LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 276

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276 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

7-121

To Reexamine Classification and Organization
of Ministers

Wue)rEAS, The Nomenclature Study Committee produced their
study of ministers of religion, ordained, and ministers of religion,
commissioned; and

WHEREAS, Christ’s ministry goes far beyond the nomenclature
of synodically trained “‘minister’’; and

WHEREAS, Congregations are recognizing workers as ministers
of worship, music, health, education, family life, and other areas in
the life of the congregation; and

Wuereas, An auxiliary department of the LCMS, specifically
Concordia Benefit Plans, has recognized and claimed a diversity
of workers within our Synod; and

WHEREAS, Paul discussed ministry clearly in 1 Corinthians. 12;
and

WHEREAS, Synod has certain legal responsibilities and needs to
classify ministers; therefore be it

Resolved, That a new committee, comprised of members more
accurately reflecting the diversity of Christ’s workers, be empan-
eled; and be it further

Resolved, That the committee study and make recommenda-
tions regarding the organization and classification of all church
ministers within the LCMS; and be it finally

Resolved, That the committee disseminate information in a
timely manner for response prior to the 2001 synodical convention.

Southeastern District Educators Conference

7-122

To Affirm Continued Use of Current Nomenclature
for Ministers of Religion, Commissioned

WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh convention in 1992 passed a resolu-
tion to study the nomenclature for ministers of religion, commis-
sioned, and present a report to the 1998 synodical convention; and

WHEREAS, The synodical President did indeed impanel a com-
mittee made up of seven ministers of religion, ordained, and three
ministers of religion, commissioned, to study this issue; and

WHEREAS, The report filed by this committee, or certain mem-
bers thereof, was made public in July 1997 for input from church
workers with the recommendation being to override Res. 5-09, “To
Classify Ministers of Religion,’’ 1983 convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, The past 15 years have affirmed “Ministers of Reli-
gion Ordained,’ and “Ministers of Religion, Commissioned,”’ in
the ministry of our Lord, even though the function as each office
differs yet contributes to the ministry of our Lord; and

WHEREAS, The recommendations of the panel offer new termi-
nology which may cause confusion among church workers and
government offices, and is disheartening to the morale of ministers
of religion, commissioned; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in con-
vention, affirm the continued use of the nomenclature “Minister of
Religion, Ordained,’ and “Minister of Religion, Commissioned.”

Southeastern District Educators Conference

7-123

To Affirm Continued Use of Current Nomenclature
for Commissioned Ministers

WHEREAS, Res. 5-09A, “To Classify Ministers of Religion,”’
was adopted by the 1983 convention of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod, “to declare unequivocally which positions are re-
garded by the Synod as contributing vitally to discharging the of-
fice of the public ministry,’’ by classifying them as “Ministers of
Religion, Ordained,”’ and “Ministers of Religion, Commissioned’’;
and

WHEREAS, The ensuing 15 years of common usage and careful
education have emphatically affirmed that ‘Ministers of Religion,
Ordained’ and ‘Ministers of Religion, Commissioned,’ are re-
garded fully by the Synod as ministers of religion, entitled to be re-
garded as such by all, in recognition of the fact, that even though
the functions between and within these two categories may differ,
all these functions contribute vitally to discharging the office of the
public ministry,’” and that this nomenclature has gained increas-
ingly wide understanding and acceptance in the Synod and even by
government agencies; and

WHEREAS, The Nomenclature Study Committee has suggested
alternative nomenclature titles, especially for commissioned min-
isters, the purpose of which seems to be to remove the historically
affirmed usage of “minister’” or “ministry’’ from called workers
who are not ordained; and

WHEREAS, These proposals would reverse 150 years of common
usage, and would thus be confusing to the church and disheartening
to those who serve in the officially rostered, commissioned min-
istry of the church; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention affirm the continued use of the current nomenclature,
“Minister of Religion, Ordained,”’ and “Minister of Religion, Com-
missioned,”’ to classify positions of the public ministry.

Iowa District East; Lutheran Teachers Conference,
Nebraska District; Education Conference, Minnesota South
District; Teachers Conference, Southern District;
Northwest District Teachers Conference; Lutheran
Educators Conference, Pacific Southwest District; St.
Matthew, Columbia Heights, MN; Fall Education
Conference, Ohio District; Educator/DCE Conference,
Texas District; Faculty Concordia University, St. Paul,
MN; Board of Directors, Minnesota South District

7-124

To Affirm Continued Use of Current Nomenclature
to Classify Positions of Public Ministry

WHEREAS, The 1983 convention of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod unequivocally identified church work positions it re-
garded as vitally contributing to discharging the office of the pub-
lic ministry by classifying workers as “ministers of Religion,
Ordained’’ and “Ministers of Religion, Commissioned’”’ (Res.
5-O9A); and

WHEREAS, That nomenclature has gained acceptance in the
Synod and by government agencies regardless of the different func-
tions of these respective ministries; and

WHEREAS, The Nomenclature Study Committee has suggested
alternative nomenclature for titles, especially for the commissioned
ministers, which may suggest that commissioned workers are nei-
ther ministers nor involved in vital ministry; and

WHEREAS, These proposals would have the effect of discourag-
ing faithful servants in the commissioned ministry of the Synod;
and

WHEREAS, A survey issued by the Nomenclature Study Com-
mittee did not provide an opportunity for recipients to indicate a
preference for no change in nomenclature and, therefore, the survey
might communicate a false impression of the preferences of minis-
ters of religion, commissioned; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention affirm the continued use of the current nomenclature,
“Minister of Religion, Ordained’ and “Minister of Religion, Com-
missioned,”* to classify positions of the public ministry; and be it
further

Resolved, That church workers identified as “Category Three”’
by the Nomenclature Study Committee be listed in The Lutheran
Annual under a separate and appropriate category.

Lutheran Teachers Conference
Northern Illinois District