The Smalcald Articles and the Call for Open Debate: Reflections on Pastoral Ordination and Leadership in the LCMS

When was the last time you read the Smalcald Articles as found in the Book of Concord? 

They were written by Doctor Martin Luther and presented at the Council of Mantua in 1537. In the Preface, Luther states he was “instructed to compose and assemble articles of our teaching in case it came to negotiations about what and how far we would or could compromise with the papists, and in which things we definitely intended to persist and remain firm.”

The articles were ratified by the other reformers and presented to the papists as a “confession of our faith—should the pope and his adherents ever become so bold as to convene a truly free council in a serious and genuine spirit, without deception and treachery, as would be his duty.” 

The reformers still held out hope that humility and confession and absolution could win the day in the theological places where the Pope and the papists had erred. I am grateful the reformers did not compromise on the truths of the Gospel. I do lament that the sixteenth-century Roman Catholic leaders chose pride over confession and unity. 

Luther and the reformers had to feel so convicted around the truths of the Gospel to do what they did. It is hard to speak truth to those in positions of power. Frankly, most people can’t and/or won’t. It goes against our human nature to challenge authority. Most prefer safety to sacrifice and risk, even if it is for the sake of expanding God’s Kingdom. The scattering of Jesus’ disciples in His greatest moment of need on the cross is proof.  

Yet, Luther was convicted that the spiritual authorities in the church had erred. Listen to how Luther concludes his Preface: “O dear Lord Jesus Christ, hold a council of your own and redeem your people through your glorious return! The pope and his people are lost.”

The LCMS is not the sixteenth-century Roman Catholic Church. 

Nonetheless, I believe we need to have more open discussion and data-filled debate on the topic of leadership development, pastoral ministry, and ordination. These doors do not appear open. 

Here is the proof. The White Paper on “A Pastor for Every LCMS Congregation” was not debated and discussed at the recent Council of Presidents gathering. It was formally* (*roundly) dismissed (See correction below). This is disrespectful to the men, including 13 district presidents, who gave time and attention to the topic of pastoral formation. 

We need pastors. Now. 

We need bivocational and covocational pastors. Now. 

According to the recent Lutheran Reporter, LCMS congregations with an average weekly attendance of fewer than 50 account for 45% of the synod’s churches. 

Congregations worshiping this amount of people can hardly afford to pay a pastor a full time salary, which is what is expected after completing a four-year residential master of divinity degree. What will these churches do? 

Changes need to be made. Tests need to be run to meet the needs of the local church. The ULC is actively involved in one of these tests. 

Nonetheless, we still await the invitation to have an honest, collegial, biblical, Lutheran confessions, and data-filled conversation on the present need, and what we should do to serve local churches. 

Smalcald Articles 10 should be deeply considered given our current ordination and certification conversation. Here is the entire article:

Concerning Ordination and Vocation

If the bishops wanted to be true bishops and to attend to the church and the gospel, then a person might - for the sake of love and unity but not out of necessity - give them leave to ordain and confirm us and our preachers, provided all the pretense and fraud of unchristian ceremony and pomp were set aside. However, they are not now and do not want to be true bishops. Rather, they are political lords and princes who do not want to preach, teach, baptize, commune, or perform any proper work or office of the church. In addition, they persecute and condemn those who do take up the call to such an office. Despite this, the church must not remain without servants on their account.

Therefore, as the ancient examples of the church and the Father’s teach us, we should and will ordain suitable persons to this office ourselves. They may not forbid or prevent us, even according to their own laws, because their laws say that those who are ordained even by heretics should be regarded as ordained and remain ordained. Similarly, St. Jerome writes about the church at Alexandria that had originally been ruled by the priests and preachers together, without bishops. 

I am not asserting LCMS leadership is exactly like the sixteenth-century Roman Catholic Church. I am asserting that we’re acting in similar fashion regarding pastoral certification and ordination. We’re not listening to the entirety of the Church. The dismissal of the white paper “A Pastor for Every LCMS Congregation” is one source of proof.

The Church needs pastors. Now. Luther and the reformers knew it. So do we.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, especially if you can make the biblical and confessional argument that pastoral formation and certification solely belongs to LCMS seminaries and national synod leadership.

uniteleadership.org

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*We were just made aware of an area in the recent Smalcald Article ULC blog that was not 100% accurate. In good faith, and in the hopes of continued dialogue around the topic of certification and ordination, we would like to share more of the details of how the "White Paper" was engaged by the Council of Presidents (COP) and joint seminary faculty.

The "White Paper" was not "roundly" dismissed as my blog stated. The paper was distributed to the entire COP and both seminary faculties in early April to provide opportunity to read it prior to the actual meetings. West coast District President's Lange, Linnemann, and Gibson briefly presented a summary of the paper to the combined COP and Faculty meetings at both seminaries. There was a brief discussion around the tables and a report back to the facilitator.

There was discussion on the paper at the opening of the COP session in April, prior to the seminary faculty meetings, where “Mike’s paper” was challenged. We were made aware that Pacific Southwest District President, Mike Gibson, kept stating that it wasn’t "his paper." He reminded the COP that 13 Districts had participated. Some on the COP wanted to know where it had come from and why it had been written and distributed. Those questions made it clear that they had not read the paper since both of the above questions were clearly addressed on page one of the White Paper. The invitation for the White Paper had come from the joint seminary faculty.

Unfortunately, the primary intent of the White Paper was not fulfilled. It was not discussed by the joint seminary faculty. Originally the White Paper had been requested to provide an alternative voice for the combined seminary faculty retreat at Ann Arbor at the end of May, potentially allowing select District Presidents who had helped write the paper to attend to make a presentation on the White Paper for open discussion. This did not occur.

Instead, here are the titles of the papers presented at the joint seminary faculty May conference:

Assessing Approaches and Outcomes of Residential and Non-residential Routes to Ordination in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod under 2023 Resolution 6-03AI by Kevin Robson (Member of the Pastoral Formation Committee)

Pastoral Preparation in the LCMS and the Benefits of Residential Seminary Formation by Egger and Rast (Both members of the Pastoral Formation Committee at the time)

Residential Theological Education and Online Theological Education by Stephen R. Graham from ATS

After receiving more of this timeline it is clear the "white paper" was not "roundly" dismissed. It was more formally dismissed, which is almost harder to understand.

The ULC is praying for a day in the LCMS when diverse opinions, especially regarding our chief aim of developing leaders to proclaim the Gospel to the found and lost, will be welcome. Even the clarification we received lets us know that day is not here yet. Prayers continue.

uniteleadership.org