# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S443
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
WHEREAS, LLD are authorized at the request of the local
congregation through the office of the district president and
sanctioned by the Council of Presidents; and
WHEREAS, The hearts of some believers have been burdened by
the false belief that the validity of the Sacraments depends on the
ordination of the celebrant; therefore be it
Resolved, That we affirm the validity of the Sacraments when
administered by LLDs, under the supervision of an ordained pastor
at the request of the congregation; and be it further
Resolved, That we affirm the validity of God’s Word and
Sacraments because they are the Means of God’s grace among us
through which His Spirit alone works saving faith and the
forgiveness of sins through Christ Jesus, quite apart from the
character or position of the man administrating them so long as they
have been called or appointed to do so by the gathered saints of God
in Christ; and be it further
Resolved, That in the instances when the administration of the
Word and Sacraments is not done by an ordained pastor, for the sake
of good order in the church, communication and counsel should be
made with the district president and the circuit visitor; and be it
finally
Resolved, That we affirm and give thanks for the divine
institution of the office of the holy ministry and give hearty thanks
and honor for those who have been ordained (set apart) to serve in
that holy office.
Michigan District
Ov. 5-34

To Affirm the Efficacy of the Word and
Sacraments Apart from Ordination
WHEREAS, Recent conversations regarding the service of
Licensed Lay Deacons (LLD) have referenced a concern whether
the Sacrament of the Altar or the Sacrament of Baptism
administered by an LLD (non-ordained) was really “valid” or
efficacious; and
WHEREAS, There is still much disagreement whether Augsburg
Confession (AC) XIV and its reference to “regular call” inherently
assumes ordination; and
WHEREAS, Ordination is not a divine institution (C. F. W.
Walther, Church and Ministry, Ministry Thesis VI [St. Louis:
Concordia Publishing House, 1987], 219), but rather an apostolic
custom for good order and is to be encouraged in the church; and
WHEREAS, Walther writes: “Now that forgiveness has been
procured, as stated, not only has a minister a special commission to
proclaim it, but every Christian, male or female, adult or child, is
commissioned to do this. Even a child’s absolution is just as certain
as the absolution of St. Peter, yea, as the absolution of Christ would
be, were He again to stand visibly before men and say: ‘Thy sins
are forgiven thee.’ There is no difference; for mark you! it is not a
question of what man must do, but what has been done by Christ”
(C. F. W. Walther, Law and Gospel [St. Louis: Concordia
Publishing House, 2010], 187). And again, “Making the power and
validity of the divine means of grace itself dependent on the right
ordination is doubly abominable, since ordination is only a human,
namely, a church [ordinance], not however a divine ordinance. By
making God’s business dependent on human institutions one
nullifies God’s commandment through man’s commandment, [and]

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therefore places the latter above the former.” (C.F.W. Walther, “The
Congregation’s Right to Choose Its Pastor,” Der Lutheraner, Aug.
1861); and
WHEREAS, AC XV states that, with regard to church usages that
have been established by men, “it is taught among us that those
usages are to be observed which may be observed without sin and
which contribute to peace and good order in the church” (in this
instance ordination). “Yet we accompany these observances with
instruction so that consciences may not be burdened by the notion
that such things are necessary for salvation. Moreover, it is taught
that all ordinances and traditions” (e.g., ordination) “instituted by
men for the purpose of propitiating God and earning grace are
contrary to the Gospel and the teaching about faith in Christ;” and
WHEREAS, AC VIII states that “the Sacraments are efficacious
even if the priests who administer them are wicked men, for as
Christ himself indicated, ‘The Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat’ (Matt.
23:2)”; and
WHEREAS, Some among us have even discouraged our laity from
witnessing to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but rather to leave that to
the ordained, thereby hindering the royal priesthood of God from
carrying out their divine mandate and privilege (Matt. 28:19; 1 Peter
2:4–10); and
WHEREAS, Many hearts of faithful believers have been burdened
or held hostage by the false teaching that ordination adds anything
to the preached Word or the Sacraments; therefore be it
Resolved, That we affirm the efficacy of God’s Word and
Sacraments because they are the means of God’s grace among us
through which His Spirit alone works saving faith and the
forgiveness of sins through Christ Jesus, quite apart from the
character or position of the individual administering them, so long
as they have been appointed (called) to do so by the gathered saints
of God in Christ—it is God who acts in the Sacrament; and be it
further
Resolved, That in the rare instances when the administration of
the Word and Sacraments is not done by an ordained pastor, for the
sake of good order in the church, communication and counsel
should be made with the district president and the circuit visitor;
and be it further
Resolved, That we affirm and give thanks for the divine
institution of the Office of the Holy Ministry and give hearty thanks
and honor for those who have been ordained (set apart) to serve in
that Holy Office; and be it finally
Resolved, That every believer in Christ faithfully, boldly, and
confidently proclaim the saving Gospel of the crucified and risen
Jesus Christ, knowing that God’s Word through them “will not
return to me empty, but will accomplish what I [He] desire[s] and
achieve the purpose for which I [He] sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 [NIV]),
namely, the salvation of souls for whom Christ died.
Trinity
Roselle, IL
Ov. 5-35

To Affirm the Priesthood of All Believers in Christ
and Therefore their Call as Missionaries
WHEREAS, Luther’s Small Catechism affirms that no one can “by
their own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, or come to
Him,” but rather “the Holy Spirit calls (each) through the Gospel,

2019 Convention Workbook