LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 277

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STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 277

7-125

To Study Doctrine of Ministry
and Defer Implementation of Any Recommendation
from Nomenclature Study Committee

WHEREAS, The theology of ministry has not been clearly delin-
eated among us, nor has there been agreement among those in the
LCMS who have studied and written on the question; and

WHEREAS, Practice in our Synod needs constantly to be mea-
sured against fidelity to Scriptures and the Confessions rather than
assumed to be correct because of pronouncements by church fa-
thers; and

WHEREAS, There has been an erosion of the validity and dignity
of the various offices of the ordained and commissioned minister
by partitioning into auxiliary professional categories such as assis-
tant or associate pastor, teacher, musician, evangelist, director of
Christian education, deaconess and the like, which further obscures
the concept of ministry among those in service and being served;
and

WHEREAS, The lack of clarity in the concept of ministry and
dignity of the ministry in the view of the laity, combined with low
salaries and low prestige may hinder recruitment of church work-
ers; and

WHEREAS, The overview of the findings of the Nomenclature
Study Committee and their suggested methods for classifying
church workers was not received by the rostered church workers
in a timely manner, which would have allowed for studied consid-
eration before responding; and

WHEREAS, The study committee’s findings and suggested clas-
sifications have received a negative response from segments of the
professional church workers; and

WHEREAS, The laity of the church has not had opportunity to re-
view and respond to the committee’s findings and methods of clas-
sification; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage ongoing
prayerful study and deliberation of the doctrine of ministry, exam-
ining LCMS tradition in the light of Scripture and the Lutheran
Confessions; and be it further

Resolved, That such study and dialog be carried on by the fac-
ulties of the Concordia University System institutions and the sem-
inaries, the Lutheran Education Association and other groups of
ministers commissioned and ordained; and be it further

- Resolved, That the examination of the doctrine of ministry be
done through official synodical and institutional publications, pro-
fessional conferences, and Circuit Forums; and be it finally

Resolved, That action concerning the findings and recom-
mended methods of classifying church workers be postponed until
the 2001 synodical convention, when such examination by church
workers, both lay and rostered, and laity should be concluded.

Concordia University, River Forest, IL; Board of Regents,
Concordia University, River Forest, 16

7-126

To Affirm Continued Use of Current Nomenclature
for Commissioned and Ordained 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

WuerEAS, The ensuing 15 years of common usage and careful
education have emphatically affirmed that “‘ ‘Ministers of Religion,
Ordained’ and ‘Ministers of Religion, Commissioned’ are regarded
fully by the Synod as ministers of religion, entitled to be regarded
as such by all, in recognition of the fact, that even though the func-

tions between and within these two categories may differ, all these
functions contribute vitally to discharging the office of the public
ministry” (Resolution 5-09A, second resolve) and that this nomen-
clature has gained increasingly 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 by synodical conventions (1983 Res. 5-09A and 1989
Res. 2-02) usage of “minister” or “ministry” from called workers
who are not ordained; and

WHEREAS, These proposals would reverse 150 years of refer-
ence to Lutheran school teachers as being in ministry (1967 Res.
7-08; 1971 Res. 7-05; etc.), and would thus be confusing to the
church and disheartening to those who serve in the officially ros-
tered, commissioned ministry of the church; and

WHEREAS, The “third category” refers to people who are not on
the roster of Synod and therefore not eligible for calls or for status
as a member or minister of the Synod; 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 congregational ministry; and
be it further

Resolved, That the “third category” be dropped from the By-
laws; and be it further

Resolved, That further study be done on ministry and nomen-
clature; and be it finally

Resolved, That all synodical ministers, ordained and commis-
sioned, be commended for their faithful, dedicated service to the
Lord and His people.

Board for Congregational Services

7-127

To Affirm Continued Use of Current Nomenclature
for Ministers of the Gospel

WHEREAS, In 1983 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in
convention adopted Res. 5-09A “to declare unequivocally which
positions are regarded by the Synod as contributing vitally to dis-
charging the office of the public ministry,” by classifying such po-
sitions as “Ministers of Religion, Ordained,” and “Ministers of Re-
ligion, Commissioned;” and

WHEREAS, For 15 years this nomenclature has helped clarify is-
sues relating to the divine call, especially emphasizing the Synod’s
recognition of its duly called teachers, DCEs and DCOs as minis-
ters of religion; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has histori-
cally avoided vague ecclesiastical nomenclature fraught with his-
torical baggage in favor of terms which communicate clearly to
both our church and our society (president rather than bishop, for
example, or convention rather than council, not to mention such
terms as district, second vice-president, or delegate); and

WHEREAS, The current designations of “Minister of Religion.
Ordained,” and “Minister of Religion, Commissioned,” are spe-
cific, descriptive, and appropriate terms understood and accepted
throughout the Synod and even by government agencies; 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 regarded by the Synod as con-
tributing vitally to discharging the office of the public ministry.

Faculty
Concordia College
Seward, NE