Res. 6-04 — To Support Residential Master of Divinity and Alternate Route Pastoral Formation for the Sake of the Flock

Preamble The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod ( LCMS) has repeatedly identified full -time, residential pastoral formation at its seminaries as the standard, preferred route for men preparing for a lifetime of ministry to the church (2016 Res. 6-03, “To Affirm the Master of Divinity Route at the Synod’s Seminaries”; 2019 Res. 6- 02, “To Promote Residential Seminary Education as the Preferred Option for the Preparation of Men for Pastoral Ministry”; 2023 Res. 6- 02A, “To Encourage Proper Pastoral Formation through Our Synod’s Seminaries”; 2023 Res. 6- 03A, “To Affirm and Strengthen the Synod’s Commitment to Well- Formed Clergy for the Sake of the Gospel ”). Several overtures submitted to the 2026 Synod convention (Ov. 6- 28–37) call for the seminaries to attempt to duplicate the quality and scope of its regular residential program in the format of a fully or largely online Master of Divinity (M.Div.) . While the Synod has made successful use of some online and distance education models for other routes to ministry designed to serve specific and unique needs, experience has shown that there is no true replacement for what residential seminary formation provides. This resolution expresses the conviction that, for the sake of the flock (Jer. 3:15; John 10:1–5, 21:15–19; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1– 5), it would be unwise for our seminaries to begin or experiment with an online M.Div. because of the distinct, qualitative benefit of full -time pastoral formation in our seminary communities and because the assumption that adding an online M.Div. program would increase the overall number of pastoral students is unfounded .

WHEREAS, There is no other way that the Lord brings sinners to faith, salvation, and eternal life than through His blessed Word and Holy Sacraments (AC V); and

WHEREAS, The Lord has appointed in and for His church ministers of His Word so that it may be publicly applied and used in truth and purity; and of His blessed Sacraments, so that they might be administered rightly and according to His command (AC VII 1); and

WHEREAS, The Lord requires of His ministers that they “be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2) to such an extent that for their conduct in the Office they “[must] give an account” (Heb. 13:17; see also James 3:1); and

WHEREAS, It is a right of the Church to be assured—indeed, to demand—that her pastors are doctrinally sound and capable and ready to serve as pastors (Rom. 10:14–17; Hos. 4:6; 1 Timothy 3–4; Tr 67); and

WHEREAS, In the history of the Bible the Lord used formational and educational communities to shape His servants for this work (2 Kings 2–6; Acts 19–20), thereby ensuring that they would “hold fast the pattern of sound words” (2 Tim . 1:13 NKJV) and be ready, whether it seemed convenient or inconvenient, to wield God’s Word and Sacraments for the faith, salvation, and eternal life of the Lord’s blood-bought sheep (2 Tim. 4:2); and

WHEREAS, The daily rhythm of worship in the seminary chapels, which as an integral aspect of residential seminary education inculcates humility toward God’s Word, is central for the personal and spiritual formation of pastors (Ap V 189); and

WHEREAS, The education and formation of a future pastor is much more than the sum of all its parts —it requires among other things:

• extensive knowledge in the interpretation of Holy Scriptures for preaching, teaching, and pastoral care (1 Tim. 3:16; Rom. 15:4);

• deep reading of the Lutheran Confessions and the orthodox Fathers;

• keen understanding of the Church’s history (there is no prophetic or apostolic proclamation but that it is not also deeply rooted in the history of the Gospel and God’s people with an understanding of their telos) so as not to repeat the errors of the past and to walk to the eschatological horizon with confidence ;

• deep immersion in the inevitably liturgical life of the Lutheran Church and her song;

• precise and discerning comprehension of the dynamic of Law and Gospel and the ability to apply it to sinners ; and

• clear discernment of all the teachings of the Holy Scriptures according to the pattern of sound words ; and

WHEREAS, The essence of the education and formation of a future pastor is the shaping of a man in Christ for Christ -11 like sacrificial service to the flock (1 Peter 5:2–3; Phil. 2:5–8); and

WHEREAS, Our Lord became flesh and dwelt among us, and in his flesh gathered the future pastors of his church to himself, men who “accompanied” him (Acts 1) as he carried out his ministry and instructed his future pastors; and

WHEREAS, Pastors are called to share not only the Gospel but also their very lives by being with people in all their service (1 Thess. 2:8); and

WHEREAS, The residential formation of pastors gathers students into a community of men in the physical presence of their teachers and fellow students, where their identity as pastors is formed, their brotherhood is shaped, and “iron sharpens iron” (Prov. 27:17) as they live, eat, talk, and work together in the flesh; and

WHEREAS, The ministers of Christ must be prepared to go where they “do not want to go” (John 21:18), to have no place to lay their head (Matt. 8:20), to let the dead bury their own dead and not to plow with a backward gaze; and those incapable of doing such are not fit for the ministerial work of Christ (Luke 9:60– 62; Matt. 8:18–22); and

WHEREAS, Residential pastoral formation as currently constituted in the Synod immerses seminary students in numerous ministerial contexts and under numerous theological experts and pastoral practitioners (all of whom have been appointed by the church for this purpose) so that they may become all things to all men that by any means they may save some (1 Cor. 9:22); and

WHEREAS, This broad exposure is a bulwark against idiosyncratic theology and practice that can lead to disunity and false teaching; and

WHEREAS, The unity of the Synod is better cultivated when future pastors are formed in a residential setting that enables them to live out the liturgical life of the church and experience an extended time of “mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren” (SA III IV) that will prepare them to conduct ministry within the shared doctrinal framework of the Lutheran Confessions (Lawrence R. Rast, Jr., “The Biblical and Reformation Heritage of LCMS Pastoral Formation,” 2023 Proceeding s, 107– 9; Thomas J. Egger, “Our Residential Seminaries: Deep Pastoral Formation and Worldwide Impact,” Proceedings, 109–11); and

WHEREAS, The adoption of online M.Div. programs by other seminaries has failed to bring about an increase in M.Div. enrollment (Report R13.3, 2026 Workbook, 70); and

WHEREAS, The Synod has been blessed through nine generations of pastors with men formed in this fashion to the high standards of the Office of the Holy Ministry and for the sake of the flock; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank the seminaries for offering, maintaining, and constantly enhancing robust residential pastoral formation in their M.Div. and Alternate Route (AR) programs; and be it further

Resolved, That for the sake of the flock, the Synod in convention directs the seminaries to redouble their efforts to improve their residential pastoral formation in the M.Div. and AR programs and continue to address concerns regarding the accessibility and feasibility of residential formation; and be it further

Resolved, That for the sake of the flock, Synod in convention affirms our corporate commitment to robust residential M.Div. and AR pastoral education and formation as highlighted in both seminaries’ reports to the convention; and be it further

Resolved, That for the sake of the flock, the Synod prays for an increase in candidates for the pastoral office, trusting the Lord of the Church to provide faithful shepherds (Luke 10:2); and be it further

Resolved, That for the sake of the flock, the Synod in convention reaffirm 2023 Res. 6-02A, “To Encourage Proper Pastoral Formation through Our Synod’s Seminaries” (Proc eedings, 160-61) (see also 2016 Res. 6 -03, 2019 Res. 6- 02; 2023 Res. 6-03A); and be it finally

Resolved, That for the sake of the flock, the Synod in convention reject online M.Div. education since it is insufficient for achieving the high standards of the Office of the Holy Ministry.