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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 415

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES
WHEREAS, “Christ Himself instituted the office of the Ministry
of Word and Sacrament. Many functions belong to this office:
evangelizing, preaching, teaching, shepherding, supervising,
admonishing, disciplining, and administering. Because it is often
difficult or impossible for one person to perform all the functions of
the ministry, the church may entrust various functions of this office
to a number of persons” (LCMS CTCR, The Ministry in its Relation
to the Christian Church [adopted 1973], 12); and
WHEREAS, “A distinction must be made between ‘office’ and
‘function.’ Failure to make this distinction results in confusion. For
instance, when a congregation is temporarily without a man to fill
the office of the public ministry in its midst, it may ask a properly
supervised teacher or a lay leader to perform some functions of the
office of the public ministry. This is done in an emergency situation
and not as a mere convenience. However, performing such
functions does not make those who do them holders of the office of
the public ministry. Even in such emergency situations a
congregation properly requests a man who does hold the office of
the public ministry and is serving as pastor in a neighboring
congregation to assume that office for them as ‘vacancy pastor’ or
‘interim overseer.’ Thus the oversight and accountability remain
with one whom the church has called and designated as a pastor and
who supervises those who temporarily perform some pastoral
functions. Such practices are common and reveal a ‘folk’
understanding of the ministry even if the root of such practices is
not consciously analyzed” (LCMS CTCR, The Ministry: Offices,
Procedures, and Nomenclature [adopted 1981], 16); therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to the Lord
of the Church for using the entire priesthood of all believers,
especially the laity, in fulfilling His mission to seek and save the
lost; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to those
members of the laity who serve in positions that aid in carrying out
the functions of the public ministry as needs arise within the context
of a local congregation; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm and encourage
the laity as they exercise their gifts in service to the local
congregation, recognizing that such service does not obscure or
confuse the Office of the Public Ministry but aids and supports the
work of the public ministry and that carrying out specific functions
of the ministry does not put them into the office; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm each
congregation’s right to utilize the laity in accord with the Scriptures
and the Lutheran Confessions.

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not justification for the alteration or revocation of biblical and
confessional doctrine or practice; and
WHEREAS, It has become normalized among us even in the
Church to justify the altering of theology and practice by appealing
to emergency, perceived present reality, or other non-biblical, nonconfessional bases; therefore be it
Resolved, That Synod in convention condemn the use of those
not rightly called into the Office of the Public Ministry to perform
the principal duties of that office in our congregations, recognizing
that the assistance of laymen in congregational services is not
hereby excluded when such occurs under the direction of the
pastor(s) called to that particular altar (e.g., an elder assisting the
pastor in the distribution of Holy Communion, the use of acolytes
in the service, and the like) and under the personally present
direction of the pastor(s) in the case of the Chief Divine Service;
and be it further
Resolved, That circuit visitors and district presidents give special
attention to this matter in their advisory and disciplinary roles.
Circuit 14 (Austin)
Minnesota South District

Southeastern District
Ov. 6-88

To Affirm That Functions of Pastoral Office
Belong to That Office
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions state that no one should
publicly teach, preach, or administer the Sacraments without a
rightly ordered public call (AC XIV); and
WHEREAS, The regular services of the Church publicly gathered
are the primary forum for that public teaching, preaching, and
administering of the Sacraments; and
WHEREAS, Rare emergency situations, which at times may in a
sinful and fallen world necessitate that an exception be made, are

2026 Convention Workbook