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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 450

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 
W
HEREAS, “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 proper ly 
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. 
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 
W
HEREAS, The regular services of the Church publicly gathered 
are the primary forum for that public teaching, preaching, and 
administering of the Sacraments; and 
W
HEREAS, Rare emergency situations, which at times may in a 
sinful and fallen world necessitate that an exception be made, are 
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, non-
confessional 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 persona lly 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 
 
2026 Convention Workbook
415PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES