LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 184

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184 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

ciples in giving assistance and advice to pastors and congregations;
and be it further

Resolved, That all pastors be encouraged to make use of the
many {ine continuing-education courses offered by our Synod’s
seminaries, so that the pastors might grow in their ability to serve
the Lord and God’s people, whom they are called to serve; and be
it finally

Resolved, That all congregations encourage their pastors with
their prayers and financial support, so that they might be able to
take advantage of continuing-education programs.

Salem
Taylorsville, NC

3-84

To Reject All Attempts to Establish
Practice of Temporary Calls

WHEREAS, It has become a practice in various Districts of our
Synod to encourage and allow the issuance of “temporary calls” to
the office of parish pastor in the form of “intentional interim” calls;
and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missoun Synod from its very
inception has repeatedly declared such “temporary calls” to be con-
trary to Scripture and contrary to the Lutheran Confessions (see
original Constitution of the LCMS, Concordia Historical Institute
Quarterly, October 1946; Lehre und Wehre, 1898; Pastoral The-
ologie, C. F. W. Walther, AC XIV); and

WHEREAS, “Temporary calls” (such as calls contingent on re-
certification or with definite or undefined, yet implied time limits)
are in essence an attack upon Christ, who alone is the head of His
church (recertification is an already condemned Romanizing error
with a new name) and has established the pastoral office (Manda-
tum Dei; Acts 20:28; Eph, 4:8-16; | Cor. 12:28) which no man has
the right to overthrow no matter how good the intention is, for the
pastoral office belongs to Christ and not to us; and

WHEREAS, “Temporary calls” requiring recertification are in its
essence an attack upon the Gospel, for pastors would tend to be-
come intimidated by the whole process of being recertified and thus
become reluctant to speak out against doctrinal abuses, thereby fail-
ing to perform one of their God-mandated responsibilities (Acts
20:26-31; | Tim. 3:1~13; 2 Tim. 2:2; 4:1—5; Titus 1:5-11; Fritz,
Pastoral Theology, pp. 45ff.); and

WHEREAS, No human will or decision can nor should dare to set
a time limit to God’s will and call; and

WHEREAS, A congregation may and should depose (remove) a
pastor only when there are scriptural grounds for deposition; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures give only false doctrine (Matt.
7:15-20; Gal. 1:8; 2 Tim 2:2; Titus 1:9-11; 2:1-2; John 10), scan-
dalous life (1 Tim. 3:1—7; Titus 1:6—-9; | Peter 5:3), and willful ne-
glect of duties (Col. 4:17; 2 Tim. 4:5) as just causes for deposing a
pastor; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention assembled explicitly disavow, repudiate, and reject any and
all attempts to establish the practice of “temporary calls,” whether
this be by recertification or some other process, as being contrary to
Scripture and contrary to the Lutheran Confessions; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That all District Presidents admonish by letter all con-
gregations to be supportive of their pastors as God’s called servants
so long as their pastors are faithful to the Scriptures and the
Lutheran Confessions; and be it finally

Resolved, That this convention reaffirm the scriptural teaching
that pastors may be deposed only for false doctrine, scandalous life,
or willful neglect of duties, also resolving that Districts and all Dis-
trict officials shall adhere strictly to these principles in giving as-
sistance and advice to pastors and congregations.

Circuit 2 Forum
Ohio District

2001 Convention Workbook

3-85

To Encourage Continuation
of Intentional Interim Ministry

WHEREAS, Sometimes there are difficult transitional periods in
the life of a congregation when the pastor leaves; and

WHEREAS, These difficult times often require special skills in
working with the congregation, as when a longtime pastor retires, a
pastor dies suddenly, a pastor or other church worker leaves due to
misconduct, or conflict has plagued the congregation; and

Wuereas, The Council of Presidents, working with the LCMS
Interim Ministry Conference, has developed and provided training
in understanding and skills to establish a cadre of qualified pastors
for Intentional Interim Ministry; and

WHEREAS, The specialized ministries of these pastors have
proven to be a blessing to the congregations served by bringing
them healing, renewed fellowship, strengthening through the
proclamation of Law and Gospel for their circumstances, and a new
sense of mission and outreach; therefore be it

Resolved, That we commend the Council of Presidents and the
LCMS Interim Ministry Conference for their past efforts in estab-
lishing this specialized ministry for our troubled congregations; and
be it further

Resolved, That we encourage the LCMS Interim Ministry Con-
ference to continue its work; and be it further

Resolved, That we direct the Council of Presidents to continue
these efforts and to report on their progress and the effectiveness of
this ministry to the next synodical convention; and be it finally

Resolved, That we encourage all congregations with special
needs, such as are listed above, to seek the assistance of their Cir-
cuit Counselor and District President in acquiring the services of a
trained and certified intentional interim minister.

Immanuel
Pittsburgh, PA

3-86

To Recognize Validity of Intentional
Interim Ministry Concept

WHEREAS, The process of selecting and calling an Intentional
Interim Minister is a cooperative effort between the congregation,
the Circuit Counselor, and the District President; and

WHEREAS, The goals, duties, and function of the Intentional In-
terim Minister are not imposed on the congregation but are agreed
upon by mutual conversation and covenanting between the congre-
gation, the trained interim pastor, and District leaders; therefore be
it

Resolved, That Synod in convention recognize the validity of
the concept of calling an Intentional Interim Minister by a congre-
gation during those times of transition and healing; and be it further

Resolved, That gratitude be expressed to God for those laypeo-
ple and pastors who have given much study and effort to the de-
velopment of Intentional Interim Ministry within the Lutheran un-
derstanding of the office of the holy ministry; and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to consider call-
ing an Intentional Interim Minister during times of transition and/or
healing, and to work with Circuit Counselors and District Presi-
dents in this process.

Eastern District; Circuit 3 of the Michigan District

3-87

To Develop Intentional Interim Ministry Guidelines

WueEREAS, Res. 3-17 of the 60th regular convention of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod established the validity of the
Intentional Interim Ministry; and