# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S222
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

two
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the refined proposal, it was submited for evaluation to the
Council of Presidents. the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations, and the Standing Committee on Worship.
Having received favorable reactions from these groups, the
Board of Directors now offers the following resolution for
adoption by the convention.

* * *
Resolution re Ministers of Religion

WHEREAS, Christ has established in His church on earth the
Office of the Public Ministry; and

WHEREAS, Many different functions are involved in this
office, some preaching, some sacramental. some counseling,
some educational, some evangelistic, some administrative,
some ministering to physical needs of people; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod recog-
nizes that all of these functions belong to one office even
though they may be performed in greater or lesser degree in
various positions created within the Synod; and

WHEREAS, It therefore becomes advisable for the Synod to
declare unequivocally which positions are regarded by the
Synod as contributing vitally to discharging the Office of the
Public Ministry: and

WHEREAS, From the beginning of its history the Synod has
recognized the unique ministry of its pastors and teachers, as
distinguished from its lay church workers, by permitting its
pastors and teachers to hold individual membership in the
Synod, a privilege not extended to laypersons; therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
approve the attached classifications of positions serving the
membership of the Synod as well as the world in behalf of the
Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod declare emphatically that both
“Ministers of Religion, Ordained” and ‘Ministers of Religion,
Commissioned” are regarded fully by the Synod as Ministers of
Religion, entitled to be regarded as such by all, in recognition of
the fact, even though the functions between and within these
two categories may differ, that all these functions contribute
vitally to discharging the Office of the Public Ministry: and be
it finally

Resolved. That consequently all “Ministers of Religion,
Ordained” and “Ministers of Religion, Commissioned,” as
distinguished from persons in other “Certified Church Worker”
categories as attached hereto, shall be entitled to and shall be
required to be members on their own of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod together with congregations which hold mem-
bership in the Synod.

Classifications of Postions in the Synod
I. Ministers of Religion, Ordained

Eligibility: Graduation from and certification by a synod-
ical theological seminary (or equivalent prescribed by the
Synod—colloquy)

Ordained upon acceptance of first call issued through synod-
ical Board of Assignments

Continuing eligibility dependent—

1. On filling one of the positions specified by the Synod in
its Bylaws (parish pastor, District or synodical officer,
professor, etc.)

2. On meeting criteria of the Synod for continuation tempo-
rarily on the Synod’s clergy member roster as a ¢.r.m.
(candidate)

These are the only persons eligible for parish pastorate
Must become and remain a member of the Synod
Classification open only to men

Synonymous terms: clergyman, pastor

II. Minister of Religion, Commissioned

Eligibility: Graduation from and certification by a synod-
ical college following a synodically prescribed course of study
(or equivalent prescribed by the Synod—colloquy)

Commissioned upon acceptance of first call issued through
synodical Board of Assignments for one of the following
positions:

STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION

1. Teacher: Lutheran elementary, secondary. or college
2. Director of Christian Education: congregation

Continuing eligibility dependent—

1. On filling one of the positions specified by the Synod in
its Bylaws (parish teacher, District or synodical officer,
professor, etc.) ‘

2. On meeting criteria of the Synod for continuation tempo-
rarily on the Synod’s teacher member roster as a candi-
date

Must become and remain a member of the Synod

Classification open to men and women

Synonymous terms: Teacher, teaching minister, minister of
education

III. Certified Church Worker, Lay

Eligibility: Engaged by a congregation or other unit of the

Synod as full-time—

. Deaconess

. Social Worker

. Director of Music

. Elementary. secondary. or college level instructor not
meeting qualifications as Minister of Religion

. Professional person in mission service (e.g., medical
missionary, missionary nurse)

. Persons who qualify for Minister of Religion classifi-

cation but chose not to apply

Lay Assistant to Pastor (“lay minister’)

. Parish Worker

. Parish Assistant

. Any other full-time position in direct service to the
church

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Classification open to men and women
Must be affiliated with member congregation of the Synod
Synonymous terms: Lay worker, parish assistant
Board of Directors
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

5-39

To Urge Noncertified Directors
of Christian Education to Become
Certified for Their Ministry

WHEREAS, There are approximately 225 non-DCE-certified
men and women serving as directors of Christian education in
congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at
the present time; and

WHEREAS, This number represents over half of all the
director of Christian education positions within the Synod:
and

WHEREAS, Very few of the non-DCE-certified workers serv-
ing in director of Christian education positions have responded
to the colloquization procedure initiated at the 1979 synodical
convention; and

WHEREAS, The Board for Professional Education Services
has approved a program for one-time certification for non-
certified directors of Christian education at its January 27—30.
1983, meeting; and

WHEREAS, It would be highly desirable to have all directors
of Christian education in office properly certified; therefore
be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in
convention assembled, urge and encourage all non certified
directors of Christian education to avail themselves of this
one-time certification process; and be it further

Resolved, That the Concordia Colleges at Saint Paul, River
Forest, Seward, and Portland be encouraged to help the Board
for Professional Education Services to expedite this plan for
certifying directors of Christian education on the basis of
congregational experience.

Board for Professional Education Services
Walter L. Rosin. Executive Secretary