LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 171

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 17]

mental action in relation to what is outside it, that is, against reser-
vation of and procession with the Sacrament; he does not split it
up within [the action] itself, nor does he define it in such a way that
it contradicts itself. Therefore see to it that if anything is left over of
the Sacrament, either some communicants or the priest himself and
his assistant receive it, so that it is not only a curate or someone
else who drinks what is left over in the chalice, but that he gives it
to the others who were also participants in the Body [of Christ], so
that you do not appear to divide the Sacrament by a bad example or
treat the sacramental action irreverently. This is my opinion, and I
know that it is also Philip’s opinion” [WA BR 10:348, 27-349
(Oratio Dominica)]; and

WHEREAS, Dr. C. F. W. Walther, in his Pastoral Theology,
writes: “Should anything of the consecrated elements be left over,
the wine is to be drunk up—maybe in the sacristy—by the com-
municants at that particular celebration, by the lay officers, or by
the sacristan. Under no circumstances, however, is consecrated to
be mixed with unconsecrated wine or in any way to be put to com-
mon use. Such wine can be used if need be for sick Communions,
even though in this case it is to be reconsecrated” [Amerkanisch-
Lutherische Pastoraltheologie, 5th ed. (St. Louis: Concordia Pub-
lishing House, 1906), p. 189-trans. John R. Stephenson]; and

WHEREAS, Despite human reason or emotion, the Scriptures
give no word as to an “ending” of the real presence of Christ’s
body and blood; and

WHEREAS, The Altar Guild Manual, by Lee A. Maxwell, pub-
lished by Concordia Publishing House in conjunction with the
Commission on Worship of the LCMS, instructs the separation of
consecrated from unconsecrated and the preference of consuming
what remains; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Minnesota North District of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod in convention encourage pastors and
congregations to keep the consecrated remains of bread and wine
separate on the altar and in the sacristy from what has not been con-
secrated and train altar guilds and sacristans accordingly; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Minnesota North District of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod in convention encourage its pastors and
congregations preferably to estimate accurately the typical amount
of bread and wine needed for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper
each week and preferably to have confirmed congregational com-
municants reverently consume what remains; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Minnesota North District submit this over-
ture to the next convention of Synod to adopt the same recommen-
dations.

Minnesota North District

3-50

To Reconsider Use of Terms
for Office of Pastoral Ministry

WHEREAS, The LCMS in convention in 2004 passed a resolu-
tion entitled “To Support Parish Pastoral Ministry” (2-10); and

WHEREAS, The resolution refers to the need for pastors serving
the wider church in non-parish roles to connect in meaningful ways
to parishes; and

WHEREAS, Pastors on staff in the Atlantic District including the
district president, assistant to the president, and mission executive
all serve parishes; and

WHEREAS, The term full-time parish ministry is used in the res-
olution, creating a connection of pastoral ministry to discrete time
commitments, causing confusion in the concept of the Office of the
Public Ministry (e.g., a pastor in a dual congregation setting is not
described as “full-time” in one congregation and “part-time” in the
other, but as conducting his pastoral ministry among two commu-
nities of believers; “full-time” leads to the question of hourly wages
rather than vocation); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Atlantic District in convention commend the
Synod for its scriptural emphasis on the pastoral ministry as based
among a local community of believers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Atlantic District in convention rise in accla-
mation, thanking God for the pastors of the church in its district
boundaries; and be it further

Resolved, That the Atlantic District in convention commend its
pastors who serve in district positions for their service to the district
and local parishes; and be it further

Resolved, That the model of the Atlantic District in encouraging
pastors serving the wider church to be parish pastors as well be
commended to the national church body and to other districts; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the Atlantic District in convention commend an
overture to the 2007 Synod convention requesting the Council of
Presidents in conjunction with the CTCR to reconsider the use of
the terms full-time/part-time in reference to the office of pastoral
ministry.

Atlantic District

3-51

To Clarify “Ministry-Equipping Programs for Laity”
WHEREAS, Synod 2004 Res. 5-09 directed that “the Synod in
convention recognize, affirm, and encourage the work of the dis-
tricts in developing ministry-equipping programs for laity”; and
WHEREAS, Art. XIV of our Augsburg Confession states, “Our
churches teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church, or
administer the Sacraments, without a rightly ordered call”; and

WHEREAS, The resolution appears to be in conflict with our con-
fession of faith; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod make it clear that by directing dis-
tricts to develop “ministry-equipping programs for laity” it does
not mean the faity are to be trained to preach publicly in the church
or administer the Sacraments.

Trinity
Austin, TX

3-52
To End Word and Sacrament Ministry by Lay Persons
Rationale

History

The 1989 convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod passed Resolution 3-05B, establishing licensed lay deacons
(commonly called “lay ministers”) to provide “Word and Sacra-
ment ministry ‘in exceptional circumstances or in emergencies.’ ”

The 1995 LCMS convention, in Res. 3-07A, directed that any
layman who was licensed “for preaching, leading in public wor-
ship, and administering the sacraments” under the 1989 resolution,
be required to apply for admission into the pastoral ministry of the
Synod, if he wished to continue Word and Sacrament ministry. The
1995 convention also passed Res. 7-12A authorizing the office of
“certified lay ministers,” to assist in responsibilities such as visita-
tion, education, and social ministry that do not involve the public
ministry of Word and Sacraments.

In preparation for the 2001 LCMS convention, Res. 3-08 sought
to rescind “the 1989 convention Res. 3-05B (establishment of li-
censed lay deacons to provide pastoral services) and the 1995 St.
Louis convention Res. 3-07A (requiring such licensed laymen to
complete a seminary program for ordination).” It added that “no
new or renewal licenses to serve as a lay deacon shall be offered.”
This resolution was endorsed by the faculties of both seminaries
and was supported by the Rev. Dr. A. L. Barry, who served as
Synod President until his untimely death a few months prior to the
2001 convention. Res. 3-08 was not considered by the 2001 Con-
vention. Instead, a substitute resolution, Res. 3-08B, authorized dis-