LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 192

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192

Seminary and University Education

Resolved, That delegates to the 2010 LCMS convention rise to
thank the Lord of the harvest for the many gifts and blessings He has
bestowed on our congregations and local ministries through the dedicated and faithful service of licensed deacons.
Faith, Juneau, AK;
St. John, Palmer, AK
5-10

To Continue and Expand Deacon Training
Program
Whereas, There continues to be a critical shortage of pastors in
the Mid-South District and the LCMS; and
Whereas, That shortage continues to increase as more pastors
retire or leave the pastoral ministry for other reasons; and
Whereas, There are many small congregations that cannot afford
a full-time or part-time pastor because of financial constraints; and
Whereas, The Mid-South District and the LCMS are opening new
missions each year that require pastors; and
Whereas, The deacon program of the Mid-South District has, in
the past ten years, effectively recruited, trained, and placed in supervised Word ministries a goodly number of gifted laymen; and
Whereas, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Dayton, Tennessee,
and other congregations in the district have experienced great blessings through the deacon program; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS voice its deep thanks for the work of
the deacon training program; and be it further
Resolved, That this vital program be continued and expanded to
meet the critical need of qualified trained and supervised deacons in
congregations and specialized ministries that cannot afford or obtain
pastors; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS be requested to strengthen and expand
the deacon training programs in the Synod’s districts.
Prince of Peace
Dayton, TN
5-11

To Expand Supervised Ministry of Licensed
Deacons
Whereas, The triune God has revealed Himself and recorded His
revelation for us in the Holy Scripture from Genesis to Revelation
(Gen. 1:1–3; John 20:30–31; Rom. 15:4–7; Rev. 22:6–21); and
Whereas, Holy Scripture documents how the triune God blesses,
calls, selects, delegates, and equips persons to speak for Him and to
serve His purposes—especially the patriarchs, prophets, kings, disciples, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers, elders, and deacons
(Gen. 1:26–28; Gen. 12:1–8; Ex. 4:10–17; Is. 6:1–13; Matt. 3:1–17;
4:18–22; 10:1–11:1; Acts 1:1–11; 7:1–60; 20:17–37; 2 Tim. 2:1-26;
Titus 1:1–16; Heb. 1:1–4); and
Whereas, God continues to multiply His work to, in, among, and
beyond us so we can be Christ’s “witnesses to the ends of the earth”
(Acts 1:1–8) and serve Him better as the “Lord of the harvest” (Luke
10:1–12); and
Whereas, The ministry of pastors with vicars, deacons, elders,
teachers, deaconesses, and other Spirit-gifted church workers continues to nurture baptized believers and communing members and
equip them for witness and service (1 Cor. 12 and 14; Eph. 4:1–16;
1 Peter 4:4–7, 1 Thess. 1:8); and
Whereas, The ministry of ecclesiastically supervised licensed deacons currently being used in 19 out of 35 districts has assisted greatly
in maintaining and expanding Word and Sacrament ministry in many

congregations and mission areas, especially for smaller congregations
and new outreach areas unable to support the services of a full-time
pastor or missionary; and
Whereas, The removal of the current licensed deacon program
would immediately eliminate or severely reduce Word and Sacrament
ministry in dozens of congregations, affecting thousands of congregational members and their efforts to serve their communities; therefore
be it
Resolved, That the LCMS affirm and encourage districts, circuits,
and congregations to continue the use of called, trained, and supervised licensed deacons in ministry settings that cannot be served by
ordained clergy; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS respectfully decline attempts to restrict
or cancel district-authorized ministries served by licensed deacons
who are supervised by ordained pastors; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS respectfully decline attempts to require
licensed deacons to enter the Special Ministry Pastor (SMP) program,
as this would restrict, hinder, or stop ongoing Word and Sacrament
ministry in our local congregations and mission areas; and be it finally
Resolved, That the delegates to the 2010 LCMS convention rise
to thank the Lord of the harvest for the many gifts and blessings He
has bestowed on our congregations and local ministries through the
dedicated and faithful service of licensed deacons.
Northwest District Board of Directors; Mount Olive, Shelton,
WA; Immanuel,Tonasket, WA; St. John, Union, IL; St. John,
Salem, OR; Our Savior, Waldport, OR
5-12

To Encourage Expansion of Licensed Deacon
Program
Whereas, The need for licensed deacons to serve in congregations
that cannot afford an ordained pastor is real; and
Whereas, There are numerous congregations being served by
licensed deacons in Word and Sacrament ministry; and
Whereas, Many small congregations cannot financially afford the
cost of licensed deacons to enter the Special Ministry Pastor (SMP)
program; and
Whereas, Licensed deacons are called, trained in various programs, and supervised by ordained pastors; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2010 LCMS convention encourage congregations to recruit men to become licensed deacons and to support all
avenues of training for licensed deacons; and be it further
Resolved, That small congregations that cannot afford an ordained
pastor be encouraged to call a licensed deacon; and be it finally
Resolved, That the delegates to the 2010 LCMS convention rise
and sing the Common Doxology, praising and thanking our Lord
for the blessings He has bestowed through dedicated and faithful
licensed deacons.
Trinity, Republic, WA
5-13

To Decline Attempts to Require Special Ministry
Pastor Program for Licensed Deacons
Whereas, The need for proclaiming the Gospel is so urgent and
vital to the salvation of men’s and women’s souls that without such a
proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments
in a congregation’s midst, the church ceases to exist and people are
eternally lost; and
Whereas, The 1989 LCMS Synod convention authorized LCMS
district presidents to license certain laymen to perform functions
belonging to the pastoral office—preaching, leading public worship,

2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 192

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