LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 449

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ROUTES TO MINISTRY
their deacons but rather are expanding their training and use where
needed; and
Whereas, The LCMS colloquy process is currently not limited
to applicants over 55; and
Whereas, Congregations have long benefited by the guidance of
district presidents as they walk together using every scriptural and
confessional means to steward the mysteries of God; and
Whereas, A Synod resolution removing licensed lay deacons as
a valid option damages congregational autonomy and the ecclesiastical authority of district presidents, and further threatens their ability
to ensure reception of the Word and Sacraments in some congregations; therefore be it
Resolved, That district presidents following 1989 Res. 3-05B be
commended for their faithful oversight of licensed lay deacons and,
where abuses are evident, that district presidents resolve such abuses
in accordance with their office; and be it further
Resolved, That district presidents who have ecclesiastical oversight continue to receive regular reports from supervisors of licensed
lay deacons regarding specific ministry duties of licensed lay deacons; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention again affirm and continue
the proper training and licensing of deacons within districts that need
and desire such training and oversight.
Board of Directors
Southeastern District
13-19

To Affirm Continued Use of Deacons in LCMS
Rationale
In 1989, the LCMS authorized districts to train and license deacons for Word (preaching) and Sacrament ministry (1989 Res. 3-05B).
Since the Synod in its wisdom approved Res. 3-05B, deacons have
provided significant service to the Church, districts, and congregations. Moreover, diaconal ministry has developed well in the LCMS.
Deacons have been responsibly used in many and various contexts,
and deacons are well established in many congregations and districts.
However, in spite of the blessings and benefits of these diaconal servants, some in the Synod have reservations about their continued
existence. Consequently, and in response to 2013 Res. 4-06A (“To
Address Questions Re Service of Licensed Lay Deacons”), the Res.
4-06A Task Force was formed to study the appropriate and continued
use of this biblical office in the LCMS. The same task force produced
a report in 2015, and among its recommendations is that the Synod in
convention essentially revoke the 1989 Res. 3-05B, thereby terminating the position of deacon throughout the Synod (Recommendation
1, pp. 15ff.).
The task force’s report proposes other recommendations (numbers
2−8) that call for further and extensive support of various ministries
already in use, along with naming a new office of “Evangelist” in the
LCMS. These recommendations are commendable and not in question. Nevertheless, the task force’s proposal to eliminate the valid
and approved use of deacons by districts and congregations, a usage
established by a convention of this Synod, is to be rejected for the
following reasons.
First, deacons were clearly present in the New Testament church
and their existence attested to in the New Testament Scriptures. See,
for example, 1 Timothy 3:1−13 and Philippians 1:1, where qualifications for both deacons and bishops are noted side by side. Scripture is

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the norm and guide for doctrine and practice in the LCMS. Our Lord,
in His own words, promises workers for the harvest field. Deacons
are among this distinct promise as the Church seeks, under God’s
Lordship, to nourish the flock (Acts 6:1−7) and reach the lost (Acts
8:26−40). In practice, God’s Word is to be our guide when it comes
to the full employ of God’s rich gifts to His Church for all time and
today in our post-Christian Western world context.
Second, diaconal ministry supports pastoral ministry. Deacons do
not diminish the office of the pastor. Deacons serve the Church and
serve pastors in their ministry to God’s people. In fact, the three parts
of deacon licensing practiced by LCMS districts is congruent with the
three-part construct of the “proper call” given in Augsburg Confession
XIV—namely, examination by Synod appointees, call by a congregation, and ordination by representatives of the Synod. What’s more,
deacons are under constant review by their supervising pastors and
district presidents. In other words, the office of deacon is linked to
the office of pastor in ways more accountable than most of our pastors, commissioned ministers, and auxiliary workers in the Synod.
Third, deacons are widely used by churches in the LCMS. Of
the Synod’s 35 districts, 77 percent use deacons in some form or
another. Ten districts actually train deacons, some using programs
established for this express purpose through Concordia University,
Portland and Concordia College—New York. Equally impressive is
that 27 districts have deacons preaching in their congregations while
20 districts have deacons serving in Word and Sacrament settings.
The Eastern District, for example, has 13 deacons, 12 of whom serve
in Word and Sacrament ministries in a variety of settings and needs.
Deacon programs have in fact brought order and accountability to the
districts that use them. These districts intentionally train, examine,
credential, oversee, provide continuing education, and review deacon licenses annually.
Fourth, deacons have been a blessing to the Church. According to
the Res. 4-06A Task Force Report, 525 men currently bear the title
deacon in our Synod, a number greater than any other auxiliary office
(deaconess, director of parish ministry, director of family life ministry, director of Christian outreach, parish assistant) with the exception
of directors of Christian education (617). Since 1989, the increase in
the need for deacons is evidenced by their increase in numbers. The
number of deacons today is nearly 400 percent greater than the number of “lay ministers” (135) of concern at the 1989 Wichita convention
when diaconal ministry and use of the title deacon was approved
by the LCMS. Deacons are valued and valuable to the Church. The
increase from lay ministers in 1989 to deacons in 2015 is a telling
sign that congregations welcome the use of deacons. In many places,
deacons have served longer in individual churches than young pastors
and provide more continuity and practical insight in ministry to the
benefit the congregations. Deacons are especially helpful in churches
not served by seminary-trained pastors. Experience has shown that
churches have trouble finding pastors when they are ethnic, small,
big, remote, poor, or urban. Deacons truly fill the gap.
Fifth, deacons are offered to all congregations in all places and
circumstances at the discretion and supervision of duly elected ecclesiastical supervisors. The need for deacons will grow, not decline,
in the coming years. Many congregations across the country currently are experiencing decline even as the size of the Synod shrinks.
More congregations will not be able to afford full-time pastors. In
effect, we will face a need for more pastors than our seminaries provide, a growing disparity of need over seminary-trained Master of
Divinity pastors. Nevertheless, it is incumbent for the Synod to provide workers to supply Word and Sacrament nourishment for all its
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