BNM updated on licensed lay deacons, stewardship and rural ministry

A photo of Main Street in Concordia, Mo., shows the outline of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. At its February meeting, the LCMS Board for National Mission heard an update about LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Megan K. Mertz

ST. LOUIS — At its Feb. 21–22 meeting, the LCMS Board for National Mission (BNM) heard reports from across the Synod, starting with one on the colloquy process from LCMS First Vice-President Rev. Dr. Herbert C. Mueller Jr.

In his role, Mueller serves as chairman of the colloquy committees for both ordained and commissioned ministers, and he noted that the number of men applying for acceptance to the “general” pastor roster in 2018 was up from previous years — 48 in 2018 versus the typical 25–35 per year.

That number includes 16 licensed lay deacons, who applied for the “general” pastor roster in 2018 after the adoption of Res. 13-02A, “To Regularize Status of Licensed Lay Deacons Involved in Word and Sacrament Ministry,” during the 2016 LCMS convention.

Licensed deacons who have served in a pastoral capacity for at least 10 years are eligible for “general” colloquy. All others were required to apply to the seminary’s Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program or apply for a special regional process to enter the specific ministry pastor roster by colloquy.

“As near as we can tell, there are 178 men for whom 2016 Resolution 13-02A somehow applied (preaching and presiding on a consistent and continuing basis),” Mueller said in his written report to the board. “As of mid-February 2019, 94 men have been certified for call and placement on the SMP roster through the regional colloquy process.”

At the time of this writing, eight other men were at some point in the application process, 10 had been declined or withdrawn from the process, and 10 still needed to apply.

In addition, 40 congregations had been granted one-year exceptions by the LCMS Council of Presidents to continue being served temporarily by licensed lay deacons as the men prepare for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis’ Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology or the Center for Hispanic Studies.

Mueller told the BNM that a significant amount of his time since the 2016 convention has been spent on working through the implications of Res. 13-02A, but that the work “has been blessed by God.”

“If the church sends a man for pastoral work, the church needs to recognize that man as a pastor,” he continued. “Throughout this process, we’ve sought to keep ministry going in these places.”

Stewardship resources

The BNM also heard from the Rev. Heath Curtis, coordinator of LCMS Stewardship Ministry, who told the board about a number of events offered to assist the Synod’s congregations.

“More Than Giving” conferences, which are held in partnership with DOXOLOGY: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel, are two-day events for the pastors and lay leaders who want their congregations to be on a sound financial as well as theological footing. Attendees walk away with an understanding of the theology of stewardship as well as practical tools for developing faithful, biblical stewardship flowing from the presence of Christ through His Means of Grace.

Curtis also highlighted a couple of one-day opportunities that circuits or districts can request at no charge. These include the Generational Generosity Stewardship Workshop, which examines the challenges facing American Christianity and the LCMS in particular, and the Philippians Workshop, which assists pastors and lay leaders in collaborating on stewardship in their congregations.

In addition to these workshops, LCMS Stewardship Ministry offers a number of downloadable resources, including “Preview and Review of Financial Peace® University” and a collection of useful documents called “Stewardship from A to Z.” (Visit lcms.org/stewardship to learn more.)

RSTM report

The Rev. Todd Kollbaum, director of LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission (RSTM), also spoke to the board on the opportunities facing rural communities.

“Sixty percent of folks in rural areas are unchurched, even though folks tend to think everybody has a church in their small town,” he said, noting that rural communities are currently experiencing a “brain gain” as people in their 30s and 40s move away from cities in order to provide a safer environment for their children.

RSTM provides resources and strategic-planning assistance to help congregations become more welcoming to newcomers who may never have belonged to a church before. The ministry continues to offer “Engaging Your Community” events around the country, and its staff later developed a follow-up course called “Engaging the Wandering” in partnership with the LCMS Nebraska District. (Learn about resources, webinars and events at lcms.org/rstm.)

“Our consistent theme is faithfully doing what the Lord has called us to do in the place He has called us to do it,” Kollbaum continued.

Next meeting

Later in the day, members of the board reviewed the BNM’s policies and continued their discussion of overtures to submit to the Synod in convention in July, including an overture on supporting marriage, life and family.

The next BNM meeting is scheduled for June 13–14 in St. Louis.

Posted April 2, 2019