# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S460
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

460

ROUTES TO MINISTRY

ordained pastors in cases of necessity as determined by the local
pastor and the president of the district.
Hope
Woodburn, OR
13-37

To Retain District Lay Deacon Programs
Whereas, Grace Lutheran Church of Canastota, New York, is a
small congregation in the Eastern District of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod; and
Whereas, The congregation of Grace Lutheran Church does not
and will not likely have the financial resources in the future to support a full-time pastor, and supporting a part-time pastor would tax
the resources of the church greatly; and
Whereas, The congregation of Grace Lutheran Church, from
past experience, needs a form of pastoral care to remain a viable congregation; and
Whereas, Many other small congregations, both in the Eastern
District and the United States, are in similar circumstances as the congregation of Grace Lutheran Church; and
Whereas, The congregation of Grace Lutheran Church is currently served by a licensed lay deacon of the Eastern District of the
LCMS; and
Whereas, The congregation of Grace Lutheran Church has found
that this licensed lay deacon is trained and fully competent in the
Scriptures and in the teachings of the LCMS; and
Whereas, The congregation of Grace Lutheran Church believes
that a well-trained licensed lay deacon can provide proper pastoral care in congregations with small numbers of individuals facing
challenging circumstances, such as geographical isolation, limited
financial resources, or when a mission or congregation consists of
individuals from an ethnic or linguistic minority; and
Whereas, The congregation of Grace Lutheran Church believes
that the licensed lay deacon program is the affordable option it has to
receive pastoral care; and
Whereas, The congregation of Grace Lutheran Church believes
that elimination of the licensed lay deacon program is contrary to the
goals set forth in “Ablaze!—Sharing the Good News of Christ Jesus
with 100 Million People by 2017”; therefore be it
Resolved, That licensed lay deacon programs be retained by the
LCMS.
Grace Lutheran Church
Canastota, NY
13-38

To Make Provision for Continued Existence
of Licensed Lay Deacon Status
Whereas, The future of the licensed lay deacon is in question at
the 2016 convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and
Whereas, Our congregation, Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church,
in North Royalton, Ohio, has had the services of five licensed lay deacons who have served well, and two of them so well they were given
ordained status after ten years of effective ministry; and
Whereas, Many LCMS congregations in our part of the Ohio
District are withering away and can no longer afford a full-time pastor, but they can be served ably by a knowledgeable layman under
supervision of an ordained pastor; therefore be it
2016 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention make provision for the
continued existence of the licensed lay deacon status; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod make provision for facilitating the training and supervision of licensed lay deacons at the district level.
Royal Redeemer
North Royalton, OH
13-39

To Keep Deacon Ministry
Whereas, The deacon ministry of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod provides a valuable resource to congregations and
their members; and
Whereas, There would be churches in our Synod who would not
be able to have Word and Sacrament ministry if it were not for the
deacon ministry and the help they provide; and
Whereas, The fact is that some churches cannot afford to pay a
pastor to be full-time or part-time in ministry; and
Whereas, There are some deacons who would not be able to go
into the seminary by the traditional route or the Specific Ministry
Pastor program due to health reasons, financial concerns, etc.; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS make every effort to keep the deacon
ministry going by any means possible; and be it further
Resolved, The LCMS redouble its efforts to identify men eligible
for the pastoral ministry; and be it finally
Resolved, To train more men to be deacons and work under the
supervision of their pastor, to help with Word and Sacrament ministry,
to continue to make use of the trained licensed deacon in their midst.
First
Little Rock, AR
13-40

To Affirm Ministry of Licensed Lay Deacons
Whereas, Deacons were appointed in Acts 6, and the Holy Spirit
led Philip and Stephen to proclaim the Good News and to baptize and
teach (Acts 6–8); and
Whereas, Dr. C. F. W. Walther recognized “auxiliary/helping”
offices to assist ordained pastors and to further the ministry of the
Gospel; and
Whereas, “Some are called to be apostles, some to be prophets,
some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may
be built up … ” (Eph. 4:11–12); and
Whereas, Immanuel Lutheran Church is financially unable to
support a full-time pastor; and
Whereas, Our congregation’s vacancy has been faithfully filled
by a licensed deacon for more than two and a half years, providing for
the spiritual needs of this congregation; visiting the sick, dying, and
homebound; officiating at funerals; and baptizing the unbaptized; and
Whereas, The licensed deacon serving our congregation is serving under the direct supervision and direction of an ordained pastor;
and
Whereas, The licensed deacon serving our congregation serves
under the careful oversight of our district president, who faithfully
enforces the policies and guidelines for the use of licensed lay deacons; and