# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S171
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION
b. shall have given evidence of a readiness and desire to serve a congregation or other eligible entity or
agency.
7.07 Restrictions
a. If synodical congregations, entities, and agencies
desire to be served by consecrated lay workers, they
shall appoint and be served only by consecrated lay
workers who have been admitted to these respective
ministries in accordance with the rules and regulations
set forth in these Bylaws.
1. Congregations and other entities and agencies of
the Synod shall inform and may seek the advice of the
respective District President when appointing consecrated lay workers.
2. Consecrated lay workers accepting new appointments shall inform the respective District Presidents,
who shall be responsible for updating the consecrated
lay worker listing of the Synod.
3. District Presidents shall be responsible for maintaining records of consecrated church workers in their
Districts, to be made available to congregations, entities, agencies, or other Districts of the Synod.
b. Consecrated lay workers are not members of the
Synod and shall be under the supervision of the congregation, entity, or agency that they serve.
1. Consecrated lay workers shall be solemnly
pledged to the Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant
Word of God and the Symbolical Books of the Lutheran
Church as a true exposition of the Scriptures.
2. Rites of consecration and installation should be in
accordance with forms and practices developed by the
Synod for such purpose and should take place in the
presence of the appointing congregation or other appointing body, except that in the case of lay missionaries appointed by the Synod, members of a faculty of a
synodical institution, or institutional church workers,
the rite should take place in an appropriate setting.

and be it further
Resolved, That those persons to whom this Bylaw
change pertains be encouraged to take the steps necessary
to apply and qualify for rostered status with the Synod; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Concordia University System cooperate by providing to these consecrated lay workers every
opportunity to pursue fulfillment of requirements for rostered status; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations and agencies of the Synod
currently employing these workers be encouraged to support in every way their efforts to attain rostered status with
the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations and agencies of the Synod
currently employing these workers be encouraged to compensate those individuals who attain roster status to offset
the financial liability which rostering creates for them; and
be it further
Resolved, That the category of church workers, Consecrated Lay Workers, be removed immediately prior to the
2004 Synod convention and that Chapter VII be deleted
from the Handbook at that time; and be it finally
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall
not in any way detract or distract from the primary mission
of God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!

171

Action: Adopted (9)
(Res. 7-13 was presented by the committee in session 5, at
which time a motion was approved by voice vote to refer it back to
the committee for further attention. Res. 7-13A was brought back
by the committee in session 9, at which time it was adopted without amendment [yes: 826; no: 270]. The final resolve is added as
required by Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an earlier session.)

To Place Directors of Parish Music
on Roster of Synod
RESOLUTION 7-14
Overtures 7-31–32 (CW, pp. 248–49)
WHEREAS, The importance of music in church life is evident in the Scriptures and throughout the history of the
Christian church; and
WHEREAS, The role of the church musician is also important in the history of the church; and
WHEREAS, The congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod have been well served by generations of
church workers, often teachers, who have provided service
as musicians; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod does
not presently recognize this special vocation of church musician as a rostered position; and
WHEREAS, Some congregations of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod recognize a need for full-time
leadership in the area of church music and would be interested in calling a worker to such a position; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
affirm the service provided by all church musicians as important service to the church; and be it further
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
formally recognize the vocation of director of parish music
and provide opportunity for roster status as Ministers of
Religion—Commissioned to those individuals who have
successfully completed an approved academic program of
study in church music and have been properly certified for
a call into this ministry according to guidelines established
by the Board for Higher Education and the Commission on
Worship of the Synod in consultation with the appropriate
music faculties of the Concordia University System; and be
it further
Resolved, That individuals holding degrees in church
music from Lutheran or other institutions of higher learning be provided opportunity to apply for roster status as directors of parish music through a program of colloquy similar to colloquy programs established for other categories of
Minister of Religion—Commissioned; and be it further
Resolved, That those Ministers of Religion—Commissioned who are already rostered in other categories of service such as teacher or director of Christian education but
who have also completed an approved program of academic
study in church music be provided the opportunity to be
listed as directors of parish music; and be it finally
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall
not in any way detract or distract from the primary mission
of God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted (9)
200l Convention Proceedings