# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S231 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) HIGHER EDUCATION 231 5-29 To Make Use of New Lay Training Programs Wuereas, God has given to the church all the gifts of the Holy Spirit necessary for the Body of Christ to be fully functional; and WHEREAS, The Scriptures speak clearly of “the priesthood of all believers”; and WHEREAS, Situations exist when it is impractical or impossible . for a congregation to be able to call a seminary-trained pastor; and WHEREAS, There are some indications that the number of such situations may very well increase rather than decrease; and WHEREAS, So as to provide for the spiritual needs of people in all locations, laymen have been licensed by District Presidents to carry out the office of the public ministry; and WHEREAS, These lay ministers have proved to be a blessing from God to those congregations; therefore be it Resolved, That we thank God for our laymen and women who give unselfishly for the good of Christ’s church; and be it further Resolved, That we reaffirm the need for lay ministers and dea- cons in the LCMS; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS explore and implement appropriate training programs both for ministry training for lay workers and for distance learning for ordination; and be it finally Resolved, That the delegates in convention give thanks to God for our lay ministers and deacons by singing the doxology. St. Paul Saratoga Springs, NY 5-30 To Support Continued Lay Ministry Training WHEREAS, There is a shortage of ordained ministers to meet the needs of our congregations; and WHEREAS, The Synod in its foresight approved the licensing of lay men (deacons) at its 1989 Wichita convention (3-05B) to pro- vide ministry to congregations affected by the shortage; and Wrereas, Licensed lay men (deacons) who have been trained by the Districts of our church body have been serving effectively in these situations; and WHEREAS, For many men, the lay ministry training programs are the places where they identify the call for full-time ministry; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention acknowledge with thanks to God those who are currently serving the church body in remote situations and as a support to the pastors of larger congre- gations and also those that are training to be licensed lay men (dea- cons); and be it further Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm the importance of the lay ministry training programs as originally approved in 1989, and affirmed by the Synod in convention in 2001, to provide licensed lay men to serve in remote situations and in supportive roles to the called pastor in other congregations. Board of Directors Pacific Southwest District §-31 To Support “For the Sake of the Church” and Concordia University System WHEREAS, Since 1992 the colleges and universities of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have formed the Concordia University System, a nation-spanning partnership of 10 institutions that provides its students numerous benefits; and WHEREAS, The majority of our called church workers come through Concordia University System institutions, along with thou- sands of laypeople who have been prepared for service and lead- ership in our congregations; and WHEREAS, The needs of our congregations for both called church workers and lay servant leaders will only grow, as our con- gregations reach out to their communities with the Gospel message of salvation through faith in Jesus through our churches and schools; and WHEREAS, The institutions of the Concordia University System are facing unprecedented fiscal stresses, resulting especially from the small endowments held by many of our colleges and universities; and WHEREAS, Our own beloved Concordia University in River For- est both contributes in significant ways to the called and lay lead- ership needs of our congregations and schools and faces these same fiscal stresses; therefore be it Resolved, That we remember with thanksgiving those dedicated visionaries and educators who established, developed, and now serve at the colleges and universities of the Concordia University System; and be it further Resolved, That we encourage our congregations and their mem- bers to support the “For the Sake of the Church” effort to raise $400 million in endowment gifts to ensure the future of the Con- cordia colleges and universities, so that our sons and daughters may benefit from them for generations to come; and be it further Resolved, That we specifically endorse the observance of an an- nual Concordia Sunday on which our people may be informed of the work of the Concordias and given opportunity to support them with their offerings and deferred gifts; and be it further Resolved, That we specifically encourage the congregations.and people of the Northern Hlinois District to direct their support of “For the Sake of the Church” and Concordia Sunday to our own Concor- dia University in River Forest and to participate in its “Ambassador Program” of liaisons in each of our congregations; and be it finally Resolved, That we, the convention of the Northern Illinois Dis- trict, memorialize the 2004 LCMS convention to thank God for the institutions and people of the colleges and universities of the Con- cordia University System and to support fully the enrollment and endowment goals of “For the Sake of the Church.” Northern Illinois District; Trinity, Roselle, IL; Circuit 6, Northern Illinois District 5-32 To Encourage Congregations and Women re Ministers of Religion—Commissioned, Deaconess WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has the po- sition of “Minister of Religion—Commissioned, Deaconess”; and WHEREAS, Many congregations and women may not be aware of this position; therefore be it Resolved, That we thank our two seminaries and Concordia University, River Forest, for offering training leading to the certi- fication of deaconesses; and be it further Resolved, That the Board of Regents of Concordia University, River Forest, be heartily encouraged to establish a committee to so- licit financial gifts and extended funding for an endowment that would support and establish a “chair” and effective program for training deaconesses at CURF for service to Christ, His church, and the glory of a great and gracious God; and be it further Resolved, That this committee report its progress and success to the 2006 Northern Illinois District convention; and be it further Resolved, That those in attendance at our 2003 District conven- tion be ready to support this blessed effort; and be it further Resolved, That we encourage women to pray about and consider serving as deaconesses; and be it further Resolved, That we encourage congregations to call certified deaconesses to serve them as an auxiliary to the Office of the Min- istry; and be it finally Resolved, That the Northern Illinois District memorialize this resolution to the 2004 LCMS convention. Northern Illinois District