Placements, pastoral formation headline COP meeting

(LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Roy Askins

The formation of church workers, particularly pastors, remained an ongoing point of discussion and study for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Council of Presidents (COP) as they met April 20–25. Per the usual arrangement, the COP met in both St. Louis and Fort Wayne to facilitate participation in the call and placement services at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW).

As part of its spring meeting, the COP generally meets with faculty at both LCMS seminaries. At this meeting, the COP discussed residential and non-residential routes to ordination with both faculties.

The faculties of both CSL and CTSFW shared unique features that their residential formation programs offered, primarily the formation of pastors for service in the church through the regular rhythms of worship, theological study and accountability with fellow students and faculty. They also reported on the status of their work in the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program.

The COP also extensively discussed other approaches to non-residential pastoral formation — both current and potential options — and why some are interested in maintaining or expanding such non-residential programs. Other voices within the Synod, however, strongly hold to the majority conviction (see 2023 LCMS Convention Resolution 6-02A) that residential pastoral formation remain as the preferred means by which men are prepared for examination, call and ordination to service in the Office of the Holy Ministry.

In addition to approving calls and placements for pastoral candidates, deaconesses and vicarages, and discussing pastoral formation, the COP also:

Continued theological study on the Lutheran doctrine of ordination, the Lutheran Confessions and Martin Luther’s “On the Councils and the Church” led by LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison.

Listened to updates from LCMS Youth Ministry, All Nations Ministry, Church Planting and more. Church Planting, in particular, shared its robust platform for evaluating potential church plants and partnering with districts, local representatives and Lutheran Church Extension Fund to identify ideal locations for new church starts.

Received additional information on FOROs (forums), and how the LCMS Office of International Mission is working to implement these globally in all of its regions.

Discussed the use of online technology in the church with the Rev. Dr. Richard Serina Jr., associate executive director of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations.

Heard a report from Concordia Plan Services (CPS) on church worker compensation and benefits. CPS noted that currently, raises of 3.5–5% are generally considered appropriate for merit increases. To offset other factors such as inflation and previous compensation freezes, raises for church workers may need to be in the range of 5–8%.

Finally, the COP also heard from LCMS First Vice-President Rev. Peter Lange on the colloquy processes for both pastoral and commissioned ministers, which have been under review with more information forthcoming.

Posted June 12, 2024