Colloquy programs for commissioned ministry are not just about theological education! They are that, but they are much more. These programs exist also for the purpose of vetting applicants to ensure that they are fit to serve as ministers of religion—commissioned in the congregations, schools, and agencies of the Synod (Bylaws 3.10.3 [a–b]). Commissioned colloquy programs are for men and women who are not graduates of Synod-affirmed programs for the various commissioned ministries that are available through our Concordia University System (CUS) universities yet who still desire, or are required by their congregations or schools, to be called and roster ed as commissioned ministers in the LCMS (Bylaw 2.8.1 [a]). Though the vast majority of those who colloquize as commissioned ministers do so as teachers (92 percent during the last triennium), there are nevertheless seven distinct colloquy programs for commissioned ministry: teacher, director of Christian education (DCE), director of Christian outreach (DCO), director of family life ministry (DFLM), director of parish music (DPM), deaconess, and director of church ministries (Bylaw 2.6.1.1).1 Each CUS university offers some of these colloquy programs, though no CUS university offers all of them. For additional information about commissioned colloquy programs and how to apply, see lcms.org/ colloquy-ministers-of-religion-commissioned. “Colloquy” for “schoolteachers” has been a part of the Synod’s bylaws since its second constitution (1854). Still today, the Synod’s commissioned colloquy programs address the third objective of the LCMS—to “recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers and provide opportunity for their continuing growth” (Constitution Article III 3) as well as the second and sixth of the Synod’s seven mission priorities for this triennium to “support and expand theological education” and to “enhance early childhood education, elementary and secondary education, and youth ministry.”
Statistics During the three years prior to this report, 295 colloquy applications were forwarded to the Office of First Vice-President (OFVP) by the Concordia University Education Network (CUEnet) and the CUS colloquy directors. Two hundred seventy-two of these were for teacher colloquy. Teacher colloquy applications increased 67 percent during the third year of the triennium compared with the second year, with a similar percentage increase in comparison with the first year of the triennium. As far as the human component of this great blessing, this can likely be attributed to Set Apart to Serve efforts, the policy and application overhaul, and great work on the part of CUEnet and the CUS colloquy directors.
liefs. These areas of study have been specified in the LCMS Bylaws or the CCCM policy manual since 1960. In addition to these six core courses, each of the seven colloquy programs also requires other coursework that is necessary for that particular type of commissioned ministry. CUEnet is authorized to offer the six core courses online to colloquy students in any of the seven colloquy programs. As far as the remaining “program-specific” courses, CUEnet offers those only for teacher colloquy.2 Colloquy students in the other six commissioned colloquy programs must take their program-specific coursework through one of the CUS colleges or universities.
CCCM Composition The general composition of the CCCM is stipulated in Bylaw 3.10.3.1. Specific members are listed in the Convention Workbook’s Directory—Officers, Boards, and Commissions of the Synod. This triennium, Concordia University, Nebraska, President Dr. Bernard Bull replaced Dr. John Nunes, who resigned in early 2021, and Concordia University, Irvine, Professor Dr. Cari Chittick was added as a third CUS university faculty member because of a 2023 change to Bylaw 3.10.3.1.
Table 1: Commissioned Colloquy Applications Received February 2023–January 2026
Colloquy Partners Though the CCCM “directs” the Synod’s activity in matters of colloquy (Bylaw 3.10.3.2), it cannot carry out the Synod’s commissioned colloquy programs by itself. Rather, the Synod’s colleges and universities, assisted by the CUS, are key partners in administering commissioned colloquy programs on behalf of the Synod as part of their bylaw responsibility for the “preparation of commissioned ministers for service in the Synod” (Bylaw 3.6.6). In doing so, the Synod’s colleges and universities, as well as the CCCM, rely on the valuable assistance of CUEnet. CUEnet was founded in 1996 as a service organization of the CUS. In 2001, CUEnet began offering the Concordia Online Teacher Colloquy Program. The relationship between CUEnet, the colleges and universities of the Synod, the CCCM, and commissioned colloquy is explained further at lcms.org/colloquy-ministers-of religion-commissioned#cuenet.
Work Performed The CCCM met 13 times since the writing of its last convention report—10 times via internet conference, and the three most recent in person. Going forward, the committee plans to meet in person at least half of the time. In 2025, the CCCM began using Board Effect for its meeting dockets. Most of our meeting time has consisted of discussion and decisions on policy revisions, though requests for policy exceptions (or clarifications) have also consumed a fair amount of time. These requests for exceptions and clarifications have resulted in continuing conversation on recent policy changes with an eye toward a relatively minor update in the next triennium.
Policy Update After almost five years of work, the CCCM adopted a significantly revised policy manual on Sept. 30, 2024. Significant features of this revision include • replacing the former pre-requisite for teacher colloquy: “past or present state certification, or an advanced degree in the field of education from a regionally accredited institution” with the following new language: “past completion of an education program from an accredited institution OR three years of experience in the field of education;”
- removing, for the six non-teacher colloquy programs, the prerequisite that one had to be “trained to do the work of [that specific type of ministry, e.g., DCE] through an accredited institution that offers an equivalent degree” and replacing it with the prerequisite of “three years of experience in the field of [that specific type of ministry]” as one way of giving “evidence of being a competent worker in the field of [that specific type of ministry],” per Bylaw 3.10.3 (b);
- clarifying the length of LCMS membership required for colloquy, namely one year prior to application and two years prior to final interview and certification;
- requiring applicants and colloquy directors to forward applications to LCMS district offices at the beginning of colloquy coursework;
As of this writing, the full cost before scholarships for teacher colloquy through CUEnet is $8,014, which includes the following: • $7,792 – tuition for eight courses ($974 per course)
- $172 – Concordia Electronic Theological Library
- $50 – endorsement processing
It is important to note, however, that tuition assistance is available through a generous grant that CUEnet has received for the last several years—a gift that CUEnet anticipates will continue. Currently, the tuition grant for students is just over 40 percent of tuition costs. In addition, most students also receive financial assistance from their congregation, school, and district. A more detailed report from and about CUEnet can be found in the CUS report (Report R14).
Program of Study Common to all seven commissioned colloquy programs are six core courses—Old Testament, New Testament, History of Theology, Lutheran Confessions, Christian Doctrine, and Varieties of Be-
- adding a (recent) background check as an admission requirement; and
- adding a policy section to “facilitate the examination, remediation, and qualification for first call of suitable candidates from disaffirmed or discontinued programs applying under Bylaw 2.8.4.1,” per Bylaw 3.10.3.3. This new bylaw and policy directive were required by 2023 Resolution 7-04B as a result of the situations with Concordia University Texas and the CUS colleges and universities that have closed in recent years.3
Application Update In addition to revising the policy manual, the CCCM also significantly revised the application and application process. Most significant was consolidating to a single colloquy application designed to be used by all CUS schools and CUEnet for any of the seven commissioned colloquy programs. Previously, CUEnet and at least several CUS universities had their own applications, and there were no applications that were specifically designed for use with non-teacher colloquy programs. Second, the new application is now a fill able PDF.
Other Work In addition to the major policy and application revision, the CCCM, primarily through its chairman, the LCMS First Vice-President and his office, also accomplished the following: • Revamped the commissioned colloquy website;
- Conducted annual Zoom meetings with the Conference for [LCMS District] Education Executives (CONFEDEX);
- Conducted annual Zoom meetings with the CUS colloquy directors; and
- Collaborated with the LCMS Office of Pastoral Education and Standing Partnership on a Set Apart to Serve initiative for second career teachers. See the Oct. 15, 2025, web in ar, available at lcms.org/colloquy-ministers-of-religion commissioned, at which a colloquy mapping Power Point was unveiled and discussed.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities The major strengths of the CCCM are • a very capable and dedicated committee;
- an excellent working relationship with CUEnet and the CUS colloquy directors; and
- a very capable and efficient executive administrative assistant in the OFVP.
“lowering the bar” too much, especially with regard to colloquy admission requirements; • Understanding what the phrase “currently serving in ministry roles” means (Bylaw 3.10.3), as well as the term “ministry” in the phrase “complete dedication to the ministry” (Bylaw 2.8.1 [b]) (This question is important for understanding whether Lutheran school administrators, other than principals, should be eligible for teacher colloquy; the same question applies to counselors at Lutheran schools.);
- Interpreting and applying the new policy that “three years of experience in the field of [teacher, DCE, etc.] ministry” is one way of fulfilling the bylaw requirement of giving “evidence of being a competent worker in the field of [teacher, DCE, etc.] ministry” (Bylaw 3.10.3 [b] and CCCM Policies X.1.1.5.2) (For example, is three years of helping out with a congregation’s youth ministry for several hours per month “three years of experience in DCE ministry”?);
- The fact that several important colloquy prerequisites and requirements, that were formerly in the Synod Bylaws, were reassigned to the policy manual by the 2010 Synod convention;
- The amount of time that sometimes elapses between submission of application and the OFVP’s ability to publish the applicant’s name in the Reporter; and
- The temporary inability to offer director of family life ministry (DFLM) colloquy due to recent changes at CUWAA.4
Future Priorities CCPM priorities for the coming triennium include the following: • Continuing to clarify questions that have arisen from the recent policy revision, especially the “three years in the field of [one of the seven types of commissioned] ministry,” as explained above;
- Continuing to improve the application and application process;
- Seeking to define or understand better the word “ministry” as it is used in Bylaws 3.10.3 and 2.8.1 (b);
- Developing “academic and theological standards for each of the colloquy programs” as directed in Bylaw 3.10.3.2 (b), yet in concert with the commissioned ministry program standards that are currently being developed by the CUS per Bylaw 3.6.6.4 (c);
- Working with the CUS university faculty examining committees for colloquy to strive for greater consistency in those assessments; and
- Considering a convention overture for the 2029 Synod convention to move some things back from policy to bylaw that were removed from the bylaws in 2010.
Possible weaknesses are • limits on meeting time due to the other primary duties of committee members; and
- limits on work that can be undertaken due to the other duties of the LCMS First Vice-President, who chairs the CCCM.
A definite opportunity exists to educate, vet, and roster many more teachers and other commissioned workers through colloquy.
Challenges Challenges that the CCCM has identified include the following: • Carrying out its work without unduly undermining the commissioned minister programs at our CUS schools or without
Conclusion The committee is honored to serve the Synod in this important work. We are thankful for the improvements that have been made, the tremendous increase in colloquy applications that we have seen, and the great working relationships with others throughout the commissioned colloquy system. And we pray that, through the ministry of the commissioned ministers who are roster ed through the colloquy process, the people of God in the congregations, schools,and agencies of our Synod may be given joyful hope for the future because Christ Is Risen Indeed! Peter K. Lange, First Vice-President
Endnotes 1. There is no longer a parish assistant colloquy program, though parish assistants who were previously roster ed retain that roster status. See later in this report for an explanation of director of family life ministry colloquy. 2. For teacher colloquy, there are two program specific courses, namely Lutheran Teacher I & II. 3. Fifteen individuals have inquired of the OFVP re. this (CCCM Policy 4.4) process—all graduates of CTX. Ten of the 15 are currently in the process, with seven certified to date: three teachers, two DCEs, and two DPMs. 4. As of this report date, the CUS, with the approval of the CCCM, has cleared the way for master’s level DFLM programs at two of our CUS universities, which would, once again, make DFLM colloquy a possibility.