LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 187

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 187

Resolved, That the Synod adopt the following recommenda-
tions: that this new proposed ministerial office of assistant pastor be
rejected as inconsistent with good order and the practice of the holy
Christian church since the apostles and inconsistent with Art. XIV
of the Augsburg Confession and the accepted practice of the LCMS
since its inception.

Our Saviour
St. Monticello, IN

3-95

To Encourage the Training of a Commissioned
Diaconate

WHEREAS, There is a recognized shortage of professional church
workers, specifically in the Office of the Pastoral Ministry; and

WHEREAS, Various helpers to the Office of the Holy Ministry
appeared in early church times, evidenced by New Testament texts
such as | Tim. 3:8-10; and

Wuereas, Holy Scripture indicates that servants of the congre-
gation are to be worthy of respect, trained in the deep truths of the
faith, and tested in both practice and doctrine (1 Tim. 3:8-10); and

WHEREAS, God has shown, through the inspired texts, that male
and female believers, deacons and deaconesses (Rom. 16:1-2;
1 Tim. 3:8-13; Phil. 1:1), may be commissioned to perform appro-
priate tasks under the Office of the Holy Ministry by call of the
congregation; and

Wuereas, God has established the Office of the Holy Ministry,
and the evangelical churches have for good order used the Rite of
Ordination exclusively for the Office of the Holy Ministry; those
who have been certified and called to the Office of the Diaconate
are commissioned, not ordained; and

WHEREAS, In the history of the establishment of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, both Rev. Wilhelm Loehe and Rev. C.
F. W. Walther maintained from Acts 6 that the congregation has
the right to nominate deacons and pastors; and

WHEREAS, The Servanthood School of the Arizona South Cir-
cuit of the English District, with the blessing of the office of the
Bishop and President of the English District, was established in
1983 with the general mission to provide professional guidance to
Christian women and men for personal growth in Christian disci-
pleship and for the development of skills in vital areas of ministry
and servanthood for the church, and with the specific task of train-
ing and certifying men and women as eligible for call, commis-
sioning, and service as deacons and deaconesses in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod in Tucson and the surrounding region;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the English District in convention encourage the
other circuits of the District to consider establishing similar schools
for the training of the diaconate; and be it further

Resolved, That the English District encourage The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod to further study and explore the use of
the diaconate in its congregations, institutions, and other appropri-
ate settings for ministry.

English District

3-96

To Limit Use of “Pastor” and “Reverend”

WHEREAS, Some laymen serving in the LCMS in a pastoral ca-
pacity are referred to, either formally or informally, with the terms
“Pastor” or “Reverend”; and

Wuereas, The Task Force on Diaconal Ministry may suggest
using a derivation of “Pastor,” such as “Auxiliary Pastor,” for a
new diaconal office in the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, Those holding this new diaconal office may be re-
ferred to also as “Reverend”; and

WHEREAS, These honorific titles have traditionally been re-
served in our fellowship as a recognition of those who have com-

pleted a rigorous course of academic instruction and supervised
practical experience prior to assuming pastoral duties; and

WHEREAS, It is fitting to retain such a distinction so that our
laity will not be confused and can be assured that those in our fel-
lowship who are deemed, either formally or informally, as “Pas-
tor” or “Reverend” do indeed have the background they have come
to expect of those so designated; therefore be it

Resolved, That the terms “Pastor” and “Reverend” be limited
throughout the LCMS to those men who have completed a regular
course of seminary instruction, limited to M.Div. studies, colloquy,
alternate route, and DELTO; and be it further

Resolved, That wherever laymen who are serving in the LCMS
in a pastoral capacity are referred to, either formally or informally,
with the terms “Pastor” or “Reverend” this practice be discontinued
immediately; and be it further

Resolved, That a layman serving in the LCMS in a pastoral ca-
pacity who persistently refers to himself or invites or allows others
to refer to him, either formally or informally, with the terms “Pas-
tor” or “Reverend” thereby forfeits any previously granted autho-
rization to serve in a pastoral capacity and will not again be eligible
to regain such status; and be it further

Resolved, That all congregational and rostered members of the
Synod and all synodical and District employees, units, auxiliaries,
and Recognized Service Organizations refrain from referring to
laymen who are serving in the LCMS in a pastoral capacity, either
formally or informally, with the terms “Pastor” or “Reverend”; and
be it further

Resolved, That any diaconal ministry or any additionally estab-
lished category of rostered worker for those who have not yet fully
completed a regular course of seminary instruction, limited to
M.Div. studies, colloquy, alternate route, and DELTO, not use the
term “Pastor” in any way, with any modifier, for example, such as
“Auxiliary Pastor,” or allow the use of the honorific title ‘“Rev-
erend,” even if they are ordained; and be it finally

Resolved, That any addition of another route to becoming a
“Pastor” or “Reverend” in the LCMS must be specifically approved
by the Synod in convention by submission of a report and recom-
mendation at a regular convention, study of the report and recom-
mendation throughout the Synod, and then adoption by a subse-
quent convention of the Synod.

Immanuel
Peoria, IL

3-97
To Affirm Lay Ministry

WHEREAS, St. Paul reminds us: “It was he who gave some to be
apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to
be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of ser-
vice, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach
unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and be-
come mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13); and

WHEREAS, Ministers (elders/deacons) often were selected by
congregations in the New Testament to fill ministry needs:

Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are
known to be full of lhe Spint and wisdom. We will turn this re-
sponsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer
and the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:3-4)

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church
and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in
whom they had put their trust. (Acts 14:23)

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a
prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on
you. (1 Tim. 4:14)

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten
out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town,
as [ directed you. (Titus 1:5);

and

2001 Convention Workbook