I appreciate all the work the licensed lay deacons conduct, but why "should" we ordain them? The argument that Mr. Schutte made - I perform the work of a pastor, so why shouldn't I be ordained or called a pastor? (paraphrase) - is a flawed argument. For example, if both my wife and I died in a car accident and my brother and sister-in-law took care of my children, they would perform all the functions/work of father and mother, but they could never actually be father and mother to my children. They perform the duties of father and mother because of the extenuating circumstances. (It may not be a perfect analogy, but I think it drives home the point).

We should praise and support our licensed lay deacons and the work they do. And we also need a more complete solution that will encourage more men to go to seminary to be properly trained and called for their work as shepherds.