LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 3, 1997, Page 5

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Because it was felt that the response required further clarification, the Commission agreed to delay its
formal written response to the pastor until after its next meeting.
103. District Lay Ministry Program (Ag. 2075, A): In its 1997 Convention Workbook, a district had
received a proposal for the development of a district program for lay ministry certification for lay workers
within the district. A pastor had asked for an opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters as to
whether this proposal was in conflict with Chapter VII of the Bylaws of the Synod. This request for an
opinion was followed up by the notation that an opinion was also desired on the interpretation of 1995
synodical Resolution 3-07A as it related to Wichita convention Resolution 3-05B. The opinion was
expressed that the later resolution might nullify the original one, on which the proposal for the district lay
ministry program was based. General agreement was reached on the proposed response, which indicated
that the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod were silent regarding such programs as those proposed by the
district, that Resolution 3-07A of the 1995 convention did not nullify Resolution 3-05B of the Wichita
convention, and that any theological concerns related to the proposed utilization of those lay ministers
certified by the district program should be referred to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations.
Ultimately, the response which was made to the request for an opinion by the pastor and another who asked
similar questions was as follows:
The Commission on Constitutional Matters has been asked to render an opinion as to whether the
proposed Lay Ministry Program to be offered for consideration to the Kansas District convention is
contrary to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.
Although Section VII of the Bylaws of the Synod relates to Certified Church Worker, Lay, such section
does not directly address the proposal here in question. Indeed, the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod are silent as to the issue. However, Resolution 3-05B of the 1989 convention of the Synod
entitled "To Adopt Recommendations of Lay Worker Study Committee Report as Amended" as well as
Resolution 3-07A of the 1995 convention of the Synod entitled "To Establish Procedure by Which
Laymen Licensed to Perform Functions of the Pastoral Office be Called and Ordained into the
Ministerium of LCMS" do address the question before the Commission.
The question posed to the Commission was received by the Secretary of the Commission on March 24,
1997, and an opinion by the Commission was requested by April 4, 1997, the day the Kansas District is
to convene its district convention. This brief time did not afford the Commission sufficient time to
make a detailed study of the "Policies and Guidelines Kansas District Commission on Lay Ministry."
With that limitation, the Commission submits the following:
Similar programs as the credentialed Lay Ministry/Deacon program proposed for the Kansas District
have existed in other districts, e.g., the Michigan District which for a number of years had a Michigan
Lay Ministry Institute (MLMI).
Resolution 3-05B of the 1989 convention of the Synod provides for the kind of lay worker service
proposed in the overture to be presented to the 1997 convention of the Kansas District. In fact, it
appears that much of the direction is derived from that resolution. Resolution 3-07A of the 1995
convention of the Synod provides for requirements of those who serve as deacons, that is, those who are
involved on ongoing Word and Sacrament ministry if this is to continue for an extended period of time.
It provides for a period of 24 months in which men involved in such ministry must apply for admission
to a seminary for enrollment in a special program designed by the seminaries. Based on this, it is
assumed that credentialed Lay Ministers/Deacons prepared in the Kansas program would be expected to
meet this requirement.