LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 247

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

VII. 2013 RES. 4-06A TASK FORCE REPORT TO THE SYNOD
growing possibilities of technology, is to employ live-streaming videos of sermons prepared earlier or other resources to provide access
to preaching. Several LCMS districts incorporate the use of livestreaming videos into multi-point ministries, which is particularly
beneficial when the two (or more) congregations in a multi-point
arrangement are long distances apart and meet at the same time. A
single pastor can serve in a revolving way week by week in terms
of his physical presence and his ability to offer the Sacrament of the
Altar, while preaching in each congregation each week.
Emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances will occur that
will make it impossible for a pastor to serve his congregation on
a given Sunday. The time-honored approach to such occasions has
been to designate a man (typically an elder or perhaps another called
auxiliary minister) to conduct Matins or another service from the
hymnal so that the congregation has opportunity to hear the Word of
God, to pray together, and to sing praise (1 Tim. 4:4–5). A proactive
approach to such occasional needs is important. On most occasions,
a sermon can be prepared by the pastor to be read in the service. Of
course, another way to address pastoral absence is for congregations
to reschedule their service times, if that allows a neighboring pastor to be available.
In all such cases where it is simply impossible for a pastor to
preach or conduct worship, care should be taken so that an exceptional
circumstance does not create confusion or become a precedent for
errant practices. Though “emergency knows no law,”71 it should not
be an excuse for disorder. Thus, even in such difficult circumstances,
every attempt should be made to address the problem in an orderly
way that is consonant with Scripture and does not cause offense or
misunderstanding. For example, while an emergency pastoral absence
may necessitate having a layman lead a service of the Word and read
a sermon prepared by the pastor, our congregations should heed the
Synod’s counsel for women not to exercise liturgical leadership.72
Moreover, it would be good to distinguish between an emergency and
ongoing challenges. A pastor’s illness and unavoidable absence on a
given Sunday presents an emergency need. But when there will be no
pastor for the foreseeable future, a thoughtfully considered, theologically orthodox answer, rather than “emergency” remedies, is needed.
Recommendation 6: Re-engaging Inactive Pastors
The task force recommends that the Synod and Districts
recruit and encourage eligible inactive-status pastors (retirees
as well as others eligible for calls) to be available for service in
congregations and missions of the Synod on a full- or part-time
basis or bi-vocationally, particularly in those congregations facing financial, geographic, and demographic challenges.
In terms of the ratio of rostered LCMS pastors to its laity, it might
initially appear to be easy to provide rostered pastors for all Synod
congregations. That assumption, however, founders on the fact that
many rostered pastors are on inactive status due to retirement or for
other reasons that make it impractical for them to be candidates for
calls. Other pastors are inactive because they are available to serve in
only a particular locale. Also, LCMS pastors are not evenly located
around the country, so that some areas have far more pastors than
there are positions of service while other regions have significantly
fewer pastors available for supply preaching or who are willing to
consider a call to congregations in their area (this immobility may be
due to a host of reasons).
Despite these obstacles, many inactive pastors do wish to serve
and are willing to move to new places to do so. Given the increasing longevity of Americans, including called church workers, many

247

retirees may also need to supplement their income after retirement.
Service to small churches may be one way to do that. A more concerted effort to utilize our inactive pastors is in order. Many retired
pastors retain the desire to serve insofar as they are able. A widespread general plea to retirees to consider the needs facing our church
in the future and the potential for them to help address some of those
needs is in order.
Training and Engaging Laity in the Work of Evangelism
As noted earlier, the task force is aware of the many significant
ways that district-sponsored lay training programs have equipped and
motivated individuals to serve the church. Lay deacon training is most
notable among the reasons such schools were established, but their
benefits go far beyond training for licensed lay deacons.
Recommendation 7:
Retention and Affirmation of District Lay-Training Programs
District lay-training programs are to be commended with
thanksgiving for the many willing lay servants who seek further
theological education and desire to serve in various capacities in
their congregations. The task force recommends that a major
emphasis in lay-training programs be placed on the role of evangelist and the task of outreach in an increasingly diverse and
challenging United States.
While specific programs designed to license laymen to preach
and administer the Sacraments will end, the need to offer biblical and
theological training for laity will continue. Individuals are involved
in current district training programs often simply for personal edification. Others are preparing for SMP admission. Still others intend
to provide service in specific areas of congregational life, such as
Christian education, visitation, nursing home ministries, children and
family ministries, evangelism, and administration. Such training programs are needed and are to be encouraged.
Recommendations 1–3 indicate that training for the purpose
of licensing lay deacons per se will no longer continue. These recommendations should not be interpreted as criticisms of efforts to
increase theological training for laity, however. Lay leadership training is important for the future health of our Synod. First of all, pastors
are always called to teach, to instruct, and to catechize their members in the Word of God. The true doctrine (teaching) of Christ must
be taught, as Paul instructed Timothy: “If you put these things before
the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained
in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. … Command and teach these things. … Until I come, devote
yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. … Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist
in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers”
(1 Tim. 4:6, 11, 13, 16).
The purpose of Synod and its districts is to support congregations
and pastors in their God-given work. To this end, many districts have
implemented lay leadership training efforts on a district level. This
is beneficial for the church and should be encouraged. District lay
training programs provide a supplement to the pastor’s instruction so
that people hear the Word of God from another source. Districts, for
instance, often bring together pastors and elders for specific training, teaching, conversation, and instruction in the role of elders in
our congregations. Lay leadership training for congregational chairmen, secretaries, and treasurers should be a blessing to all. The varied
resources of a group of congregations can be put to service for all in
the efforts to help mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, etc., in
2016 Convention Workbook