Synod Stories 12: Pastoral Formation with Dr. Adam Koontz

From Synod Stories by Brian Yamabe

January 27, 2026 · 2h 45m · Episode 12

About this episode

Dr. Adam Koontz discusses pastoral formation and the future of Lutheran ministry following a recent gathering of church leaders.

One of the hottest topics heading into the 2026 LCMS Convention is pastoral formation and Dr. Adam Koontz just attended a gathering in Las Vegas where district presidents, pastors, and church leaders spent a day and a half hashing it out. This conversation goes deep. Pastor Koontz shares what he learned from sitting at tables where he was the only defender of residential seminary education, why the online vs. in-person debate is really a proxy for deeper ecclesiological disagreements, and what actually happens when you pass the buck on pastoral certification. We discuss the LCMS's lack of a coherent mission strategy, why expecting more from pastors isn't unkind, and how genuine listening created surprising hopefulness even in contentious conversations. This is essential listening for anyone who cares about the future of Lutheran pastoral ministry.

People in this episode

Host: Brian Yamabe

Guest: Dr. Adam Koontz

Topics covered

pastoral formation
Lutheran ministry
ecclesiology
seminary education
mission strategy

Keywords

pastoral formation
Lutheran Church
seminary education
ecclesiology
mission strategy
pastoral certification

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: LCMS

Places: Las Vegas