At Immanuel, I inherited a practice of a permanent order of men who assist the pastor in the reading of Holy Scripture and distribution of the Sacrament in the Divine Service. They also assist in other ways, such as crucifer for processions and helpers at Holy Baptism. I love and trust these men; they are sacrificial and encouraging, dedicated to their service.
I am generally troubled by the liturgical practice in American Lutheranism, where laypeople routinely read the Scriptures and distribute the Sacrament. Since the deacons at Immanuel are not ordained, I cannot reconcile my own practice with AC XIV. However, I’ve come to view our Deacons (as incarnated at Immanuel) as a kind of middle thing: they are laymen (not ordained) and yet they regularly, and by church approval, carry out limited functions of the pastoral office. I suppose this is what our tradition would call an “auxiliary office.” It might be better if synodically we had a uniform practice, even an ordained diaconate, instead of simply pretending that AC XIV doesn’t say what it plainly says.
This morning we will add two more deacons to our number, and having lost the ordo I used the last time we added deacons, I have compiled this, drawing from several rites found in the Lutheran Service Book Agenda. Since I cannot ordain them, I call it a consecration.
Consecration of Deacons
Dear brothers in Christ, you have been chosen to serve our Lord as Deacons. Hear what Holy Scripture says concerning this Office:
Deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Tim. 3.8-13)
And hear what Holy Scripture has to say about service in the Church:
By the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Rom. 12.3-8)
Finally, hear what the chief Symbol of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church, the Augsburg Confession, says regarding worship:
Our churches are falsely accused of abolishing the Mass. The Mass is held among us and celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved, except that the parts sung in Latin are interspersed here and there with German hymns. These have been added to teach the people. for ceremonies are needed for this reason alone, that the uneducated be taught what they need to know about Christ…. No one is admitted to the Sacrament without first being examined. The people are also advised about the dignity and use of the Sacrament, about how it brings great consolation to anxious consciences, so that they too may learn to believe God and to expect and ask from Him all that is good. This worship pleases God. (AC XXIV)
Name(s), in the presence of God and of this congregation, I now ask you:
Do you believe and confess the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and practice? [Then answer:] Yes, I believe.
Do you promise that you will perform the duties of this office faithfully, regarding the Scriptures which you read to the Church as the oracles of God, showing reverence for the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar, and serving the people of God with love and humility? [Then answer:] Yes, I promise, with the help of God.
Finally, will you adorn this Office with a holy life, support the Office of the Holy Ministry in this congregation, and submit yourself to the liturgical practice of Immanuel Evangelical-Lutheran Church? [Then answer:] Yes, I will, with the help of God.
The candidate(s) kneel.
Name, I consecrate and install you as Deacon at Immanuel in the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray:
God of all grace and mercy, bless Name(s) in their service as Deacons, that they may be faithful in serving at Your altar. Grant that through their service Your Church may be built up in faith to the honor of Your most holy name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Go in the name of the Lord. Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. The almighty and most merciful God, the Father, the +Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.
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Perhaps a more apropos citation from the Symbols would be from the German of the Apology (which is what made it into the 1580 BOC after all):
"If one wishes to understand the Sacrament of Order in this way, one may call the laying on of hands a sacrament. Because the Church has God's command that she should appoint Preachers *and Deacons*." Ap XIII(VII):12
Excellent! Thanks, my friend.
Thanks for posting this. Your concern is one I struggle with as a soon-to-be graduate of a Deacon Training Program.
My comments are not to criticize what you inherited, but only to vent.
I've been on vacation and have seen poor to deplorable practice. A mass without communion for example, which is no mass at all. A pastor who communes last along with his wife, as if he doesn't understand that his only wife at that moment is the church since he stands in the Bridegroom's stead. Laymen reading God's Word to me, I close my ears as I would if some man, other than my husband (I am the bride here) were making verbal advances to me. Laymen giving communion, again, I only get intimate with my Lord, not the guy next door who wants to help things along (no menage a trois allowed). Girl acolytes, vested and sitting in the chancel. If they must, they can light candles, and then go sit down. Boys interested in, ecclesiastical futures are okay for vesting and acolyting. Pastors who receive communion from the hands of a layman either because of theological misunderstanding, or a false show of humility.
Be brave O "bearer of Christ", Chris. Either take those men where they need to be theologically, which is very far, and ordain them, or tell them: thank you very much, we need to make some changes.
I'm hearing increasing reports (and have seen it once myself) of the pastor communing with his wife separate from the congregation (before or after the rest). Deplorable, as are the other items you mentioned.
Why can't you ordain them?
Because the LCMS doesn't believe in it.
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