LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 189

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5. SEMINARY
ANDUniversity
UNIVERSITY
EDUCATION
Seminary and
Education
5-01

To Retain Licensed Deacon Program
Whereas, Small congregations and preaching stations in Alaska
and other parts of the Northwest District have been wonderfully
blessed through the Word and Sacrament ministries of licensed deacons; and
Whereas, The Northwest District has over 47 congregations with
an average of 50 members or fewer attending church; and
Whereas, The licensed deacon program removes some barriers
of time, distance, and expense to service in these small and remote
congregations; and
Whereas, Utilization of trained, licensed deacons is an effective
way to do ministry in small and isolated areas as well as in various
congregational ministries; and
Whereas, The present Leadership Advancement Process (LAP)
program of the Northwest District continues to provide theological
education relevant to congregations and preaching stations in the
district and for training licensed deacons to serve in these settings;
therefore be it
Resolved, That Northwest District congregations, agencies, organizations, and ministries recruit and enable faithful laity to enter the
Northwest District lay ministry training program, known as the
Leadership Advancement Process (LAP); and be it further
Resolved, That LAP graduates continue to be utilized by
Northwest District congregations; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Northwest District in convention memorialize the 2010 LCMS convention to retain the use of licensed deacons
in ministry.
Northwest District
5-02

To Continue District Licensed Deacon Programs
and Amend Bylaws of Synod re Licensed Deacons
Whereas, Projections show that, with the upcoming retirement of
pastors and present seminary enrollments, the numbers of traditional
seminary graduates will not meet the needs of the congregations of
the Synod; and
Whereas, There is a projected need in the Rocky Mountain
District for graduates from both the Synod’s Specific Ministry Pastor
(SMP) program and the district’s Licensed Deacon Program; and
Whereas, The Synod is conducting a study of the situations currently served by licensed lay deacons and at its 2010 convention will
be considering the continued need for such deacons; and
Whereas, Since the adoption of Res. 3-05B at its 1989 convention, the Synod’s language and practice are not in agreement as to
whether a licensed deacon requested by a congregation or district to
serve in the public ministry of the Gospel with the approval of the
district president meets the requirements of Augsburg Confession
Article XIV; and
Whereas, The district’s Committee on Licensed Deacons has
drafted an overture to the 2010 Synod convention recommending
among other things the continued need for the Synod’s SMP program and district licensed deacon programs and is in the process of
getting input from the Synod’s Board for Pastoral Education, the seminaries, and others prior to refining the overture for consideration and
approval by the district’s board of directors; and
Whereas, The committee in its report to the 2009 district convention shared some of the matters being considered for that overture; and
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Whereas, The committee’s recommendations on these matters
may change as a result of further input prior to the 2010 deadline for
submitting overtures to the Synod; and
Whereas, A licensed deacon has not completed the seminary study
of a regular pastor but has completed the required, approved course
work of the district, is certified and recommended by the district president, and is under the supervision of a regular pastor; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Rocky Mountain District convention authorize the district, through an overture prepared by its Committee on
Licensed Deacons and approved by its board of directors, to recommend to the Synod’s 2010 convention the continuation of district
licensed deacon programs and the amendment of the Synod’s Bylaws
to clarify the terminology, call, and ordination of eligible licensed
deacons into the Pastoral Office in accordance with Augsburg
Confession Article XIV, rostering them as ordained ministers and
amending the Bylaws accordingly.
Rocky Mountain District
5-03

To Continue Licensed Deacon Program
Whereas, Holy Scripture is clear that the desire of our Lord is
that “all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim.
2:4) and that our Lord Jesus has commissioned us to “make disciples
of all nations ... baptizing ... and teaching” (Matt. 28: 19–20); and
Whereas, God has both gifted and entrusted His Church on earth
to administer the gifts of grace through the means of grace, namely,
the clear proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the
Sacraments according to the institution of Christ (AC VII); and
Whereas, Our confessional documents declare that those who
administer publicly those gifts of Word and Sacrament are to be “regularly called” (AC XIV); and
Whereas, The Synod in convention has chosen publicly to allow
those who are trained, called, and supervised to publicly administer
these gifts under the licensed deacon program (1989 Res. 3-05B); and
Whereas, There are approximately 700 congregations in our
Synod who now are unable, due to lack of resources or other circumstances, to call an ordained pastor to serve them in this capacity; and
Whereas, There are currently dozens of congregations in 19 of
our districts currently using licensed deacons effectively to bring the
hope of the Gospel to thousands across our nation; and
Whereas, The elimination of the licensed deacon program would
immediately either eliminate or severely reduce these Christians’
access to the faithful preaching of the Word and correct administration of the Sacraments; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS continue gladly to provide for the identification, training, placement, and supervision of licensed deacons,
especially in such congregations that are otherwise unable to obtain
and support an ordained pastor; and be it further
Resolved, That the licensing, training, supervision, and ongoing
education of licensed deacons be standardized and regularized with
both district and seminary collaboration; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention choose to refrain from
requiring licensed deacons to enter into the Specific Ministry Pastor
program, which mandates further initial training and an exponential
increase in the cost of such training; and be it finally
Resolved, That we rejoice together and give thanks to God for
equipping His Church both with the means of grace and with dedicated, called, and trained workers, lay and ordained, who faithfully
and passionately reach all people in their communities with the Good
News of Jesus Christ.
Grace
Pocatello, ID
2010 Convention Workbook

4/15/10 2:39 PM