# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S230 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 230 HIGHER EDUCATION WHEREAS, The DELTO Oversight Committee (comprised of representatives of the COP, BHE, the synodical President’s Office, and seminaries) has approved a process of building on the founda- tion of District lay training programs for DELTO; and Wuereas, An increasing number of Districts are becoming in- volved in “on the job,” contextual training in lay ministry, includ- ing the first ten courses of DELTO; and WHEREAS, There is a growing need for all forms of lay training, including the training of licensed deacons to do Word and Sacra- ment ministry in the absence of ordained clergy; and WHEREAS, The need for both licensed deacons and pastoral ser- vice in remote locations, among ethnic and specialized ministries, on multiple-staff ministries, and other ministry settings continues to exceed supply; and WHEREAS, The current admissions criteria for DELTO restricts many from acceptance into the program; therefore be it Resolved, That Res. 3-05B of the 1989 Wichita convention es- tablishing licensed deacons be affirmed; and be it further Resolved, That DELTO, as reconfigured since the 2001 con- vention, be affirmed and mandated to include the following in its admissions criteria: A. Applicants should be mature in faith and life, have signifi- cant experience in the church, and adequate post-secondary school course work and experience to enable successful completion of the program. B. Applicants must be communicant members in good standing of an LCMS congregation, supported by their spouses (if married) and other immediate family members, and be sufficiently commit- ted to the Lutheran faith to represent the LCMS in their unique sit- uation. C. Applicants must be male and have demonstrated the aptitude to serve in the pastoral office by consent. D. Applicants must be in, or entering, a Word and Sacrament ministry where presence and ministry is expected both during and after the completion of the program. E. Applicants must be screened by the District and receive the recommendation of the President of the District in which they serve. . F. The District in which the applicant serves, his District Presi- dent, and his congregation must recognize and support the ministry situation in which the applicant will receive his training. and be it further Resolved, That DELTO also adopt the following procedures: A. After the first ten courses applicants must be paired with an ordained pastor of the LCMS who will serve as their mentor/vic- arage supervisor throughout the course of study. B. Mentor/vicarage supervisors must be approved according to standardized criteria and agree to provide appropriate feedback to their student and to the seminary on a regular basis. Each men- tor/vicarage supervisor must have the permission of his own con- gregation to be engaged in this educational endeavor. and be it finally Resolved, That we rejoice in all the gifts of ministry the Lord provides in the priesthood of all believers and encourage the con- _ gregations and Districts of the LCMS to support and expand both lay and DELTO training that will serve Christ by nurturing believ- ers in the faith and in reaching the lost for Him. Board of Directors Northwest District 5-27 To Strengthen and Expand Deacon Training Programs in Synod’s Districts WuereEAS, The Mid-South District has established a deacon’s program (lay assistant to the pastor program) as suggested by 1998 Res. 5-09; and WHEREAS, There continues to be a critical shortage of pastors in the Mid-South District and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, That shortage continues to increase as more pastors retire and leave the pastoral ministry for other reasons; and Whereas, There are a large number of small congregations who cannot afford a full-time or part-time pastor because of financial restraints; and WHEREAS, The Mid-South District and The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod are opening new missions each year that require pastors; and WHEREAS, The deacon program of the Mid-South District has, in the past four years, effectively recruited, trained, and placed in supervised Word ministries 28 gifted laymen; and WHEREAS, Congregations of the District are experiencing great blessings through the deacon program; therefore be it Resolved, That we thank God for those who have developed the deacon program in our District, who have taught the courses, and for those who are faithfully serving as deacons within our District; and be it further Resolved, That this vital program be continued and expanded to meet the critical need of qualified, trained, and supervised dea- cons in congregations and specialized ministries that cannot afford or obtain pastors; and be it further Resolved, That we encourage and make available the DELTO program to those in the deacon program; and be it finally Resolved, That the Mid-South District in convention memori- alize the 2004 Synod convention to strengthen and expand the dea- con training programs in the Synod’s Districts. Mid-South District 5-28 To Affirm District Lay-Ministry-Equipping Programs WHEREAS, We the Synod affirm the historical Lutheran under- standing of the priesthood of all believers (that God through the work of His Son by the power of the Holy Spirit, has made all be- lievers “a royal priesthood to declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” {1 Peter 2:5, 9]); and WHEREAS, Recent statistics show that one in two Americans are not Christian, making the United States a mission field of opportu- nity; and WHEREAS, Workers are needed to serve in this time of great challenge and opportunity; and WHEREAS, Nineteen Districts of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod have developed ministry education and training pro- grams for church members so that they may be more effective in their ministry and assist in areas of need; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod, acting in convention, affirm the role of the laity in expanding the mission of the church and recognize the need to further equip laypersons for mission work; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod, acting in convention, recognize, af- firm, and encourage the work of the Districts in developing min- istry-equipping programs for the laity, such as the Lay Leader In- stitute, Missionary Training Center, Training Leaders for Ministry, and The Alaskan Project; and be it finally Resolved, That for the sake of good order the Council of Presi- dents of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod develop a stan- dardized core curriculum for District lay-training programs and co- ordinate a national listing of participants. Board of Directors, Iowa District West; Board of Directors, Southeastern District