theological formation to enhance ministerial effectiveness; and

WHEREAS, Past Synod conventions have successfully passed resolutions emphasizing pastoral education and formation, such as Continuing Education for all Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Pastors,” which affirmed the Synod’s desire for all pastors to engage in continuing education from ordination onward, and 2013 Res. 5-08B, “To Establish a Standard for Continuing Education of Pastors,” which created a framework for qualified continuing education experiences and portfolios, providing precedent for further strengthening these efforts; and

WHEREAS, At the 2023 Synod convention, resolutions such as those addressing seminary formation and church worker well-being (e.g., 2023 Res. 1-07, “To Address Mental Health among Pastors and Other Professional Church Workers”) underscored the Synod’s commitment to holistic support for pastors, including ongoing education to prevent burnout, doctrinal drift, or skill atrophy; and

WHEREAS, Comparable professions requiring continuing education, such as physicians (50 hours every two years in many states, psychologists (36 hours), and physical therapists (30 hours), demonstrate that mandatory continuing education safeguards public welfare without diminishing professional authority, and similarly, mandating pastoral continuing education would align with these standards to protect congregations while honoring the Divine Call by fostering excellence in ministry; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the LCMS Office of Pastoral Education, in collaboration with the Council of Presidents and the seminaries, to develop and implement mandatory continuing education requirements for all active parish pastors, including a minimum of 20 hours every three years in categories such as exegetical theology, systematics, preaching, pastoral care, outreach, and administration, with flexibility for district-approved equivalents; and be it further

Resolved, That pastors shall report completion of these requirements to their district presidents as part of the triennial visitation process, with provisions for extensions in cases of hardship, and that non-compliance without cause may result in restricted status (Bylaw 2.13.2) or remedial support, ensuring accountability while respecting the permanence of the Divine Call;

and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod encourage congregations to support their pastors’ participation through funding and time allowances, and that resources be made available at low or no cost to facilitate broad access, there by advancing the Synod’s mission to “conserve and promote the unity of the true faith” (Const. Art. III).