LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 5–6, 2017, Page 2

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Ecclesiastical endorsement is the recognition by the LCMS that a rostered person has met
LCMS SPM standards for theological and ministerial competence to serve in ministries in
chaplaincy [institutional or emergency services], pastoral counseling and clinical pastoral
education [supervision]. It attests to the church body’s assessment that an individual
possesses the suitability, readiness, competence and aptitude to serve as its representative
in a particular ministry. Ecclesiastical endorsement also signifies good standing on the
church’s roster of ordained, commissioned and consecrated ministers, and as such is
subject to the ecclesiastical authority of the church body. (Ecclesiastical Endorsement:
Standards and Procedures, Oct. 2014, p. 1, emphasis added)
Here, no “legislative or coercive” power is being applied with regard to a member’s membership in the
Synod as such. Instead a properly designated office of the Synod is applying standards for which
qualifications a particular member must have to be endorsed (as defined above) for a specific, specialized
area of service. Self-evidently, requirements for service in specialized ministries are not coterminous with
requirements for Synod membership, and endorsement by the Synod for a particular, specialized area of
service is not a right implied in Synod membership. Not every minister is suitable, ready, competent, and
apt to represent the Synod, for example, as a military chaplain or in teaching pastoral counseling. In the
determination of whom is to be endorsed by the Synod (Bylaw 2.11.1 [i]) for each specialized ministry, the
endorser “on behalf of [Synod’s] member congregations administers [some of] those ministries that can be
accomplished more effectively in association with other member congregations through the Synod.” (Bylaw
1.1.1 [b]). Such administration, with its attendant standards, is not contrary to Const. Art. VII 1’s statement
that “in its relation to its members the Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or
coercive powers.”
42. Omnibus Referral from the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (17-2817)
The Executive Director of the CTCR forwarded an overture previously committed in 2016 Omnibus
Resolution A to his commission, 2016 Ov. 11-49, “To Amend Bylaws to Affirm that Conscience is Bound
by the Word of God.” His letter noted that the development of bylaws does not fall within the authority or
responsibility of the CTCR. The CCM notes that the task of developing bylaws, as requested in the
forwarded overture, is not within the CCM’s authority or responsibility, either. It thus finds the overture
not to be in proper form for its consideration. The CCM points out that the Wyoming District is able to
memorialize the Synod convention with specific proposed bylaws, which the commission will consider in
due time. The CCM also notes that specific constitutional or bylaw questions related to this matter may be
posed to the commission at any time, by any member of the Synod, but that this overture does not constitute
such a request. The Secretary of the Synod was asked to correspond with the CTCR and the Wyoming
District to this effect.
43. Review of Licensed Lay Deacon / SMP Colloquy Manual (17-2824)
The First Vice-President of the Synod forwarded a draft policy manual for the Colloquy Committee for
Ordained Ministry’s implementation of 2016 Res. 13-02A, “To Regularize Status of Licensed Lay Deacons
Involved in Word and Sacrament Ministry.” The commission notes in “Specific Steps for Individual District
Presidents with Licensed Lay Deacons,” step 3, page 31, that it is inaccurate to say that Res. 13-02A does
not apply to “those who occasionally preach on an inconsistent basis.” Aspects of Res. 13-02A certainly do
apply to such, namely that exceptions for their continuing licensure for that purpose must be sought as
indicated in the resolution. All licensed lay deacons intended to continue preaching and/or administering
the sacraments after the expiration of annual licenses granted on or before Jan. 1, 2018, are directed in some
fashion by Res. 13-02A, either toward colloquy (or another path), leading to call and ordination, or, in
“exceptional cases,” toward a formal exception granted by the authorities and under the procedures
specified.

CCM Minutes – May 5–6, 2017 – Page 29