![]() 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 available,” “in exceptional circumstances or in emergencies” (1989 Res. WHEREAS, The practice of licensing lay deacons for temporary service in certain difficult circumstances, like the afore-mentioned examples, was approved by the LCMS in 1989 Res. WHEREAS, The LCMS has long-recognized that challenging circumstances may make it difficult or impossible to provide a pastor 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) (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, In a human institution such as the LCMS, such human arrangements are necessary in order to foster harmony and prevent needless confusion and division and WHEREAS, In faithfulness to the Word of God and to its confession requiring a regular call for those who preach and administer the sacraments publicly in the church (AC XIV Ap XIV), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has followed the practice of identifying those who are eligible to be called into the Office of the Public Ministry by the certification of one of the seminary faculties or the Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry and WHEREAS, The rite of ordination, although not a divine institution (Church and Ministry, Ministry Thesis VI), is the apostolic custom by which Lutherans have designated and publicly acknowledged a man as a minister of Word and Sacrament, that is, as one who is in the Office of the Public Ministry and recognized by the wider fellowship as a fellow minister (Ap XIII 11−13) and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church has always ensured, on the basis of Scripture: (1) that men who are to serve in the office of public ministry be examined as to their doctrine and life (2) that the congregations they serve willingly call them into service and (3) that the wider church (other churches in fellowship with the congregation) also affirms them as fellow ministers of the Word and Sacraments (see Acts 1:15–26 Acts 14:23 1 Tim. ![]() WHEREAS, In its history the Lutheran church has always maintained the divine requirement (de jure divino) of the office of public ministry, while it has in many and various ways prepared men for the Office of the Public Ministry, since the manner of preparation for the office is by human arrangement (de jure humano) and WHEREAS, The royal priesthood and the office of the public ministry are to have a complementary and not a competitive or conflicted relationship and ![]() 10:15 James 3:1 AC XIV see also Walther’s Church and Ministry/Office) and WHEREAS, The Scriptures and Confessions also teach that Christ established an office that is distinct from the priesthood of believers (the office of the public ministry) for teaching and nurturing His royal priests by means of preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments (1 Cor. 18:18–20 1 Peter 2:9 Augsburg Confession Article XXVIII, paragraph 10 Smalcald Articles, Section III, paragraph 7 Treatise paragraph 11 see also Walther’s Church and Ministry/Office) and ![]() WHEREAS, The Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions teach that our Lord gave the keys of the kingdom to His whole church, the royal priesthood of believers (Matt. ![]()
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