LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 139

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
WHEREAS, The 1995 convention of the Synod (Res. 307A) resolved that laymen “… licensed to perform pastoral
functions … be required (if he wishes to continue preaching and leading in public worship) to apply for admission
into the pastoral ministry of the Synod”; and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s DELTO (Distance Education
Leading to Ordination) program was originally designed to
provide:
ordained pastoral service to congregations that cannot support a fulltime pastor, ordained pastoral service to contexts where English is not
spoken, ordained missionary personnel where finances and/or conditions do not permit calling a full-time missionary, and enhanced congregational life as the congregation participates in the growth of its
DELTO student (BHE “What is DELTO?,” Sept. 2000);

and
WHEREAS, DELTO as it is currently structured has not
yet adequately met the needs identified by the task force;
therefore be it
Resolved, That we thank the task force for their diligent
efforts to analyze the pastoral needs in specialized situations; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod authorize its districts to continue training lay deacons as directed by the spirit of the
1989 Wichita Res. 3-05B in which trained lay ministers
serve under the supervision of an ordained pastor; and be it
further
Resolved, That in order to help address the needs to recruit and train more ordained pastors, an oversight committee composed of members of the Board for Higher Education, the seminaries, and the Council of Presidents, in
conjunction with District and local representation, revise
DELTO (Distance Education Leading to Ordination); and
be it further
Resolved, That this convention rescind 1995 St. Louis convention Res. 3-07A (requiring such licensed laymen to complete a seminary program for ordination); and be it further
Resolved, That we pray the Lord of the harvest that He
would send forth laborers into His harvest (Matt. 9:37–38);
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 (9)
(When the floor committee introduced its own Res. 3-08B (see
Today’s Business, p. 235) in session 5, the above resolution was introduced and accepted for consideration as a substitute resolution.
Discussion was postponed until Res. 7-17 could be considered by
the convention and was resumed during session 9. It was noted
that a two-thirds vote would be necessary for adoption since the
fourth resolve rescinds a previous convention action. The substitute motion did not receive a two-thirds majority and was therefore declared failed [yes: 586; no: 526]. The convention then agreed
to reconsider the substitute motion and, subsequently, to amend it
by deleting the fourth resolve. After it was clarified that the substitute motion did not require a two-thirds majority because notice of intent to rescind the previous convention action had been
given since it was included in the floor committee’s proposed resolution, the Chair ruled that the substitute motion had been carried by majority vote at the time of the previous vote [yes: 586; no:
526] and that all subsequent actions were null and void. A revote
on the substitute motion because some confusion existed among
the delegates sustained the earlier decision of the convention [yes:
603; no: 533] and the substitute motion was declared adopted

139

without amendment. The final resolve is added as required by
Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an earlier session.)

To Commend and Clarify Intentional
Interim Ministry
RESOLUTION 3-09A
Overtures 3-81–91 (CW, pp. 182–86)
WHEREAS, The purpose of Intentional Interim Ministry
is to assist congregations in transition, such as the sudden
death of a pastor, the retirement of a long-time pastor, a
pastor-congregation conflict, or the removal of a pastor because of moral or misconduct issues. In Convention Workbook 2001, Overtures 3-85 to 3-91 clearly spell out the nature of and rationale for Intentional Interim Ministry; and
WHEREAS, Experience has shown that a congregation
often recovers and advances best when these issues have
been worked through during an interim period of reflection,
confession, forgiveness, reconciliation, and rebuilding
guided by a specially trained pastor; and
WHEREAS, The Intentional Interim Ministry Conference,
an organization and assembly of LCMS practicing interim
pastors who are interested in future interim service, has
come forth from within our Synod and is a responsible
LCMS peer group; and
WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents, as instructed by
the 1998 LCMS convention, has developed Policy and
Guidelines for Intentional Interim Ministry; and
WHEREAS, God has blessed us with the LCMS Intentional Interim Ministry Conference, made up of concerned
and experienced LCMS pastors and leaders, which has
been responsible for developing, training, credentialing,
and supporting the value and use of intentional interim
ministry in accord with the direction and leadership of the
Synod; and
WHEREAS, We are appreciative of the progression of Intentional Interim Ministry in our midst; at the same time,
we acknowledge that there is a concern about “temporary
calls” with the process of Intentional Interim Ministry; and
WHEREAS, The CTCR is including in its present study,
“Theology and Practice of the Divine Call,” concerns related
to “temporary calls”; therefore be it
Resolved, That we commend the LCMS Intentional Interim Ministry Conference for setting and maintaining high
standards pastorally, confessionally, and professionally for
this specialized ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That we encourage the LCMS Intentional Interim Ministry Conference to continue to work with the
Council of Presidents in developing and maintaining this
specialized ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That the CTCR in consultation with the Council of Presidents provide clarification of the relationship between Intentional Interim Ministry, vacancy ministry, and
“temporary calls” and the utility thereof for The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod as a part of its soon to be completed study of “Theology and Practice of the Divine Call”;
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)
200l Convention Proceedings