LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 243

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VII. 2013 RES. 4-06A TASK FORCE REPORT TO THE SYNOD
Specific ministry pastors are called and ordained pastors (de jure
divino) but always work under the supervision of a “general pastor”
in specific circumstances (de jure humano).
In those situations where licensed lay deacons have been used in
the past, congregations and districts should use the seminary SMP
program wherever possible. Recognizing, however, that completing the SMP program is not always possible or realistic, the task
force submits this proposal to colloquize men onto the SMP roster.
Since former licensed lay deacons who would be ordained under this
recommendation already serve under full supervision,61 the practical dimensions of the service of these men will change very little.
They will, however, be fully recognized and rostered as pastors of the
LCMS and will serve without the prior restriction on their practice
imposed by the LLD programs in which they were not to pronounce
the absolution of the repentant.62
Elements of the Colloquy Proposal
A. General Eligibility
This process is for those lay deacons licensed by districts for the
administration of Word and Sacrament in congregations of the Synod
who are presently functioning regularly in that role. The same standards
of character and life necessary for all pastors shall apply also to these
applicants. The policy manual of the Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry states:
Applicants for colloquy must be male, men of good moral character who have been prepared for the pastoral ministry in some
manner apart from the various routes leading to ordination existing within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. An applicant
must “be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate,
prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to
wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love
of money. He must be one who manages his own household well,
keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man
does not know how to manage his own household, how will he
take care of the church of God?); and not a new convert, lest he
become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the
devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the
church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the
devil” (1 Timothy 3:2–7; see also 4:1–16; 2 Timothy 4:1–5; Titus 1:5–9, etc.). The Colloquy Committee for Pastoral Ministry
will, as it considers each applicant, be the final authority for determining eligibility according to these Biblical requirements.63
Not every current licensed lay deacon will be eligible to apply for
colloquy. For example, one district uses the term deacon for both men
and women who have completed its training program, although that
district’s policy does not allow any of its deacons to preach or administer the Sacraments, with only a single exception (a man who regularly preaches). Regular preaching is the critical aspect for eligibility.
One criterion to apply for SMP colloquy should be that the individual
regularly serves a congregation as the man who is chiefly responsible to
preach and lead worship more than half of all Sundays for the past two
or more years.64 In addition, the congregation that is served by such a
deacon should show that it has been and will likely continue to be unable
to secure the services of a rostered pastor.
The task force is confident that most, if not all, of the licensed lay
deacons who are serving in a pastoral capacity are teaching and preaching in keeping with Scripture and the Confessions. At the same time, the
task force is not recommending or implying that all current licensed lay
deacons are automatically qualified for ordination. The possibility that
an applicant for SMP colloquy would be completely unable to meet the
biblical requirements of being able to teach or above reproach cannot be
ruled out. Similarly, it is possible that an applicant would be ineligible

243

for colloquy because of a persistent unwillingness to teach the Word of
God in a way that is consistent with the LCMS’s confessional standards.

B. Application Process
1. The applicant shall authorize the district president to request a complete background check through “Protect My Ministry.” The applicant
shall tender payment for all “Protect My Ministry” fees with the completed authorization form to the district in which application is being
made (fees are established by each district). A copy of this report
(minus the social security number) shall be provided as part of the
application package.
2. The applicant shall complete the form “Application for Admission to
the Colloquy Program for Specific Ministry Pastors” (a modified version of the regular application for colloquy). These specific elements
are to be included with this application form:
a. A detailed description of the applicant’s current service as a lay
deacon licensed for Word and Sacrament ministry
b. Three sermons, written or recorded
c. Demonstration of a thorough knowledge of Luther’s Small Catechism
d. Documentation that the applicant has passed the seminaries’ basic entry tests in the Old Testament and New Testament or equivalent (also a requirement for entering the seminary SMP program),
available on each seminary’s website
e. Completion of an intensive course on the Lutheran approach to
Scripture and doctrine offered regionally by the seminary faculties (see item E below)
3. The district president and applicant (and, if married, his wife) shall
sign the application where indicated. The district president needs to
indicate his strong support for the applicant to be placed in an SMP
call to the congregation he is serving.
4. In addition to the information required to complete the application
form, the applicant shall prepare an autobiographical statement including his experience as a licensed lay deacon.
5. The applicant shall arrange for written testimonials, sent directly to the
district president, that assess the applicant’s Christian character and
life, personality, abilities, and previous service (especially with regard
to how he has conducted himself as a licensed lay deacon). These testimonials shall come from no fewer than three references who have
known and observed the applicant for at least the two years immediately preceding his application. Applicants who are not US citizens
will be required to provide proof of legal residency in the United States
(and a work permit, if he will be paid).
6. In addition to the letter of endorsement from the district president, one
of these testimonial letters must come from the circuit visitor of the
circuit where the applicant has been serving as a licensed lay deacon,
assessing his current and past service.
7. The congregation served by the licensed lay deacon shall prepare an
official letter to be included in the application package, indicating their
commitment to extend a call to the deacon once he is certified for call
and placement. Placement in a call shall be by action of the Board
of Assignments (the Council of Presidents) according to its normal
procedures.
8. The district president shall arrange for an interview of the applicant
with an interview committee within the district. The report of the interview committee is to include a detailed assessment of the applicant’s
suitability and a recommendation whether the applicant should be
declared qualified (or not) for a call as a “specific ministry pastor” in
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod upon completion of the colloquy process. A written copy of this report shall be included in the
application package.
9. The applicant shall arrange for transmission to the district president
of official (original) transcripts from all colleges and seminaries he
may have attended. The applicant also shall furnish evidence of earned

2016 Convention Workbook