LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 173

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 173

Resolved, That our Synod return to the confession, in doctrine
and practice, “that nobody should publicly teach or preach or ad-
minister the sacraments in the church without a regular call”; and
be it further

Resolved, That the church continue to ask the Lord of the har-
vest to send out workers into His harvest field (Matt. 9:38), as di-
rected by the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

Immanuel
Eagle, NE

3-55

To Rescind 1989 Res. 3-05B and Reserve
Word and Sacrament Ministry for Pastoral Office

WHEREAS, The 1989 LCMS convention passed Res. 3-05B,
which approved the establishment of licensed lay deacons (com-
monly called “lay ministers”) to provide pastoral services; and

WHEREAS, According to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions the preaching of the Word and the administration of
the Sacraments require a pastor with a regular call to care for souls
in our congregations (Jer. 23:21; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4; and AC
XIV: “It is taught among us that nobody should publicly teach or
preach or administer the sacraments in the church without a regular
call”); and

WHEREAS, A regular call includes full and appropriate training
and examination.(1 Tim. 3:1—7; Titus 1:5—9) so that the hearers are
confident that the gifts of God are being rightly administered; and

WHEREAS, The 1995 LCMS convention (Res. 3-07A) directed
that any layman who was licensed to perform pastoral services
under the previous guidelines be required to apply for admission
into the pastoral ministry of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, Synod President Dr. A. L. Barry made plans
to completely reverse the 1989 convention decision by passing Res.
3-08, which had been endorsed by both seminaries. This Res. 3-08,
which was not considered by the 2001 convention due to a substi-
tute resolution, in part read, “Resolved, That this convention rescinds
the 1989 convention Res. 3-05B (establishment of licensed lay
deacons to provide pastoral services) and the 1995 St. Louis con-
vention Res. 3-07A (requiring such licensed laymen to complete
a seminary program for ordination),” as well as, “...no new or
renewal licenses to serve as a lay deacon shall be offered”; and

WHEREAS, Substitute 2001 Res. 3-08B was introduced by the
floor committee and passed to continue the practice of lay minis-
ters. 2001 Res. 3-08B stated, “That the Synod authorize its districts
to continue training lay deacons as directed by the spirit of the 1989
Wichita Res. 3-05B in which trained lay ministers serve under the
supervision of an ordained pastor.” And later it also said, “That this
convention rescind 1995 St. Louis convention Res. 3-07A (requir-
ing such licensed laymen to complete a seminary program for or-
dination)”; and

WHEREAS, The 2004 LCMS convention passed Res. 5-09, enti-
tled “To Affirm District Programs that Equip Laity for Ministry.”
This resolution directed “the Synod acting in convention, recog-
nize, affirm, and encourage the work of the districts in developing
ministry-equipping programs for laity such as the Lay Leader In-
stitute, Missionary Training Center, Training Leaders for Ministry,
and The Alaskan Project.” Earlier it noted that “Nineteen districts
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have developed min-
istry education and training programs”; and

WHEREAS, Good and effective programs are now available as
developed and endorsed by our seminaries, which were designed
to provide “ordained pastoral service to congregations that cannot
support a full-time pastor, ordained pastoral service to contexts
where English is not spoken, ordained missionary personnel where
finances and/or conditions do not permit calling full-time mission-
ary, and enhanced congregational life as the congregation partici-
pates in the growth of its DELTO student” (BHE “What Is
DELTO?,” Sept. 2000); therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2006 Southern IIlinois District convention
memorialize the 2007 LCMS convention to thank those who have
labored to develop training for alternative situations; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That the 2006 Southern Illinois District convention
memorialize the 2007 LCMS convention to rescind 1989 conven-
tion Res. 3-05B (establishment of licensed lay deacons to provide
pastoral services); and be it further

Resolved, That the 2006 Southern Illinois District convention
memorialize the 2007 LCMS convention to direct that all programs
mentioned in 2004 convention Res. 5-09 (to affirm district pro-
grams that equip laity for ministry) maintain the clear distinction
between the service of laity and the Word and Sacrament ministry
given to the pastoral office; and be it finally

Resolved, That the 2006 Southern Illinois District convention
memorialize the 2007 LCMS convention to direct the Synod’s con-
gregations to a number of programs for training men for the office
of pastor, including not only the MDiv seminary program, but also
alternate routes and especially DELTO (Distance Education Lead-
ing to Ordination), DIT (Deaf Institute of Theology), EIIT (Ethnic
Immigrant Institute of Theology), and HIT (Hispanic Institute of
Theology).

Southern Illinois District; St. Paul, Edna, TX; Trinity,
Herrin, IL; Greater Egypt Circuit Forum 11, Southern
Illinois District

3-56

To Rescind 1989, 2001, and 2004
Resolutions re Public Ministry

WHEREAS, According to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions 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; and Art. XIV of the Augsburg Confession,
“Tt is taught among us that nobody should publicly teach or preach
or administer the sacraments in the church without a regular call”);
and

WHEREAS, The 1989 Synod convention assembled in Wichita
passed Res. 3-05B, which approved the establishment of licensed
lay deacons (commonly called “lay ministers”) to provide pastoral
services; and

WHEREAS, The original Constitution of the German Evangeli-
cal Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States (1847) re-
jects the practice of licensed lay ministers, saying, “Ordination
shall be accorded only to him who has received a legitimate call
from and to a particular congregation and who has by a previous
examination been found to be sound in faith, fit to teach, and be-
yond reproof in his life. The so-called licenses which are in use in
this country are not given by Synod, because they are against Scrip-
ture and proper church practice”; and

WHEREAS, The 1995 Synod convention (Res. 3-07A) attempted
to curb our unfaithful practice in this area by directing that any lay-
man who was licensed to perform pastoral functions under the pre-
vious guidelines be required to apply for admission into the pas-
toral ministry of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The 200! Synod convention introduced and passed
substitute Res. 3-08B to continue the practice of lay ministers, stat-
ing, “That the Synod authorize its districts to continue training lay
deacons as directed by the spirit of the 1989 Wichita Res. 3-05B
in which trained lay ministers serve under the supervision of an or-
dained pastor.” And later it also said, “That this convention rescind
1995 St. Louis convention Res. 3-07A (requiring such licensed lay-
men to complete a seminary program for ordination)”; and

WHEREAS, The 2004 Synod convention passed Res. 5-09, enti-
tled, “To Affirm District Programs That Equip Laity for Ministry”;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention rescind 1989 Res. 3-
OSB (establishment of licensed lay deacons to provide pastoral ser-
vices); 2001 Res. 3-08B (the authorization of districts to “continue