Res. 6-07 — To Encourage and Support Specific Ministry Pastors to Pursue General Pastor Certification

WHEREAS, The Synod is blessed with faithful specific ministry pastors who serve under call for the sake of Christ’s Church; and

WHEREAS, Specific ministry pastors, the congregations they serve, and the Synod as a whole are blessed when specific ministry pastors pursue the hybrid General Pastor Certification (GPC, ordinarily achievable in an additional three years), the Residential Alternate Route (RAR) Program, or the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), enabling them to deepen their theological understanding, learn biblical Greek, and serve the Synod in additional roles of responsibility (circuit visitor, district or Synod officer or board member, pastoral delegate at Synod convention, etc.); and

WHEREAS, Many specific ministry pastors desire to pursue GPC but are limited due to financial constraints and limits on access to needed classes; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod encourage specific ministry pastors to pursue hybrid GPC, the RAR Program, or the M.Div.;

and be it further

Resolved, That the pastors’ congregation(s), district, and seminary work collaboratively to fund all tuition and fees for specific ministry pastors pursuing GPC; and be it further

Resolved, That the seminaries work in partnership with each other and prospective GPC candidates to accommodate the schedules of students (evening courses, intensive classes, etc.); and be it finally

Resolved, That we give thanks for the specific ministry pastors who have completed or are in the process of completing the GPC.