LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 324

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324

THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS

also be used for auxiliary offices that are directly supportive of the
teaching and preaching function of the pastoral ministry, the areas of
such responsibility being carefully defined. It should not be used for
offices having functions that, though in general supportive of the
pastoral ministry, are remote and not directly connected to the central
functions of the ministry (e.g., social worker, secretary, custodian, etc.)
The entire confessional fellowship of congregations should agree ona
uniform designation of such offices

ORDINATION—restricted to those first called into the office of the
public ministry.

COMMISSIONING —restricted for placing a person into an office
clearly auxiliary to the central functions of the pastoral ministry. This
would include male and female teachers, deaconesses, directors of
Christian education, etc.

INSTALLATION—used for induction of a person into a specific
post in the pastoral ministry or one of its auxiliary offices as indicated
above

4. What is an “auxiliary office”?

We have indicated this in various places, but we can state it succinctly
here. An auxiliary office is an office that is auxiliary to the office of the public
ministry and specifically to the uniquely ministerial functions of that office.
The offices of teacher, director of Christian education, parish worker, and
other offices recognized by the church and for which the church provides
training are auxiliary offices. In general their functions are functions that
would be performed by the man who holds the office of the public ministry
and that relate to his responsibilities as teacher and spiritual guide and
overseer. The most obvious assurance for a controlled and uniform
definition of these offices is for the church itseif to name them and list those
who hold them. New and different auxiliary offices may be designated from
time to time and their prerequisites spelied out. Individual congregations
should not use these designations indiscriminately or assign to such offices
people who are not currently eligible. Asin the case of the office of the public
ministry, those called to these offices should receive the recognition of the
whole confessional fellowship. People who are not eligible for these offices
should not assume the offices or titles, nor should they be encouraged to
think they hold such offices when they do not.

5. May teachers be franchised at synodical and District conventions?
We see no theological reason why they may not be allowed to vote,
Provided that this is not done to the exclusion of those who hold the office of
the public ministry. In that case the church would be making its decisions
without the advice and registered voting opinions of those who are
specifically trained, called, and charged with the spiritual and doctrinal

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perform certain functions of the office of the public ministry. Confusion
occurs when such terms as “lay minister” or “lay pastor" are employed. This
office is a recent development in the history of our church and is an example
of the church developing an auxiliary office that is a blessing to the effective
pursuit of the pastoral ministry. However, the danger is that the nomenclature
tends to erode the proper understanding of the doctrine of the ministry in the
minds of those who are called to this office and in the minds of the people in
the church. This office should therefore be designated uniformly by such a
term as “lay worker” or “lay assistant.”

8. Who determines eligibility for calls?

The church itself does this. This means the confessional fellowship of
congregations or the Synod. Scripture itself lists requirements, as noted
above. Modern academic standards are not to be found in Scripture, of
course. The church itself must determine from time to time the level of
competence that it requires for various offices and the nature of the curricula
needed to provide such competence.

The present practice of involving pastors, faculties, District presidents,
the colloquy boards, and others is a Proper response to the need for
uniformity and the inclusion of the “wider church” in the decisions about who
1s eligible to study in preparation for the various offices of the church and who
is ultimately declared ehgible to be called. It is not possible to achieve totally
objective standards, but the Word of God requires, first of all, that no one will
piace himself into any office of the church and aiso that congregations or
segments of the church will not act unilaterally in placing persons into church
Offices

9. What is the place of vicars and interns?!$

Vicars and interns are students. In order to gain experience they are
assigned to work in congregations or institutions. They are not in the office of
the public ministry. They may be placed by the whole church for the sake of
order. They are not “called.” They may perform some functions of the office
of the public ministry upon assignment and under the guidance of a pastor. In
the case of teacher interns, the supervision of teaching activities may be

ames ee

Cf. Your Vicar and You: A Manual for the Supervision
of Vicars, n. d., pp. 8—9. This booklet, prepared by the vicarage
departments of the seminaries of the LCMS, states: “The College
of Presidents of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in
conjunction with the seminaries, has set up regulations for the
Congregations and pastors with regard to vicars performing
official acts.”

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oversight of the churches. Likewise, to exert an egalitarianism that equates
all “professional” offices in the church is to ignore the divinely ordained
nature of the office of the public ministry and equate it with those offices that
are auxiliary to it.

6. Are certain functions in the church limited to the office of the public
ministry?

The ministry of Word and sacrament and the public administration of
the Office of the Keys is entrusted to the office of the public ministry. Ina
congregation, therefore, the man who holds the office of the public ministry is
a steward of the mysteries of God. He is the shepherd, overseer, and elder of
the church in that place. The ultimate responsibility for what is taught and for
guiding the lives of the flock is his.

However, the reference to auxiliary offices in the New Testament
indicates that some of the actual functions of the office of the public ministry
may be performed by others under his guidance and direction. The churc h,
or congregation, has the right to expect that the men to whom the office has
been conveyed will not lightly distribute the functions of the ministry to
others. In any case, he must not disregard his responsibility as the overseer.

If that principle is kept clearly in mind, various arrangements for the
auxiliary offices to assist the pastoral ministry are possible and often
desirable. All who teach in the church should do so under the guidance and
supervision of the pastoral ministers. Such supervision is a duty and
responsibility of the pastors and not a matter of privilege. Functions that are
essentially exercises of the ministry of Word and sacrament should be
performed by those who hold the office of the public ministry. Thus,
Preaching in the worship service, leading in public prayer, celebration of the
Sacrament of the Altar, baptisms, wedding and funeral services should be
carried out by those who hold the office of public ministry. However, in
exceptional circumstances or in emergencies (as when a pastor is
incapacitated}, members of the auxiliary offices or other qualified individuals
may temporarily be called upon to perform, under proper supervision,
functions that are otherwise performed by the pastor and that are not for
other reasons precluded (e.g.. women teachers or deaconesses preachingin
the public service).

In this matter there needs to be a concern for order in the church. The
indiscriminate assignment of functions of the office of the public ministry
breeds confusion and disorder in the church. A disregard of uniformity of
practice is contrary to the very reason for the existence of the Synod.

7. Can there be “lay ministers"?

The Lutheran Annual displays a listing of “Lutheran Lay Ministers in
Service” who are graduates of the Lutheran Lay Ministers program. This
nomenclature indicates that some persons are trained by the Synod to

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assigned to principals or others by the pastor. Also in the case of “deferred
vicarages,” when a colloquy student is assigned toa congregation that has no
pastor, specific supervision should be provided, usually by the District
President, a circuit counselor, or someone assigned in an orderly fashion.
Functions that such vicars may perform should be agreed upon by the
supervising pastor and the congregation. Again, order in the church requires
that the definition of such functions be as uniform as possible throughout the
church

10. Are functions of men and women in the auxiliary offices to be
distinguished?

Here compare the resolutions of the Synod.:* Men and women may
occupy the same auxiliary offices. Since an auxiliary office is not the pastoral
office, there is neither a Scriptural proscription against women holding the
auxiliary office of teacher nor a Scriptural basis for considering women
teachers inferior to men teachers. Of course, within the ranks of teachers
there may be some who supervise (e.g., principals, superintendents, etc.)
and some who are supervised. The ranking is by human authority for the
sake of order in the church

The purpose of this report has not been to discuss the principles relating
to women in the pastoral office. The position of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod on this question is that the Scriptures teach that women may
not “hold the pastoral office or serve in any other capacity involving the
distinctive functions of this office.

Congregations or other appropriate agencies of the church may within
the hmitations previously discussed '* request and designate a teacher to
perform certain functions, under the supervision of the pastor, that belong to
the pastoral office. In that case, such a request and designation may apply

—_————¥x—x&Xx[VT[—==>

Cf. 1965 Resolunon 2-21 “To Adopt Report on Status of
Certified Women Teachers, with Addition,” 1965 Convention
Proceedings, p. 99, and 1973 Resolution 7-05 “To Include Female
Teachers on the Roster of the Synod,” 1973 Convention
Proceedings, p. 190.

1969 Reoslution 2-17 “To Grant Woman Suffrage and
Board Membership,” 1969 Convention Proceedings, pp. 88—89
Cf. also 1971 Resolution 2-04 “To Withhold Ordination of Women
to the Pastoral Office,” 1971 Convention Proceedings, pp. 114—
115, and 1977 Resolution 3-15 “To Reaffirm the Synod's Position
on Women with Reference to the Pastoral Office,” 1977 Con-
vention Proceedings, p. 134

“*See pp. 16 and 35 above.

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