LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 179

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Theology and Church Relations
Whereas, The 1989 Res. 3-05B allowed for laypeople to preach
and administer Sacraments publicly in LCMS congregations at
worship, though this is contrary to Scripture and the Lutheran
Confessions, as stated above; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the doctrine of the Office of the
Holy Ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the Confessions’ position that,
according to ecclesiastical order and its functions, “no one should
publicly teach in the church or administer the Sacraments unless he
be regularly called” (AC XIV). In upholding this position, we guard
against confusion of the uniqueness of this office and its functions
with the identity and responsibilities of the priesthood of all believers; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod through her district presidents, district
vice-presidents, and circuit counselors assist the congregations of the
Synod in upholding this doctrine of Christ; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod promote and instruct her congregations,
educational institutions, and agencies in this essential confessional
doctrine concerning the Office of the Holy Ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod rescind 1989 resolution 3-05B; and be
it further
Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm 1995 Res. 3-07A (rescinded
by the 2001 Convention); and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod no longer authorize its districts to place
into the ministry of the Word and Sacrament men who are not regularly called according to AC XIV.
Christ Lutheran Church
Sioux Falls, SD
4-34

To Address Licensed Lay Administration of Word
and Sacrament
Whereas, In 1989 our Synod at Wichita adopted Res. 3-05B, regularizing under particular circumstances that the following be done
by men who do not hold the Office of the Public Ministry: composing and delivering sermons, leading public worship services, and
administering Holy Baptism and Holy Communion (1989 Convention
Proceedings, pp. 111–113); and
Whereas, This action has caused noteworthy debate and disquiet
within the Synod for the last 23 years; and
Whereas, Citing Article XIV of the Augsburg Confession, the
Synod declared in 2007 that “[a]ll those who regularly and publicly
perform the functions of the Office of the Holy Ministry should do
so as those called to and placed into that office” (Res. 5-01B, 2007
Convention Proceedings, pp. 133, 136); and
Whereas, Via the same resolution the Synod established a
“Specific Ministry Pastor” program in which men are examined,
certified, called, and ordained before they preach the Gospel and
administer the Sacraments; and
Whereas, Among the purposes of this program was to continue
the intent of the DELTO (Distance Education Leading to Ordination)
program to “provide ordained pastoral service to congregations
that cannot support a full-time pastor” (quoted in 2007 Convention
Proceedings, p. 136); therefore be it
Resolved, That all laymen who are currently licensed to preach
the Word and administer the Sacraments publicly be encouraged to
enroll in one of the seminary programs leading to ordination; and
be it further

179

Resolved, That the Missouri District respectfully request the
Synod to discontinue the licensing of laymen to preach the Gospel and
administer the Sacraments, as per 1989 Res. 3-05B; and be it further
Resolved, That the Missouri District respectfully request the
Synod to require those who are currently so licensed to discontinue
publicly preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments
within three years after the time when the Synod acts on this resolution; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Missouri District respectfully request the
Synod to provide that any extension of the above deadline for those
currently licensed can be granted one time only by the appropriate
district president, and that upon consultation with and approval from
the President of the Synod.
Missouri District;
Carrollton Circuit Forum, Missouri District
4-35

To Charge Joint Seminary Faculties to Evaluate
1989 Res. 3-05B and Prepare Recommendation
Whereas, The LCMS Constitution states, “The Synod, and
every member of the Synod, accepts without reservation … [a]ll the
Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and
unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God” (Art.
II 2), which are otherwise known as the Lutheran Confessions; and
Whereas, The Constitution of the LCMS is also the constitution
of each district of the Synod (Art. XII 2); and
Whereas, Each individual pastor of the LCMS has vowed to perform the duties of his office in accordance with the Holy Scriptures
and these Lutheran Confessions; and
Whereas, “The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod requires
that its member congregations accept the confessional standard of
the Synod” (“Guidelines for Constitutions and Bylaws of Lutheran
Congregations,” May 2006, pg. 5, online at www.lcms.org/Document.
fdoc?src=lcm&id=1193, accessed Aug. 5, 2011); and
Whereas, The original German of Article V of the Augsburg
Confession of the Lutheran Confessions states that God established the preaching office (Predigtamt) for teaching the Gospel
and administering the Sacraments (AC V 1, Concordia Triglotta, ed.
Northwestern Publishing House, 1927, pp. 44–45); and
Whereas, The original Latin of Article XIV of the same Augsburg
Confession states that no one should publicly teach in the church or
administer the Sacraments unless he be called by the public ceremony
(nisi rite vocatus), which was historically understood as referring only
to the pastoral office (AC XIV, Triglotta, pp. 48–49); and
Whereas, Res. 3-05B of the 1989 LCMS convention allowed
laypeople to preach and administer Sacraments publicly in LCMS
congregations at worship, although this is contrary to Scripture and
the Lutheran Confessions; and
Whereas, Later conventions of the LCMS have tried to resolve
this issue with overtures/resolutions both in favor of and opposed to
allowing laypeople to publicly preach and administer the Sacraments;
and
Whereas, The Constitution of the LCMS says, “All matters of
doctrine and of conscience shall be decided only by the Word of God”
(Art. VIII C); therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS convention charge the joint seminary faculties to prepare an evaluation of the 1989 LCMS convention
Res. 3-05B and to prepare a recommendation for the 2016 LCMS
convention.
Iowa District East
2013 Convention Workbook