LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 111

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yention had previously reaffirmed its position with regard to the
service of women in that office. The ruling of the chair on this
matter was sustained. An amendment calling for a change of “Dis-
trict” to “Circuit” in the final resolve was declined. The resolution,
discussed in sessions 6, 8, and 9 and amended twice, was adopted
~ after delegates agreed to cease debate.)

To Adopt Recommendations
of Lay Worker Study Committee Report
as Amended

RESOLUTION 3-05B

Report R3-06 (CW, pp. 69-73); Overtures 3-10-13, 3-
15A-3-19, 3-24 (CW, pp. 173-76)

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
been and continues to be blessed with many dedicated full-
time church workers; and

Wuereas, The Synod in convention in 1983 adopted a
three-category classification of our full-time workers: Min-
ister of Religion, Ordained; Minister of Religion, Commis-
sioned; and Certified Professional Church Worker, Lay
(1983, Res. 5-09A); and

Wuereas, The Scriptures and the Lutheran Confes-
sions clearly teach that there is only one divinely instituted
office in the church; that is, the Office of the Public Min-
istry, commonly referred to as pastor (AC V, XIV); and

Wuereas, “Except in exceptional circumstances or in
emergencies” (“The Ministry,” a report of the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations, 1981, p. 35) the’ dis-
tinctive functions of the pastoral office are to be carried
out only by those who have received a regular call (AC
XIV); and

Wuereas, Great care must be exercised in carrying out
oF the Great Commission so that people not be deprived of
- me Word and Sacrament when no ordained pastor is available;
and

Wuereas, The Bylaws of the Synod provide for the li-
censing of certain men “for special Word and Sacrament
ministry, under the supervision of ordained pastors” (By-

oni law 6.97 f); and

a Wuereas, The Synod in its history has met critical
needs in its ministries by employing extraordinary means,
ae for example, the Nothilfern (“emergency helpers”—pastors
i core : for special circumstances) in its early history; and

: ae | Wuereas, The experience of some of our partner
“| churches (e.g., The Lutheran Church of Nigeria and The
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana) includes the use
i : of specially selected, trained, and supervised laymen to
i L assist in Word and Sacrament ministry; and

| Wuereas, Approximately 135 “lay ministers” are pres-
ently serving in the Synod in an ongoing Word and Sac-
rament ministry without the benefit of synodical
guidelines for their service; and

Wuereas, Concerns have been raised that the unique-
ness of the divinely instituted pastoral office be preserved;
and

Wuereas, The Lay Worker Study Committee, ap-
pointed by the President of the Synod, undertook a careful
study of the whole matter of recognized lay ministry in the

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 111

Synod, including (1) the question of pastoral services, func-
tions, and responsibilities being carried out by men who
have not completed a seminary program and who are not
ordained; (2) the questions of nomenclature, preparation,
deployment, and supervision of the present Category III
(Certified Professional Church Workers, Lay) workers: and
(3) the review and identification of various and perhaps
new ways of involving lay people in specific congregational
ministries, and especially in the planting of new missions;
and

WueEreas, The Lay Worker Study Committee has com-
pleted its task and has submitted its report to this con-
vention; and

WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the Synod and an
effective means of promoting the Gospel that the ministry
of lay people be regarded as a way to multiply, enhance,
and extend the ministry of the church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Lay Worker Study Committee be
thanked for its dedicated service in carrying out its re-
sponsibilities; and be it further

Resolved, That the entire report be commended to. the
members of the Synod and others who would be served by
its review and consideration; and be it finally

Resolved, That the recommendations of the Lay Worker
Study Committee (Section VII of its report), as amended,
be adopted as follows:

VIl. Recommendations
A. Forms of Lay Ministry

The focus for the ministry of the church, and therefore,
lay ministry, is in the world. “For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son” and “God was in
Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself... and hath
committed unto us the Word of reconciliation” (John 3:16;
2 Cor. 5:19-20). All Christians are called to carry out min-
istry in the broad sense, and this ministry is accomplished
by and through Christians in everyday life. In many re-
spects, laypeople are on the front line of ministry. The
individual is called to serve as part of the universal priest-
hood of believers. It is the task of the church to equip
Christians for their ministry or service as Christians.
Viewed in this way, clergy assist laypersons in helping
them to fulfill their Christian vocation.

Laypersons also assist in the congregation’s life by as-
sisting in equipping each other for Christian vocations as
they serve on boards, committees, as officers, elders, and
in all facets of parish life. Such service is voluntary and is
based on mutual accountability between pastor and people.
Laypersons are vital to the church, they are its lifeblood,
and without them the church does not exist.

Because of the fact that training and service of layper-
sons are not always uniform, it seems both wise and nec-
essary to identify those qualities and preparation which
persons who serve in positions of recognized leadership
should possess.

Based upon its conclusions, the Lay Worker Study Com-
mittee recommends the following:

1. That the present Certified Professional Church Work-