LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 237

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for congregations and ministries, for example: (1) financial challenges (numerous congregations and missions are unable to support
a pastor financially); (2) geographical challenges (small, isolated
congregations in remote areas often face financial challenges and
may have no pastors in geographic proximity to them); and (3)
demographic challenges (urban, minority, non-English-speaking,
and ethnically diverse congregations and missions may find no rostered candidates available to fill their pastoral needs); and
Whereas, The practice of licensing lay deacons for temporary
service in certain difficult circumstances, like the aforementioned
examples, was approved by the LCMS in 1989 Res. 3-05B as a means
to address the need for regular preaching of the Word and administration of the Sacraments by utilizing trained and supervised
laymen to serve “temporarily” in Word and Sacrament ministry
when “no pastor [is] available” and “in exceptional circumstances
or in emergencies” (1989 Res. 3-05B, Nomenclature 4, Guidelines
1 b); and
Whereas, There has been significant dissension in the LCMS
over the Synod-approved practice of licensing laymen to preach
and administer the Sacraments while under the supervision of an
ordained pastor, but the Synod needs to move forward together
with deep concern for fidelity to the word of Christ as we confess it
together and for faithfulness in the mission that Christ has given
to His Church; and
Whereas, 1989 Res. 3-05B repeatedly references temporary
service for deacons when no pastor is available in emergencies and
exceptional circumstances, but in some cases deacons have served
for years regularly preaching and administering the Sacraments;
and
Whereas, The presence of continuing dissension about licensed
lay deacons is an aspect of further disagreement about elements of
doctrine and practice, e.g., the understanding of the pastoral office,
the relationship between the Office of the Public Ministry and the
royal priesthood, the understanding of call and ordination, and
faithful and effective ways to share the Gospel and plant churches
in our post-Christian world; and
Whereas, The Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program was
established by the LCMS convention (2007 Res. 5-01B) in response
to the need for effective theological education and practical training to prepare pastors to serve in particularly challenging settings
and situations that prevent them from enrolling in residential theological education; and
Whereas, The Synod recognizes a need for flexibility in its
approach to preparing men to serve in the Office of the Public
Ministry while upholding the biblical requirement that they be
men who are “above reproach” and “able to teach,” and so offers
approved training programs to prepare pastors for urban and
cross-cultural service, namely, the Center for Hispanic Studies,
the Cross-Cultural Ministry Center, the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT), all at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and
the Spanish-speaking SMP track at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW); and

Whereas, There is a need within the LCMS to regularize the
status of licensed lay deacons who are engaged in Word and Sacrament ministry; and
Whereas, The Synod directed the President to appoint a task
force to address question 2 about the practice of licensing lay deacons, and the task force, as required, reported a recommended plan
to address questions (see Convention Workbook, pp. 234–255), and
the theological framework of the report has been affirmed by both
seminary faculties and the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations (CTCR); and
Whereas, The Synod has budgeted $40,000 for the remainder
of the current fiscal year and is committed to budgeting at least
$150,000 per year for the next two years to assist deacons entering
the SMP and EIIT programs; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS recognize that “emergency knows
no rule” and that no Synod action can or should prevent a congregation from taking reasonable and scripturally faithful steps
necessary to provide for the Word to be proclaimed in time of emergency, while at the same time, every congregation of the Synod is
required to address matters involving the Office of the Public Ministry in a way that is consistent with its subscription to Scripture
and the Confessions, as well as its agreement to abide by the Synod’s Constitution; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS affirm and give thanks for the men
who have recognized the needs of the church and its mission,
serving as licensed lay deacons, preaching and administering the
Sacraments in keeping with 1989 Res. 3-05B, often without remuneration and at personal cost, lest congregations be deprived of the
Means of Grace; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS, while mindful of the need for continued conversation within the church, affirm the theological
framework of the “2013 Resolution 4-06A Task Force Report,”
namely, that a right calling to the Office of Public Ministry requires
that a man be properly prepared and examined regarding doctrine
and life, be called by the congregation (or ministry) where he is to
serve, and publicly appointed in a way so that the entire church fellowship recognizes the validity of his service (Acts 13:1–3; 14:21–23;
2 Tim. 2:24–26; Titus 1:5); and be it further
Resolved, That the Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry establish and implement an expanded regional colloquy
program (with appropriate regional colloquy committees) to regularize the status of current licensed lay deacons (LLDs) who are 50
years of age or older and who have been preaching the Gospel and/
or administering the Sacraments publicly on behalf of the church
for the past two years (de facto pastors), so that these servants of
Christ can be called and ordained according to the order of the
LCMS and be rostered as pastors with SMP status; and be it further
Resolved, That exceptions to the SMP colloquy requirements
with respect to age and years of service for LLDs may be granted
by the appropriate regional colloquy committee with the approval
of the respective district president and the plenary of the Council
of Presidents; and be it further
Resolved, That nothing in this resolution shall be construed as
impeding the training, recognition, credentialing or service of dea-

“13. Routes to Ministry”

U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

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