LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 446

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446

ROUTES TO MINISTRY
the “congregational call” is de jure divino (that is, divinely ordered
and arranged). It is only the call (by the congregation or parish) that
makes a pastor. This is of the essence. It certainly is not transmitted from pastor to pastor nor is it by some episcopal or hierarchical
authority;

7. The misidentification and misunderstanding of the “unresolved controversy” and “division”; and

Whereas, The report and recommendations demonstrate that
the task force is not aware of or does not recognize the exponential
increase of the “financial, geographical or demographic” issues, the
cultural conditions, challenges and ongoing change in the LCMS and
the USA with the increased mission opportunities to proclaim the
Gospel and bring Christ to the lost; and
Whereas, 1989 Res. 3-05A had the foresight to establish this special ministry and help for the Office of the Public Ministry in these
challenging days, reflecting an understanding of the theological position of “whatever other offices the church may entrust to particular
persons for special administration” (Kirche und Amt); therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention give thanks to the
4-06A Task Force for its work, dismiss and consider the report as
theologically and practically inadequate in light of the mission of
Christ in the world, and decline any resolution to adopt the proposals; and be it further
Resolved, That the 2016 convention affirm 1989 Res. 3-05B,
thereby continuing the lay licensed deacon ministry as useful and
necessary and as a viable solution to the mission challenges and issues
facing the Church in these last days; and be it further
Resolved, That any in the Church who consider our theological
position of Church and ministry, as set forth in Kirche Und Amt or
the Brief Statement to be in error, follow the right of brotherly dissent as delineated in Bylaw section 1.8, “Dissent”; and be it finally
Resolved, That all the ordained and commissioned servants and
all the royal priests be moved to participate in God’s mission (Missio
Dei) with greater joy, fervor, and enthusiasm.
Gloria Dei, Houston, TX; Salem, Tomball TX
13-16

To Retain Licensed Lay Deacon Ministry
Whereas, The 1989 LCMS convention adopted Res. 3-05B, “To
Adopt Recommendations of Lay Worker Study Committee Report
as Amended”; and
Whereas, The Lay Worker Study Committee provided a thorough and excellent practical and theological context and content for
the resolution in its report to the 1989 convention (Report R3-06, 1989
Convention Workbook, pp. 69–73); and
Whereas, The report included ways of involving the gifts of laypeople (the royal priests) chosen by and from the congregation in
specific congregational ministries, which reflected the theological
understanding of the universal priesthood of believers (a key doctrine), our Synod’s understanding of the doctrine of the ministry, the
Office of the Public Ministry, auxiliary/facilitating offices, and other
positions of service; and
Whereas, The 1989 report and resolution were determined
by the CCM to be in agreement in content and language with the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod; and
Whereas, The CCM in 1996 opinion Ag. 2034 with respect to
1995 Res. 3-07A concluded that the resolution “was not intended to
replace or to nullify 1989 Res. 3-05B”; and
2016 Convention Workbook

Whereas, A September 1981 report of the LCMS CTCR (The
Ministry Offices, Procedures, and Nomenclature) states: “When a
congregation is temporarily without a man to fill the office of the public ministry in its midst, it may ask a properly supervised teacher or
lay leader to perform some functions of the office of the public ministry. … The oversight and accountability remain with the one whom
the church has called and designated as a pastor and who supervises
those who temporarily perform some pastoral functions. … Functions
that are essentially exercises of the ministry of Word and Sacrament
should be performed by those who hold the office of the public ministry. Thus, preaching in the worship service, leading in public prayer,
celebration of the sacraments, weddings, and funeral services should
be carried out by those who hold the office of the public ministry.
However, in exceptional circumstances, or in emergencies (as when
the pastor is incapacitated), members of the auxiliary offices and other
qualified individuals may temporarily be called upon to perform,
under proper supervision, functions that are otherwise performed by
the pastor” (pp. 16, 35); and
Whereas, Kirche und Amt (Church and Ministry, C. F. W.
Walther) states the doctrinal position of the Synod: “The pastoral
ministry is the highest office in the church, and from it stem all other
offices in the church” (Thesis VIII of the Theses on the Ministry),
and under Scripture proof explains: “Every other public office in
the church is part of the ministry of the Word or an auxiliary office
that supports the ministry, whether it be the elders … the rulers …
or the deacons … or whatever other offices the church may entrust
to particular persons for special administration” (cf. Proper Form of
a Lutheran Congregation, chapter III, 14, including the reference to
Chemnitz Examine II, 13); and
Whereas, The Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the
Missouri Synod in Thesis 30 clearly states the rights and privileges
of the royal priests:
30. The Original and True Possessors of All Christian Rights and Privileges—Since the Christians are the Church, it is self-evident that
they alone originally possess the spiritual gifts and rights which
Christ has gained for, and given to, His Church. Thus St. Paul reminds all believers: “All things are yours,” 1 Cor. 3:21, 22, and
Christ Himself commits to all believers the keys of the kingdom of
heaven, Matt. 16:13–19; 18:17–20; John 20:22, 23, and commissions all believers to preach the Gospel and to administer the Sacraments, Matt. 28:19, 20; 1 Cor. 11:23−25. Accordingly, we reject all
doctrines by which this spiritual power or any part thereof is adjudged as originally vested in certain individuals or bodies, such as
the Pope, or the bishops, or the order of the ministry, or the secular
lords, or councils, or synods, etc. The officers of the Church publicly
administer their offices only by virtue of delegated powers, and such
administration remains under the supervision of the latter, Col. 4:17.
Naturally all Christians have also the right and the duty to judge and
decide matters of doctrine, not according to their own notions, of
course, but according to the Word of God, 1 John 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:11;

and
Whereas, The licensed lay deacon, who has a very particular, special, and specific ministry in the church, is grounded not merely in
the priesthood of believers but also, through the Office of the Public
Ministry, in the ministry of Christ and the apostles; and
Whereas, The use of lay workers (the royal priests) in serving the
church under a properly called pastor is clearly consonant with and
not in violation of Articles V (The Ministry of the Church) and XIV
(Order in the Church) of the Augsburg Confession; and
Whereas, According to Bylaw 5.2.3.1: “The circuit visitor shall,
when requested to do so by the district president, serve as his representative in the triennial visitation of the congregations of the circuit.