LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 231

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HIGHER EDUCATION 231

5-29

To Make Use of New Lay Training Programs

Wuereas, God has given to the church all the gifts of the Holy
Spirit necessary for the Body of Christ to be fully functional; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures speak clearly of “the priesthood of all
believers”; and

WHEREAS, Situations exist when it is impractical or impossible

. for a congregation to be able to call a seminary-trained pastor; and

WHEREAS, There are some indications that the number of such

situations may very well increase rather than decrease; and

WHEREAS, So as to provide for the spiritual needs of people in
all locations, laymen have been licensed by District Presidents to
carry out the office of the public ministry; and

WHEREAS, These lay ministers have proved to be a blessing
from God to those congregations; therefore be it

Resolved, That we thank God for our laymen and women who
give unselfishly for the good of Christ’s church; and be it further

Resolved, That we reaffirm the need for lay ministers and dea-
cons in the LCMS; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS explore and implement appropriate
training programs both for ministry training for lay workers and for
distance learning for ordination; and be it finally

Resolved, That the delegates in convention give thanks to God
for our lay ministers and deacons by singing the doxology.

St. Paul
Saratoga Springs, NY

5-30

To Support Continued Lay Ministry Training

WHEREAS, There is a shortage of ordained ministers to meet the
needs of our congregations; and

WHEREAS, The Synod in its foresight approved the licensing of
lay men (deacons) at its 1989 Wichita convention (3-05B) to pro-
vide ministry to congregations affected by the shortage; and

Wrereas, Licensed lay men (deacons) who have been trained
by the Districts of our church body have been serving effectively in
these situations; and

WHEREAS, For many men, the lay ministry training programs
are the places where they identify the call for full-time ministry;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention acknowledge with
thanks to God those who are currently serving the church body in
remote situations and as a support to the pastors of larger congre-
gations and also those that are training to be licensed lay men (dea-
cons); and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm the importance
of the lay ministry training programs as originally approved in
1989, and affirmed by the Synod in convention in 2001, to provide
licensed lay men to serve in remote situations and in supportive
roles to the called pastor in other congregations.

Board of Directors
Pacific Southwest District

§-31

To Support “For the Sake of the Church”
and Concordia University System

WHEREAS, Since 1992 the colleges and universities of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have formed the Concordia
University System, a nation-spanning partnership of 10 institutions
that provides its students numerous benefits; and

WHEREAS, The majority of our called church workers come
through Concordia University System institutions, along with thou-
sands of laypeople who have been prepared for service and lead-
ership in our congregations; and

WHEREAS, The needs of our congregations for both called
church workers and lay servant leaders will only grow, as our con-
gregations reach out to their communities with the Gospel message
of salvation through faith in Jesus through our churches and
schools; and

WHEREAS, The institutions of the Concordia University System
are facing unprecedented fiscal stresses, resulting especially from the
small endowments held by many of our colleges and universities; and

WHEREAS, Our own beloved Concordia University in River For-
est both contributes in significant ways to the called and lay lead-
ership needs of our congregations and schools and faces these same
fiscal stresses; therefore be it

Resolved, That we remember with thanksgiving those dedicated
visionaries and educators who established, developed, and now
serve at the colleges and universities of the Concordia University
System; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage our congregations and their mem-
bers to support the “For the Sake of the Church” effort to raise
$400 million in endowment gifts to ensure the future of the Con-
cordia colleges and universities, so that our sons and daughters may
benefit from them for generations to come; and be it further

Resolved, That we specifically endorse the observance of an an-
nual Concordia Sunday on which our people may be informed of
the work of the Concordias and given opportunity to support them
with their offerings and deferred gifts; and be it further

Resolved, That we specifically encourage the congregations.and
people of the Northern Hlinois District to direct their support of “For
the Sake of the Church” and Concordia Sunday to our own Concor-
dia University in River Forest and to participate in its “Ambassador
Program” of liaisons in each of our congregations; and be it finally

Resolved, That we, the convention of the Northern Illinois Dis-
trict, memorialize the 2004 LCMS convention to thank God for the
institutions and people of the colleges and universities of the Con-
cordia University System and to support fully the enrollment and
endowment goals of “For the Sake of the Church.”

Northern Illinois District; Trinity, Roselle, IL; Circuit 6,
Northern Illinois District

5-32

To Encourage Congregations and Women
re Ministers of Religion—Commissioned, Deaconess

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has the po-
sition of “Minister of Religion—Commissioned, Deaconess”; and

WHEREAS, Many congregations and women may not be aware
of this position; therefore be it

Resolved, That we thank our two seminaries and Concordia
University, River Forest, for offering training leading to the certi-
fication of deaconesses; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Regents of Concordia University,
River Forest, be heartily encouraged to establish a committee to so-
licit financial gifts and extended funding for an endowment that
would support and establish a “chair” and effective program for
training deaconesses at CURF for service to Christ, His church, and
the glory of a great and gracious God; and be it further

Resolved, That this committee report its progress and success
to the 2006 Northern Illinois District convention; and be it further

Resolved, That those in attendance at our 2003 District conven-
tion be ready to support this blessed effort; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage women to pray about and consider
serving as deaconesses; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage congregations to call certified
deaconesses to serve them as an auxiliary to the Office of the Min-
istry; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Northern Illinois District memorialize this
resolution to the 2004 LCMS convention.

Northern Illinois District