LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 200

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200

UNPRINTED REPORT AND LATE OVERTURES

cense expires. This information shall be documented in
writing to the deacon by the District President.
2. If the process of certification and ordination as an assisting pastor is not completed within three years
after the license expires, authorization to serve as a
deacon also expires.
3. As soon as reasonable after submitting the application, complete an interview with the District Pre-Seminary Interview Committee, with the results to be forwarded to the chair of the synodical Pastoral Colloquy
Committee.
4. Study the materials jointly prescribed by the seminaries and coordinated by the Board for Higher Education,
and pass the required examinations to demonstrate
competencies in Scripture, Confessions, Christian doctrine, homiletics, and worship.
5. The synodical Pastoral Colloquy Committee will give
certification for ordination as an assisting pastor
when all requirements have been fulfilled.
In order to ensure uniform quality, the synodical Pastoral Colloquy Committee will work with the Board for
Higher Education office to provide (1) an application form,
(2) a list of approved instructional resources, and (3) examinations as prepared by the seminaries.
E. Continued Service and Education
An assisting pastor shall be reviewed annually by the
congregation he is serving, in consultation with the supervising pastor. The District President shall carry out his regular duties with regard to the life and conduct of the assisting pastor.
An assisting pastor is encouraged to participate in circuit, district, and synodical events as appropriate under the
synodical Handbook and District policies.
Study Requirements Following Ordination
An assisting pastor will participate in no less than 30
instructional hours (this approximates 150 hours of study a
year) of specified educational activity within each and every
two-year time period until the specified courses are completed. The specified courses are jointly prescribed by the
seminaries and coordinated by the Board for Higher Education. After the specified courses are completed, the assisting pastor will continue his pastoral education as coordinated by the Board for Higher Education. Failure to meet
these requirements will result in removal from the synodical roster by the District President.
The basic list of courses to be completed will include:
• Scripture (OT theology, NT theology, Genesis, Isaiah,
Luke, John, Romans, Galatians)
• Doctrine (Confessions, Christian doctrine, religious bodies)
• History (Reformation era, Lutheran Church in America)
• Pastoral Practice (homiletics, worship, pastoral theology,
counseling, catechesis).
Action:
The Task Force to Study the Need for Pastoral Assistance Where Full-Time Ministry Cannot Be Maintained
200l Convention Proceedings

recommends that the Synod in convention adopt the following:
Resolved, That the Synod in convention approve the rostered category “assisting pastor,” and direct the Secretary
of the Synod to include in the synodical Handbook the material from this document that establishes the nature, status, and admission requirements pertaining to the assisting pastor; and be it further
Resolved, That an assisting pastor may provide Word
and Sacrament ministry under direct supervision of a pastor who has completed an M.Div., pastoral colloquy, or alternate route program; and be it further
Resolved, That the certification of applicants to the position of assisting pastor shall be the responsibility of the
synodical Pastoral Colloquy Committee, and placement of
the candidates shall be handled by the Council of Presidents; and be it further
Resolved, That the preceding guidelines be adopted in
their entirety as the description of this program; and be it
further
Resolved, That this convention rescind the 1989 Convention Resolution 3-05B (establishment of licensed lay
deacons to provide pastoral services) and the 1995 St. Louis
Convention Resolution 3-07A (requiring such licensed laymen to complete a seminary program for ordination); and
be it further
Resolved, That after the last day of this convention no
new or renewal licenses to serve as a lay deacon shall be offered; and be it further
Resolved, That all licensed deacons shall apply to the
synodical Pastoral Colloquy Committee no later than 1 November 2001 to enter the assisting pastor program. A deacon’s authorization to continue to serve in his deacon position shall automatically extend for three years beyond the
date his deacon license expired. If he is not ordained as an
assisting pastor before the automatic extension expires, his
authorization to serve as a deacon also expires—detailed
information about this process is presented in the preceding
guidelines; and be it further
Resolved, That lay deacons who were licensed prior to
20 July 2001 shall be grandfathered to be included under
1998 Bylaw 6.91, 1b. Specifically, until 20 July 2011, anyone who began service as a licensed lay deacon and has
served for ten years may apply for pastoral colloquy under
the provisions of Bylaw 6.91, 1b. In all cases it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide documentation that
establishes his eligibility; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Synod shall amend
the Bylaws as appropriate to implement this resolution
with regard to membership in the Synod, certification, and
placement matters. The Board for Higher Education in consultation with the synodical Pastoral Colloquy Committee
shall maintain the procedures and guidelines for admission
and for continued service and education.
Task Force Regarding Pastoral Assistance
Where Full-Time Ministry Cannot Be Maintained