Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2016 · 66th Convention, Milwaukee › Page 441
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 441

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

ROUTES TO MINISTRY
activity until this division is resolved according to God’s Word and
the Lutheran Confessions; and be it further
Resolved, That measures be investigated by the Synod President,
district presidents, and circuit visitors to allow more time for pastors
who feel overwhelmed with their duties, so they may not be overstressed or burn out, but without resorting to lay people publicly
preaching or administering sacraments in their place; and be it further
Resolved, That these measures be prepared by the next regular
Synod convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That the district presidents, according to their constitutional duties (Art. XII 7−8), admonish those congregations in their
districts in which lay people are publicly preaching and administering the sacraments, as well as those individuals or entities who are
enabling and/or training such lay ministers, and report on their findings to the Synod President to be reported at the next regular Synod
convention.
Zion
Chippewa Falls, WI
13-09

To Create New Task Forces to Study Licensing
of Lay Deacons
Whereas, It is to be applauded that the conclusion of the Res.
4-06A Task Force report cites the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:10
and his desire for unity in Christ: “I appeal to you … that all of you
agree, and that there be no divisions among you”; and
Whereas, The very definition of synod is that the congregations
of said synod are to “walk together” in, as some have said, “covenants of love” with one another; and
Whereas, The expressed purpose of the work of the task force
established by the 2013 Synod convention sought to develop a plan
“anchored in the Word, in consultation with licensed lay deacons and
those who supervise and are served by them, to resolve questions
about the service of licensed lay deacons serving congregations of
the LCMS with the Word and Sacraments of Christ”; and
Whereas, The LCMS has chosen in its freedom to utilize a representative form of decision-making in its governance (a human
construct and not a divine mandate), the formation of the members
of the task force were not representative of those directly impacted
by the task force’s conclusions and recommendations; and
Whereas, While 77 percent of LCMS districts (27 districts)
utilize licensed lay deacons in some form, and 54 percent of districts (19 districts) utilize them in Word and Sacrament ministry, the
task force itself included no district presidents where licensed lay
deacons are significantly used in Word and Sacrament ministry. In
addition, no licensed lay deacon currently serving in both Word AND
Sacrament ministry, no supervising pastor, nor any member of a congregation currently being served by a licensed lay deacon in Word
and Sacrament ministry was included on the task force itself; and
Whereas, This lack of representation is a clear contradiction to
the expressed desire of both the Synod in convention as well as the
purposes of the task force, which is to bring unity and reduce division among us; and
Whereas, No congregation being served by a licensed lay deacon with Word and Sacrament ministry has filed a formal complaint
regarding the work being done, and no licensed lay deacon has filed a
formal dissent regarding the Synod’s appropriate training and placement of them in Word and Sacrament ministry; and

441

Whereas, The opposite is in fact the case—namely, that congregations in need are earnestly seeking and exceedingly grateful for the
work being done in their midst by licensed lay deacons; and
Whereas, The concerns expressed by individuals within our
Synod have arisen from those outside of direct ecclesial supervision,
training, and partnership with licensed lay deacons in such work; and
Whereas, Justification for the work of the task force might be
mandated if there had been numerous formal complaints from within
the congregations being served by licensed lay deacons; and
Whereas, Primarily anecdotal (and not systemic) evidence has
been cited and compiled, making these conclusions based solely upon
a limited and not comprehensive compilation nor knowledge of ministry circumstances and conditions; and
Whereas, Following common sense and using the best possible procedures offered through our God-given human intellect (our
Lord Himself commands us to utilize the best possible practices and
procedures in our work as His Church by strategically planning and
counting the cost [Luke 14:28] and to be as wise as serpents and as
gentle as doves [Matt. 10:16]); therefore be it
Resolved, That the conclusions of the task force be set aside and a
new task force established which uses the following guidelines which
seek to populate the task force according the percentages of licensed
lay deacon utilization nationally:
1.	The task force shall be comprised regionally, with each region having on its team:
•

A district president who utilizes licensed lay deacons in Word
and Sacrament ministry

•

A licensed lay deacon who is involved in Word and Sacrament
ministry

•

A member of a congregation who is served by a licensed lay
deacon in Word and Sacrament ministry

•

A supervising pastor of a licensed lay deacon who serves in
Word and Sacrament ministry

•

A seminary faculty member

•

A member of the CTCR

•

The regional vice president

•

The chairman of the task force

2.	These regional groups will interview and gather comprehensive data
from which regional recommendations will be made to a national
task force comprised of the aforementioned as well as the following:
•

The Praesidium of the Synod and the President of the Synod

•

The chairman of the Council of Presidents

•

Six district presidents, three who utilize licensed lay deacons in
Word and Sacrament ministry and three who do not

and be it further
Resolved, That local districts continue their efforts to standardize
and regularize the identification, training, placement, and supervision of licensed lay deacons in order to create more consistent and
accountable practice across the Synod; and be it finally
Resolved, That the regional task forces present their findings and
recommendations to the national task force no later than January
2018, resulting in the national task force presenting its findings and
recommendations for the Synod’s consideration no later than October
2018 for action to be taken at the 2019 LCMS convention.
Board of Directors, Northwest District; Board of Directors,
Florida-Georgia Distict
2016 Convention Workbook