LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 187

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LATE OVERTURES
Despite the clear language of AC XIV, the 1989 Synod
convention authorized district presidents to license certain
laymen to perform functions belonging to the pastoral office: preaching, leading in public worship, and administering the Sacraments under the supervision of an ordained
minister in exceptional circumstances where no local pastor
is available (Res. 3-05B).
The 1995 Synod convention resolved to put an end to this
practice by requiring such licensed laymen to apply for admission into the pastoral ministry of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod within a grace period of no longer than two
years or to allow their licenses to lapse (Res. 3-07A).
At the 2001 Synod convention, Res. 3-08 sought to end
entirely the practice of licensing laymen for Word and
Sacrament ministry by rescinding 1989 convention Res. 305B and 1995 convention Res. 3-07A by offering no new or
renewal licenses and by instructing its districts to terminate any programs for the training of men for Word and
Sacrament ministry. A substitute resolution (3-08B), however, was introduced and adopted that rescinded 1995 convention Res. 3-07A and authorized “districts to continue
training lay deacons as directed by the spirit of 1989 Wichita Res. 3-05B in which trained lay ministers serve under
the supervision of an ordained pastor.”
WHEREAS, The Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions
teach that the preaching of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments require a pastor with a regular call
(Jer. 23:21; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4; AC XIV); and
WHEREAS, A regular call requires training and examination in the sense of 1 Tim. 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul cautions against placing anyone into
the Office of the Public Ministry hastily (1 Tim. 5:22);
therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
rescind 1989 convention Res. 3-05B (establishment of licensed lay deacons to provide pastoral services) and 2001
convention Res. 3-08B (authorizing districts to continue the
practice of training lay deacons); and be it further
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
instruct its districts to terminate any programs for the
training of men for Word and Sacrament ministry; and be it
finally
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
offer no new or renewed licenses to serve as a lay deacon,
and to revoke the licenses of those men who are publicly
preaching, teaching, or administering the Sacraments without a proper [public] call, in violation of AC XIV.

Waseca Circuit Forum
Minnesota South District
L4-38

To Authorize Exception to 2004 Res. 4-11
re Property Reversionary Provisions
WHEREAS, The Concordia College—New York Board of
Regents, on February 2, 2007, authorized CONCORDIA
ON THE MOVE, a plan for redeployment of assets to
strengthen the college; and
WHEREAS, On February 15, 2007, the Board for University Education approved the CONCORDIA ON THE MOVE

187

program, contingent upon completion of a reversionary interest agreement between the college and the Synod; and
WHEREAS, Certain restrictive covenants between The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and Concordia College—New York are no longer enforceable because of a New
York statute of limitations; and
WHEREAS, Concordia College—New York has been advised by its attorneys that it cannot execute new restrictive
covenants with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod unless it receives fair market value consideration; and
WHEREAS, The board of regents has taken action to
amend the bylaws of Concordia College—New York by
adding a bylaw that can only be amended with the prior
consent of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the
bylaw providing that all net assets will be distributed to
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod upon the dissolution or liquidation of the school; and
WHEREAS, Res. 4-11 of the 2004 convention of the Synod
specifically required that such property reversionary provisions be included in the Articles of Incorporation of corporate agencies of the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in convention authorize the bylaw solution provided by
Concordia College—New York in lieu of the requirement of
2004 Res. 4-11 that such provisions be included in the Articles of Incorporation.
Commission on Constitutional Matters
L5-39

To Amend Bylaws re DCE Colloquy
Admission and Curriculum
WHEREAS, The 2004 Synod Handbook states that “colloquy does not provide basic preparation for the field of service” (3.8.3.5 b); and,
WHEREAS, Director of Christian Education (DCE) programs throughout the Concordia University System have a
fairly standardized program of study consisting of up to 56
semester hours of DCE-specific course content (not including internship and standardized theology coursework); and
WHEREAS, Initial teacher colloquy programs were designed to provide theology coursework for individuals who
had received a teaching certificate from a non-LCMS institution so that they could enter the commissioned ministry
of the LCMS and were not intended to provide an alternate
route for acquiring a teaching certificate; and
WHEREAS, Very few non-LCMS alternate DCE preparation programs are available; and
WHEREAS, Almost every DCE colloquy candidate would
be entering the colloquy program with a significant deficiency in DCE-specific coursework; and
WHEREAS, Several of the commissioned minister colloquy
programs, notably teacher colloquy and deaconess colloquy,
apply applicant criteria beyond that required of DCE colloquy applicants; and
WHEREAS, Formal, standardized expectations are indicative of established professions, rather than relying on subjective criteria that may vary with the perspectives of the
individuals given the responsibility for oversight at any
given time (e.g., “Additional admission requirements may
2007 Convention Proceedings