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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 457

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

ROUTES TO MINISTRY
13-31

To Encourage and Continue
Ministry of Licensed Lay Deacons
Whereas, The 1989 Res. 3-05B framed the licensing of districttrained (locally trained) lay deacons for Word and Sacrament ministry
in the context of Augsburg Confession Art. V and XIV; and
Whereas, Licensed lay deacons support the ministry of the congregation and are essential to others as they serve congregational
members; and
Whereas, Licensed lay deacons have served faithfully, effectively, and economically in a variety of ministries including small,
remote, and economically strained congregations, vacant parishes,
and cross-cultural settings; and
Whereas, Licensed lay deacons serving under supervising pastors
are doing so under the direction and blessing of the local, self-governing, and self-supporting congregations; and
Whereas, Some congregations would need to close if the ministry of licensed lay deacons were discontinued; and
Whereas, The training of licensed lay deacons facilitates a collaborative approach to building lay involvement by encouraging lay
members to grow their faith through the study of the Word, which
positively impacts the faith of other members; and
Whereas, This succeeds in promoting a balanced leadership
model to support more powerfully the ministry of the congregation;
and
Whereas, Those who did not know or believe in Jesus have, by
God’s grace, at least in part through the supervised work of licensed
lay deacons, come to repentance and saving faith in Jesus; therefore be it
Resolved, That the districts’ lay deacon training programs be
encouraged to continue and expand as the Lord of the Church leads
and empowers; and be it further
Resolved, That licensed lay deacons be encouraged to serve diligently and humbly under the direction and authority of each district
president/supervising pastor whether in immediate or remote settings
of shared ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention recognize that deacon training, licensing, and consecration is not in contradiction to
Augsburg XIV; and be it further
Resolved, That the convention continue to recognize the service to
the congregations of deacons rightly consecrated and called to their
respective congregations; and be it finally
Resolved, That the convention encourage the continuance and
expansion of deacon training and use, and thank the deacons for their
years and time of service.
Immanuel
Tonasket, WA

457

consistent with the role of an ordained pastor, although still under
some supervision; and
Whereas, The task force report acknowledges that “the majority
of deacons serve in settings where there are significant if not extreme
financial, geographic, or demographic challenges”; and
Whereas, The task force states that “central to the theological
debate regarding LLD [licensed lay deacon] practices is the understanding of AC XIV” and the “rite vocatus” of those serving in Word
and Sacrament ministry in the church; and
Whereas, Most licensed lay deacons serve in the same congregation as their supervising pastor and are serving in a clearly defined
supportive role to the pastoral office, are under his authority, and
carry out ministries at his discretion and direction and are therefore
not serving in a manner that is in conflict with our confession (AC
XIV); and
Whereas, The effective service of licensed lay deacons extends
the supervising pastors’ reach to and by the congregation to which
the pastor has been called for Word and Sacrament ministry; therefore be it
Resolved, That district lay deacon training programs be encouraged to continue and expand as the Lord of the Church leads and
empowers; and be it further
Resolved, That licensed lay deacons be encouraged to serve
diligently and humbly under the direction and authority of their supervising pastors whether in immediate or remote settings of shared
ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That in those extreme situations where a licensed lay
deacon is serving in the role of “sole pastor” because of financial,
geographical, or demographic challenges, and God’s people would
otherwise not receive the faithful nourishment of God’s Word and
Sacrament, the licensed lay deacon will be directed by his district
president to seek ordination through colloquy into the specific ministry pastor (SMP) program of the Synod or other appropriate route
to ordination (e.g., EIIT, CHS); and be it further
Resolved, That such colloquy interviews will be accomplished
through the regional vice-presidents of the Synod in coordination
and cooperation with the First Vice-President of the Synod, seminary
faculties, and the district president where the licensed lay deacon is
serving; and be it finally
Resolved, That where there is financial hardship that would
hinder the licensed lay deacon to accomplish any additional education required by the proposed colloquy, assistance will be provided
through the district, Synod, and seminaries as they partner with the
congregation.
Grace, Monroe, MI; First, Charlotte, MI
13-33

To Encourage Multi-Point Parishes

13-32

To Direct Licensed Lay Deacons Serving
in Extenuating Circumstances
as “Sole Pastor” to Seek Ordination
Whereas, The Res. 4-06A Task Force has completed its study and
reported the same to the Synod in July 2015 as directed; and
Whereas, The task force reports that indeed some licensed lay
deacons are serving in Word and Sacrament ministry in a manner

Whereas, God’s Word calls us to “keep the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3); and
Whereas, Sister congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod confess and live out a shared commitment to the
Holy Scriptures as the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions
as a correct exposition of that Word; and
Whereas, Congregations have experienced or are experiencing
decline in membership and vitality because of changing demographics in their membership and communities (rural and urban); and
2016 Convention Workbook