LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 178

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178

Theology and Church Relations

right and on the authority of Christ. This truth makes such ideas as
‘lay ministers’ invitations for difficulties and troubles to ministers
whose authority is doubtful and to laypersons whose assurance of
God’s grace may be questioned” (pp. 253–254, 255); and
Whereas, The Synod has now established a Specific Ministry
Pastor (SMP) status (LCMS Bylaw 2.13.1) to enable ministry of
called and ordained pastors in a variety of ministry settings, and the
Synod through its seminaries has established SMP programs of study
to allow a more convenient path to ordination into the Office of the
Holy Ministry; and
Whereas, The Synod has a Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral
Ministry to determine qualifications and suitability of applicants for
pastoral service in the Synod (LCMS Bylaw 3.10.2), and this committee has the responsibility to “establish and monitor academic,
theological, and personal standards for admission to the office of the
pastoral ministry by colloquy” (LCMS Bylaw 3.10.2.2); and
Whereas, The Southern Illinois District, a geographically and
demographically diverse district stretching from the inner-city streets
of East St. Louis to the sparsely populated hills and fields of the Little
Egypt region, continues to see to it that only men publicly called
to and placed in the Office of the Holy Ministry conduct Word and
Sacrament ministry in each of its 100+ mission outposts; and
Whereas, The substance of this resolution was forwarded to
the 2010 LCMS convention by the Northern, Central, and Southern
Illinois Districts, who together represented more than 10 percent of
the Synod’s membership, but the floor committee presented an alternate (and more complex) resolution and the 2010 LCMS convention
was not able to reach a decision on this matter in the time allotted;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS convention direct the Office of
Pastoral Education and the Council of Presidents to develop and
implement a plan to ensure that all men who are currently engaged
in Word and Sacrament ministry without being publicly called to and
placed in the Office of the Holy Ministry may either be colloquized
as specific ministry pastors, be enrolled in the SMP program to fulfill the standards necessary for colloquy, or cease from all forms of
Word and Sacrament ministry by the end of 2016; and be it further
Resolved, That all current Synod and district tracks, programs,
licensing procedures, etc. that train men for Word and Sacrament
ministry without benefit of being publicly called to and placed in the
Office of the Holy Ministry shall be phased out in favor of the SMP
program by the end of 2016; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District in convention submit
this resolution as an overture to the 2013 LCMS convention.
Southern Illinois District; Northern Illinois District East Region
Pastors Conference
4-32

To Rescind 1989 Res. 3-05B in Light of Augsburg
Confession Art. XIV
Whereas, Article XIV of the Augsburg Confession states, “It
is taught among us that nobody should publicly teach or preach or
administer sacraments in the church without a regular call” (AC XIV,
Tappert); and
Whereas, The Apology to the Augsburg Confession furthermore
states: “[W]e say that no one should be allowed to administer the
Word and the sacraments in the church unless he is duly called” (AP
XIV 1, Tappert); and

2013 Convention Workbook

Whereas, This is not simply the opinion of the Lutheran
Reformers but is also based on Holy Scripture, for Jeremiah 23:21
states: “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” Also, Romans 10:14–15 states:
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And
how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach
unless they are sent?”; and
Whereas, The 1989 LCMS convention authorized district presidents to license laymen to carry out Word and Sacrament ministry,
thereby applying a new understanding of Article XIV of the Augsburg
Confession; and
Whereas, There continues to be confusion in the Synod regarding who rightly has the call to conduct Word and Sacrament ministry
as stated in Article XIV (“Information and Position Statement on
The Question of ‘Lay Ministry’ in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod”: Theological Commission of the Independent Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Germany [SELK], September 4, 1991); therefore be it
Resolved, That the congregations of the Wyoming District in convention memorialize the 2013 LCMS convention to reconsider and
rescind 1989 Res. 3-05B; and be it further
Resolved, That all laymen who are currently licensed for Word
and Sacrament ministry enter a Synod-approved program leading to
ordination within 18 months of the 2013 LCMS convention, or they
will be considered to have forfeited their licenses; and be it further
Resolved, That district presidents encourage the congregations
under their care to seek qualified men to serve as pastors, utilizing the
many resources of our Synod for the training of pastors, and making
congregations aware of the available routes leading to ordination and
a proper call and of the availability and willingness of retired pastors
to serve; and be it finally
Resolved, That in cases where a congregation cannot afford proper
pastoral care, that district presidents be faithful and loving as they
seek to carry out their duties, and that such congregations be encouraged to commit themselves to the proper care and maintenance of
their workers (Table of Duties), that they be encouraged to practice
proper Christian stewardship in their giving, that they be encouraged
to consider multipoint parishes when possible, and that, in all things,
they be reminded that our Lord gives pastors to His Church as a great
and precious gift.
Wyoming District
4-33

To Reaffirm Doctrine of Office of Holy Ministry
and Rescind 1989 Res. 3-05B
Whereas, Our Lord Jesus Christ has granted to His Church the
gift of the Office of the Holy Ministry (John 20:21–23; Eph. 4:11;
Matt. 28:19–20); and
Whereas, Christ has declared to those who have been placed into
this office by Him, “He who hears you hears Me” (Luke 10:16); and
Whereas, Our Lutheran Confessions make it abundantly clear
that those who have been placed into this office stand in the stead and
by the command of Christ so that it is Christ Himself who, through the
office, pronounces Absolution to His people, baptizes them, distributes His body and blood to them in the Holy Supper, and preaches to
and teaches them through the voice of the called minister (SC V 27;
AC V, XIV, XXV; Ap XIII 12, VII 28, XIV 1, XII 39–41; AC XXVIII
8–9; Ap. XXVIII 19); and