# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S326
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

326

THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS

ll. The church is under obligation to explain to appropriate civil authorities
and to the general public the nature of its ministry and offices. The
avoidance of confusion requires that this be done consistently from
place to place and from time to time

12. Ministry in the churchis ultimately the ministry of Chnst. All members of
the body of Carist are involved in it. The members of the priesthood of
believers are not merely recipients of ministerial service. The ministry
belongs to Christ and to the church

42

APPENDIX

C. F. W. Waither’s Theses on the Ministry*
THESIS |
The holy ministry. or the pastoral office, is an office distinct from the priestly
office, which belongs to ail believers

THESIS fl
The ministry. or the pastoral office, is not a human ordinance. but an office
established by God Himself

THESIS Ill

The ministry of preaching is not an arbitrary office, but its character is such
that the Church has been commanded to establish it and 1s ordinarily bound
to it nll the end of days

THESIS IV

The ministry of preachingis not a peculiar order, set up over and against the
common estate of Christians, and holier than the latter. like the priesthood of
the Levites, but it is an office of service.

THESIS V
The ministry of preaching has the authority to preach the Gospel and to
administer the Sacraments and the authority of a spiritual tribunal

THESIS VI

The ministry of preaching 1s conferred by God through the congregation, as
holder of all church power, or of the keys, and by its call, as prescribed by
God. The ordination of those calied, with the laying on of hands, is not by
divine institution but 1s an apostolic church ordinance and merely a public.
solemn confirmation of the call.

THESIS Vil

The holy ministry :s the authority conferred by God through the congre
gation, as holder of the priesthood and of all church power, to administer in
public office the common rights of the spiritual priesthood in behalf of all

THESIS VII
The ministry is the highest office in the Church, from which, as its stem, all
other offices of the Church issue

THESIS IX

Reverence and unconditional obedience is due to the ministry of preaching
when the preacher is ministering the Word of God. However. the preacher
may not dominate over the Church; he has. accordingly, no right to make
new laws, to arrange indifferent matters and ceremonies arbitrarily, and to
impose and execute excommunication alone, without a previous verdict of
the entire congregation

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APPENDIX

THESIS X
According to divine right the function of passing judgment on doctrine
belongs indeed to the ministry of preaching. However, also the laymen have
this right. and for this reason they also have a seat and vote with the
preachers in church courts and councils.

* We append “The Theses on the Ministry” prepared by
C.F. W. Walther and approved by the Synod in 185! not merely
as a matter of historical interest, but as a testimony to the
theological and practical consistency of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod in its view of the ministry. For Walther's
elaboration of these theses. cf, Walther and the Church, Wm
Dalimann, et ai., eds. (St. Lous: Concordia Publishing House.
1938), pp. 71—85

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