Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 1. pp. 86-88. Original floor committee resolution.
No later published versions have been added.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 4-05
Canonical number: 4-05
Committee: Life Together
Source: Today's Business, Issue 1
Printed pages: pp. 86-88
PDF pages: 86-88
Version: original, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 1, pp. 86-88
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 1, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
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- To Clarify Nomenclature for Chaplaincy and Institutional Care Work
- and To Amend Related Bylaws
- RESOLUTION 4-05
- Overtures 4-38–39 (CW, 323–24)
- Rationale
- Holy Scripture teaches that the Office of the Holy Ministry is entrusted with the public preaching of the Word and the
- administration of the Sacraments (Matt. 28:18–20; John 20:21–23; 1 Cor. 4:1); and the Lutheran Confessions affirm the
- necessity and centrality of the called and ordained pastor in the life of the Church (AC XIV; Tr 67–74). The Office of
- National Mission (ONM) has submitted an overture requesting attention to the bylaws that address the work of Specialized
- Spiritual Care Ministry. Several updates are needed. First, the language utilized by recognized service organizations and
- other agencies that provide specialized spiritual care has changed over time. Organizations that serve people who are ill,
- aging, or disabled no longer refer to their work as being “institutional.” Additionally, the ONM’s Specialized Spiritual
- Care Ministry endorses workers for broader work than chaplaincy, which has historically referred to an ordained pastor
- associated with a physical chapel in which worship services are conducted. The term institutional chaplain utilized in
- Synod Bylaws is outdated and leaves out the specialized spiritual care work of the ministers of religion—commissioned
- who do not lead worship services and serve in related chaplaincy or counseling roles. Furthermore, the usage of chaplain
- for individuals not holding the Office of the Holy Ministry can create confusion regarding who is authorized to preach the
- Gospel and administer the Sacraments, potentially undermining the pastoral office and our confession of the Office of the
- Holy Ministry. Finally, the ONM and the Office of International Mission (OIM) have determined that the work of chaplains
- serving in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is more closely aligned and thus better supported by the Ministry to
- the Armed Forces, which is a department of the OIM. The bylaw that references the VA has the calling agency as the
- Board for National Mission and needs to be updated.
- Therefore be it
- Resolved, That the 2026 Synod convention adopt the position that the title chaplain within Synod contexts be reserved
- for ordained ministers of Word and Sacrament; and be it further
- Resolved, That institutions, agencies, and ministries within the Synod be encouraged to ensure that titles and job
- descriptions make clear any distinction between ordained chaplains and other spiritual care providers (e.g., deaconesses,
- lay ministers, or counselors) who may assist but are not called and ordained to the Office of the Holy Ministry; and be it
- further
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- Resolved, That districts, circuit visitors, and local congregations be urged to instruct their members regarding the
- proper use of the term chaplain, reaffirming our confessional understanding that preaching the Gospel and administering
- the Sacraments are entrusted to the pastoral office; and be it further
- Resolved, That the Synod give thanks for the faithful service of all who provide spiritual care within our fellowship,
- while upholding in doctrine and practice that the title chaplain belongs to those ordained to serve as called ministers of
- Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1); and be it further
- Resolved, That Bylaw 2.11.1 (h) be amended as follows:
- PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
- Active Members
- 2.11.1 To remain on the roster of the Synod as an active member, an ordained or commissioned minister of religion
- must be a communicant member of a congregation which is a member of the Synod (except as provided in
- paragraph [c] below) and be regularly performing the duties of one of the following:
- …
- (h) A military or institutional chaplain endorsed by the Synod. A person who is endorsed by the Synod
- to serve as a military chaplain or in a Word or Word-and-Sacrament specialized ministry.
- …
- and be it further
- Resolved, That Bylaw 3.8.2 be amended as follows:
- PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
- Board for National Mission
- 3.8.2 The Board for National Mission is charged with developing and determining policies for the coordination of
- and in support of district ministries which support congregations and schools (Bylaw 1.2.1 [n]). These
- policies shall embrace and apply the mission and ministry emphases adopted by the national convention.
- Under the leadership of the President of the Synod, pursuant to Bylaw 3.3.1.1.1, the board shall assist in
- identifying the specific goals for the Office of National Mission. Policies determined by the board
- (implemented by staff) may include but not be limited to:
- • strong national mission leadership
- • Lutheran school ministries and accreditation
- • human care and domestic mercy efforts
- • stewardship
- • evangelism
- • church planting and revitalization
- • youth ministry
- Upon recommendation of the Office of National Mission, the Board for National Mission shall serve as a
- calling agency for institutional and agency chaplains and other non-foreign specialized ministers (e.g.,
- Veterans Administration chaplains, Bureau of Prison chaplains, hospital chaplains, pastoral counselors, and
- teachers of chaplaincy and pastoral counseling) church workers serving in specialized ministry roles in
- institutions (e.g., Bureau of Prisons, hospitals, spiritual care counselors, and teachers of spiritual care
- education) after consultation with the appropriate district presidents(s) (cf. Bylaw 2.12.1.4).
- and be it finally
- Resolved, That Bylaw 6.2.2 be amended as follows:
- PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
- 6.2 Recognized Service Organizations
- …
- 6.2.2 Policies shall distinguish the three classes of recognized service organization, with criteria, procedures, and
- benefits appropriate to each, further distinctions being drawn within the categories as needed:
- (a) A witness service organization, under the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions, engages in Word or
- Word-and-Sacrament ministry (including chaplaincy roles), religious media/programming, mission
- society activity, support of specific missions, mission-and-ministry training, church worker professional
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- development, church worker care, or other work directly related to the church’s proclamation. A witness
- service organization is governed solely by Synod (or partner church) congregations or a board
- comprising solely members of member congregations of the Synod (or its partner churches).
- …
