# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S133
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

4. LIFE TOGETHER
To Affirm and Celebrate 60 Years of
Director of Christian Education Ministry
in the Synod
RESOLUTION 4-01
Overture 4-24 (CW, 422)

WHEREAS, Our church body approved Resolution 4-26 at
its 1959 convention, which established the office of Director
of Christian Education (DCE) in order to “provide
additional leadership for the educational program of the
congregation”; and
WHEREAS, DCEs comprise the third largest category of
rostered workers in our Synod, with hundreds of certified
DCEs serving in congregations, schools, districts,
universities, and other Synod entities; and
WHEREAS, Five of our Concordia universities provide
innovative DCE programs, preparing today’s DCEs for
cradle-to-grave Christian education in the congregation;
and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures direct the church to teach God’s
Word, to equip the “priesthood of all believers” for acts of
service and to be built up into Christ (1 Peter 2:9; Eph. 4:7–
16; 2 Tim. 3:16–17); and
WHEREAS, DCEs teach Jesus’ disciples to observe all that
Jesus has commanded us (Matt. 28:20; Deuteronomy 6)
and lift up the Word of God as living and active (Heb. 4:12)
and our light (Ps. 119:105); and
WHEREAS, Research indicates that effective educational
practices, like those promoted in the preparation of DCEs
in our Synod schools, are significantly correlated to the
development of characteristics of faith maturity; therefore
be it
Resolved, That the Synod thank God for 60 years of DCE
ministry in the LCMS; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod affirm the important work that
has been done for our Synod and the Church by certified
DCEs for the past 60 years; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention support and
celebrate those individuals who are preparing to serve as
DCEs, those who are currently serving, and those who have
served as DCEs in our Synod.
Action: Adopted (1)
Without discussion, the resolution was adopted [Yes: 887; No:
57].

To Commend LCMS Deaconesses
and Diaconal Work
RESOLUTION 4-02
Overture L4-31 (TB, 1:31–32)

WHEREAS, The year of our Lord 2019 marks 100 years of
training Lutheran deaconesses in the United States of
America; and
WHEREAS, This convention marks the 40th anniversary
since the first Synod deaconess training program was
mandated by the Synod in convention to begin at
Concordia University Chicago (CUC); and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) offers multiple deaconess training programs,
including one undergraduate and three master’s degree
programs through the two seminaries and CUC, as well as
deaconess training through the Center for Hispanic
Studies, for the sake of congregational, institutional, and
missionary support in education, mercy, and outreach
grounded in the Word and understanding of the Lutheran
Confessions; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS and its congregations have helped
to introduce nine international deaconess programs for the
support of our missionaries and international partner
churches as we seek to accompany Word and Sacrament
ministry with human care components for widows,
orphans, sojourners, and others, over whom our Lord
watches (Ps. 146:9; James 1:27); and

Committee 4 Chairman Allan Buss
Resolutions

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 133