LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 174

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174

LATE REPORTS AND OVERTURES

Resolved, That
1. By 1 November 1998 the Board for Higher Education
shall have rewritten the description of the Ordained Diaconate program to recognize the observations and concerns
that arise in conjunction with the convention; and that
2. By 1 January 1999 the Board for Higher Education
shall prepare a final draft of synodical Bylaws needed to
implement the office of Ordained Deacon as described
above; and that
3. By 1 July 1999 the synodical Board of Directors shall
approve the Bylaws needed to implement the office of Ordained Deacon, having first received the concurrence of the
President of the Synod, both seminary faculties, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, and the Council
of Presidents; and that
4. Synodical Bylaw 6.91 b is stricken, since it contradicts
the foregoing presentation; and that
5. The convention rescind 1989 convention Res. 3-05B,
authorizing establishment of “laymen licensed for Word
and Sacrament ministry,” with the stipulation that the creation of Ordained Deacons constitutes a replacement for
the program contained in the 1989 resolution; and that
6. The 1995 convention Res. 3-07A is rescinded with the
stipulation that in the case of any current “licensed layman” who does not become an Ordained Deacon by 31 December 1999, his license shall be allowed to lapse; and finally that
7. The Secretary of the Synod be authorized to bring the
synodical Handbook into conformity with the above actions
as needed.
Description of an Ordained Diaconate
A. Terminology
The Ordained Diaconate is a nonrostered pastoral office
that exists to provide assistance to seminary-trained pastors in situations where full-time pastoral ministry cannot
be maintained.
An ordained deacon is a man selected by a congregation
to conduct Word and Sacrament ministry in that place
under the permanent supervision of a seminary-trained
pastor. In the history of the church, the office of deacon has
been associated with a variety of congregational activities.
The committee proposes the biblical term “deacon” because
our Synod has already implemented it to refer to “laymen
licensed for Word and Sacrament ministry” (1989 Res. 305B).
B. Eligible Situations
An ordained deacon may serve a congregation by providing Word and Sacrament ministry in contexts that cannot support a full-time pastor. This includes ministry in
specialized contexts (e.g., immigrant groups). A congregation may establish as many ordained deacons as are needed
to provide its ministry needs, within the parameters of the
Ordained Diaconate program. An ordained deacon may not
be placed into service in a situation where an Assistant
Pastor could be called. An ordained deacon must serve a
ministry of a specific local congregation that is under the
care of a pastor.

C. Supervision and Functions
The ordained deacon provides basic pastoral care under
supervision of an LCMS parish pastor. He cannot be directly supervised by Circuit, District, or synodical personnel. The focus of the ordained deacon’s work is primary pastoral care: visitation, outreach, Bible study, and conduct of
worship. The ordained deacon is not authorized to make
pastoral decisions. He communes only the members of the
congregation. The ordained deacon does not perform Baptisms, confirmations, weddings, or funerals without prior
consultation with his supervising pastor. The ordained deacon’s sermons are prepared or reviewed in advance by his
supervising pastor. The ordained deacon does not provide
formal pastoral counseling, but he does provide Christian
advice and comfort.
D. Ecclesiastical Status
The Ordained Diaconate is a status recognized by the
Synod but not included in the synodical roster. Although
the ordained deacons are not on the roster, a registry of ordained deacons will be established for the sake of order in
the church. There is no transition from the Ordained Diaconate to the clergy roster apart from formal seminary
training and certification.
The ordained deacon may serve as long as his work is
needed, provided his work is satisfactory to both his supervising pastor and the congregation. The ordained deacon
cannot take a call to serve another congregation in the
manner of a professional church worker. A man who previously served as an ordained deacon may be raised up by his
current congregation on the basis of his residence and reputation in the congregation. He would be ordained only
once, and therefore is ordained not merely “as to time and
place.”
The ordained deacon is ordinarily either bivocational or
a retiree; he is not fully supported by the congregation (unless that is required by immigration laws). Participation in
Concordia Plans is left to congregational discretion under
applicable policies. Ordained deacons are not classified as
Ministers of the Gospel for IRS purposes. Compensation is
to be arranged by the congregation and the worker. (Further research into all applicable laws and policies could necessitate some changes in this paragraph.)
E. Admission/Participation
A man is ordained as an ordained deacon by authority
of the District President after congregational selection with
the approval of the parish pastor and the District President. The candidate for the position of ordained deacon will
fit the description given by St. Paul in 1 Timothy 3 and
Titus 1. The candidate has been a resident member of the
congregation for at least two years (cf. 1 Tim. 3:10). There
are no standard requirements regarding age or formal education.
F. Training
The ordained deacon receives a basic program of training, oriented to skills, and is not required to learn the biblical languages. The training program is organized and operated by the Board for Higher Education and the Districts.