LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 138

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138

RESOLUTIONS

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm once again its position on joint worship and recommit ourselves to live according to the instruction of the Lord’s apostle, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of
the calling you have received. Be completely humble and
gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make
every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond
of peace” (Eph. 4:1–3) and “Submit to one another out of
reverence for Christ” (Eph. 5:21); and be it finally
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall
not in any way detract or distract from the primary mission
of God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted (7)
(This resolution was first introduced in session 5, at which
time the convention agreed to consider the following substitute
motion: WHEREAS, The 1998 convention called for a study of
church fellowship by the CTCR; and WHEREAS, The CTCR and the
President of the Synod produced “The Lutheran Understanding
of Church Fellowship”; and WHEREAS, “The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship” was utilized as a study document
at all the District conventions in the year 2000; and WHEREAS, The
study has hardly been acknowledged as a consensus document of
the entire Synod in the time it has been under study; and
WHEREAS, Numerous questions and concerns remain unresolved
about the study, including the study’s own commitment to a genuinely Lutheran understanding of church fellowship; and
WHEREAS, The theology of the Lutheran Confessions can be understood as appreciating the fullness of the body of Christ than the
current study document allows; and WHEREAS, The many practical
issues of addressing church fellowship in the experience of real
church remain largely unaddressed in the CTCR study; therefore
be it Resolved, That “The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship” be recommitted for additional study to the CTCR and
input from the larger Synod; and be it further Resolved, That the
2001 convention express its thanks to the CTCR for its work to
date in examining the fellowship issue. In session 7, after discussion continued on the substitute motion, it failed to carry and consideration returned to the original resolution. It was adopted
without amendment [yes: 782; no: 343]. The final resolve is added
as required by Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an earlier
session.)

To Address Needs and Opportunities
for Pastoral Ministry in Specialized
Situations
RESOLUTION 3-08B
Overtures 3-92–94; 3-96–97; 3-99; L3-138 (CW, pp.
186–89, TB, pp. 32–36)
Rationale
The 1998 synodical convention called for a task force to
study the need for “Pastoral Assistance Where Full-Time
Ministry Cannot Be Maintained” and to review a number
of possibilities that would address the concern discussed at
the 1998 convention. The task force was convened “to create
a church worker position that will respond to the urgent
needs identified by the consultation group.”
Reports from Districts and parishes indicate a growing
need for pastors in specialized situations. Mission opportunities abound in the Districts, and urban and ethnic ministries to first-generation immigrants are an increasing
challenge. In one District alone, the Gospel is proclaimed
in more than twelve languages. These peoples need called
and ordained pastors speaking in their own languages. In
200l Convention Proceedings

addition, smaller and more remote congregations are just
holding on or declining in size. Districts (e.g., Eastern,
Kansas, Mid-South, Minnesota South, Montana, Nebraska,
North Dakota, Northwest, Rocky Mountain, and South
Dakota) report that these small congregations are often unable to call or support an ordained pastor in the usual manner. DELTO (Distance Education Leading to Ordination),
as currently structured, is not a solution for all needs because many laymen already in ministry do not meet the
minimal age and educational requirements for entrance
into the program. Several Districts are configuring new designs and training “professional ministers” to help congregations with special needs. Furthermore, rural issues and
an aging population, including an aging clergy (only 8% of
LCMS pastors are age 35 or younger), pose challenges in
our changing communities. Finally, there are more vacancies, fewer available pastors, and an increasing number of
retirements, leaving congregations and immigrant ministries needing pastors.
The challenge is to supply ministry of Word and Sacrament to these congregations, many of which are already
part of a two-point parish. Shared pastoral staffs are used
in some situations. “Hub” ministries and “circuit riders”
work in some areas. However, some congregational conditions prevent the arrangement. There are small congregations that are geographically isolated. There is difficulty in
procuring pastoral services from nearby congregations.
With a shortage of pastors, it is urgent and critical that the
Synod provide assistance to serve in these situations. Dr.
Alvin Barry shared the conviction that the dire need for additional workers must be addressed without delay.
According to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, the preaching of the Word and the administration of
the Sacraments require a pastor with a regular call
(Jer. 23:21; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4; AC XIV). A regular call
requires training and examination in the sense of 1 Tim.
3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9. In addition, St. Paul cautions
against placing anyone into this office hastily (1 Tim. 5:22).
Recognizing these scriptural and confessional imperatives,
the Synod in its 1995 convention (Res. 3-07A) directed that
any layman who is licensed to perform pastoral functions
under the previous guidelines (1989 Res. 3-05B) be required to apply for admission into the pastoral ministry of
the Synod.
The Synod has designed a number of programs for training men for the office of pastor. These include not only the
M.Div. seminary program but also alternate routes and especially DELTO (Distance Education Leading to Ordination).
WHEREAS, One of the stated purposes of the Synod is to
“recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional
church workers” (Synod Constitution, Art. III, 3, 1998
Handbook, p. 9); and
WHEREAS, The Synod continues to be committed to biblical and confessional principles and practices in providing
men for the Office of the Public Ministry; and
WHEREAS, The Task Force to Provide Pastoral Assistance Where Full-Time Ministry Cannot Be Maintained
has highlighted pressing needs for pastoral care in specialized situations; and