LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 230

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230 HIGHER EDUCATION

WHEREAS, The DELTO Oversight Committee (comprised of
representatives of the COP, BHE, the synodical President’s Office,
and seminaries) has approved a process of building on the founda-
tion of District lay training programs for DELTO; and

Wuereas, An increasing number of Districts are becoming in-
volved in “on the job,” contextual training in lay ministry, includ-
ing the first ten courses of DELTO; and

WHEREAS, There is a growing need for all forms of lay training,
including the training of licensed deacons to do Word and Sacra-
ment ministry in the absence of ordained clergy; and

WHEREAS, The need for both licensed deacons and pastoral ser-
vice in remote locations, among ethnic and specialized ministries,
on multiple-staff ministries, and other ministry settings continues to
exceed supply; and

WHEREAS, The current admissions criteria for DELTO restricts
many from acceptance into the program; therefore be it

Resolved, That Res. 3-05B of the 1989 Wichita convention es-
tablishing licensed deacons be affirmed; and be it further

Resolved, That DELTO, as reconfigured since the 2001 con-
vention, be affirmed and mandated to include the following in its
admissions criteria:

A. Applicants should be mature in faith and life, have signifi-
cant experience in the church, and adequate post-secondary school
course work and experience to enable successful completion of the
program.

B. Applicants must be communicant members in good standing
of an LCMS congregation, supported by their spouses (if married)
and other immediate family members, and be sufficiently commit-
ted to the Lutheran faith to represent the LCMS in their unique sit-
uation.

C. Applicants must be male and have demonstrated the aptitude
to serve in the pastoral office by consent.

D. Applicants must be in, or entering, a Word and Sacrament
ministry where presence and ministry is expected both during and
after the completion of the program.

E. Applicants must be screened by the District and receive the
recommendation of the President of the District in which they
serve. .

F. The District in which the applicant serves, his District Presi-
dent, and his congregation must recognize and support the ministry
situation in which the applicant will receive his training.
and be it further

Resolved, That DELTO also adopt the following procedures:

A. After the first ten courses applicants must be paired with an
ordained pastor of the LCMS who will serve as their mentor/vic-
arage supervisor throughout the course of study.

B. Mentor/vicarage supervisors must be approved according to
standardized criteria and agree to provide appropriate feedback to
their student and to the seminary on a regular basis. Each men-
tor/vicarage supervisor must have the permission of his own con-
gregation to be engaged in this educational endeavor.
and be it finally

Resolved, That we rejoice in all the gifts of ministry the Lord

provides in the priesthood of all believers and encourage the con- _

gregations and Districts of the LCMS to support and expand both
lay and DELTO training that will serve Christ by nurturing believ-
ers in the faith and in reaching the lost for Him.

Board of Directors
Northwest District

5-27

To Strengthen and Expand Deacon
Training Programs in Synod’s Districts
WuereEAS, The Mid-South District has established a deacon’s

program (lay assistant to the pastor program) as suggested by 1998
Res. 5-09; and

WHEREAS, There continues to be a critical shortage of pastors
in the Mid-South District and The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod; and

WHEREAS, That shortage continues to increase as more pastors
retire and leave the pastoral ministry for other reasons; and

Whereas, There are a large number of small congregations who
cannot afford a full-time or part-time pastor because of financial
restraints; and

WHEREAS, The Mid-South District and The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod are opening new missions each year that require
pastors; and

WHEREAS, The deacon program of the Mid-South District has,
in the past four years, effectively recruited, trained, and placed in
supervised Word ministries 28 gifted laymen; and

WHEREAS, Congregations of the District are experiencing great
blessings through the deacon program; therefore be it

Resolved, That we thank God for those who have developed the
deacon program in our District, who have taught the courses, and
for those who are faithfully serving as deacons within our District;
and be it further

Resolved, That this vital program be continued and expanded
to meet the critical need of qualified, trained, and supervised dea-
cons in congregations and specialized ministries that cannot afford
or obtain pastors; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage and make available the DELTO
program to those in the deacon program; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Mid-South District in convention memori-
alize the 2004 Synod convention to strengthen and expand the dea-
con training programs in the Synod’s Districts.

Mid-South District

5-28

To Affirm District Lay-Ministry-Equipping Programs
WHEREAS, We the Synod affirm the historical Lutheran under-
standing of the priesthood of all believers (that God through the
work of His Son by the power of the Holy Spirit, has made all be-
lievers “a royal priesthood to declare the praises of Him who called
you out of darkness into His wonderful light” {1 Peter 2:5, 9]); and

WHEREAS, Recent statistics show that one in two Americans are
not Christian, making the United States a mission field of opportu-
nity; and

WHEREAS, Workers are needed to serve in this time of great
challenge and opportunity; and

WHEREAS, Nineteen Districts of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod have developed ministry education and training pro-
grams for church members so that they may be more effective in
their ministry and assist in areas of need; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod, acting in convention, affirm the role
of the laity in expanding the mission of the church and recognize
the need to further equip laypersons for mission work; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod, acting in convention, recognize, af-
firm, and encourage the work of the Districts in developing min-
istry-equipping programs for the laity, such as the Lay Leader In-
stitute, Missionary Training Center, Training Leaders for Ministry,
and The Alaskan Project; and be it finally

Resolved, That for the sake of good order the Council of Presi-
dents of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod develop a stan-
dardized core curriculum for District lay-training programs and co-
ordinate a national listing of participants.

Board of Directors, Iowa District West; Board of Directors,
Southeastern District