# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S455
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES
WHEREAS, Weekly worship is always a need, as the Scriptures
admonish us not to neglect “to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day
drawing near,” Heb.10:25, and this need is not by nature temporary,
nor are the financial crises and/or remoteness of location of these
congregations; and
WHEREAS, “A district is the Synod itself performing the
functions of the Synod” (Bylaw 4.1.1.1); therefore be it
Resolved, That the Northwest District memorialize the Synod in
its 2019 convention to restore to the district president working in
consultation with his circuit visitors, who are familiar with needs of
each local context, the authority over approving cases of
exceptional need in which deacons may be licensed to continue in
Word and Sacrament ministry as LLDs; and be it further
Resolved, That the colloquy program outlined in Res. 13-02A
continue to exist for LLDs in long term service in Word and
Sacrament; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations be continually encouraged to seek
to fill the Office of the Ministry in their midst with an ordained
pastor whenever possible; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention recognize and appreciate
the contribution that LLDs have made to extend the ministry of the
Gospel in a variety of extraordinary contexts around the nation.
Northwest District

455

specific ministry pastors by colloquy, revoked the LLD designation
from many who did not qualify, and allowed LLDs to continue to
be licensed and deployed in exceptional circumstances when the
needs of congregations require it; and
WHEREAS, 2016 Res. 13-02A requires that district presidents
retain LLDs only with the approval of the national body of the
Council of Presidents (COP); and
WHEREAS, The new requirement adds a layer of bureaucracy and
increases the administrative workload for both individual district
presidents as well as the COP; and
WHEREAS, This requirement transfers ministry decisions from
individual district presidents, who know the needs of local
congregations and the availability regional ministry resources to a
larger, distant group may not; and
WHEREAS, This requirement can add to an atmosphere of distrust
within the Synod; and
WHEREAS, This requirement may have the effect of reducing the
number of LLDs available to serve congregations in need, thereby
increasing the numbers of congregations which many be able to find
approved workers; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District in convention
memorialize the 2019 Synod convention to revoke the requirement
of 2016 Res. 13-02A that district presidents must acquire the
approval of the COP to retain licensure of LLDs in exceptional
circumstances.

Ov. 6-13

Pacific Southwest District

To Revoke the Requirement that District
Presidents Acquire Approval of the Council of
Presidents to License New Licensed Lay Deacons
WHEREAS, 2016 Resolution 13-02A enabled many Licensed Lay
Deacons (LLD) to become Specific Ministry Pastors (SMP) by
colloquy, removed the LLD designation from many who did not fit
the description, and allowed LLDs to continue to be licensed and
deployed when the needs of congregations and availability of men
to serve them requires it; and
WHEREAS, Res. 13-02A requires that district presidents license
men as LLDs only with the approval of the national body of the
Council of Presidents (COP); and
WHEREAS, This new requirement adds an unnecessary layer of
bureaucracy and increases the volume of paperwork and meeting
time for individual district presidents as well as the COP; and
WHEREAS, This requirement moves ministry decisions further
from local congregation ministry than necessary or desirable;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2019 convention revoke the 2016 Res. 1302A requirement that district presidents must acquire the approval
of the COP to license new LLDs.
Michigan District
Ov. 6-14

To Revoke the Requirement the District Presidents
Acquire Approval of the Council of Presidents
to Retain Licensed Lay Deacons
in Exceptional Circumstances

Ov. 6-15

To Thank Those Involved in Rostering
Licensed Lay Deacons
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in
its 66th convention in Milwaukee in 2016 passed Resolution 12-02A
“To Regularize Status of Licensed Lay Deacons Involved in Word
and Sacrament Ministry”; and
WHEREAS, This resolution and the subsequent colloquy process
for Licensed Lay Deacons (LLD) have served to help resolve a
long-standing theological debate in the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The resolution enables LLDs who were involved in
Word and Sacrament ministry to be called and ordained to the
Office of the Holy Ministry through the Specific Ministry Pastors
(SMP) or colloquy; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank First VicePresident Herbert Mueller and the members of the Council of
Presidents who drafted the policies and procedures for the colloquy
to the SMP roster for LLDs; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank all those who have
served and are serving on the LCMS Colloquy Committee and
regional colloquy committees established by Res. 12-02A and
commend their work to completion; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank for their service
all LLDs who through SMP or colloquy have joined or will be
joining the ministerium of the LCMS.
Faculty, Concordia Seminary;
Faculty, Concordia Theological Seminary

WHEREAS, The 2016 Resolution 13-02A of the 2016 Synod
convention enabled many Licensed Lay Deacons (LLD) to become
2019 Convention Workbook