# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S879
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 879

- and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of
"for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body
” (Eph. 4:11, 12).
‘ach congregation is endowed by the Lord of the Church
Power of the Keys, that is, the same power which is given
whole Church and to the individual Christian.
iat every Christian congregation has the Office of the Keys is
om the following Scripture passages:
nd if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church;
e neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an
‘man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever
loose on earth shail be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto
hat if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything
‘ey shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is
yen. For where two or three are gathered together in My
r there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:17-20).
Bat ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
sa peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of
io hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”
2:9).

The public exercise of the Power of the Keys Christ has
ad to the incumbents of a special office of the ministry which
tuted for the very purpose of building His Church. This of-
tobe established in and by the Church.

st called the Apostles, as described Luke 6:13: “And when
day, He called unto Him His disciples; and of them He chose
Fe, ‘whom also He named Apostles.” He “appointed other
Iso” and sent them as laborers into His harvest, Luke 10:1.
at Commission in Matthew 28 and Mark 16 and the words
st in John 20 and 21, although describing the duties of all
, point out particularly the duty of the public ministry.
distinction between the general priesthood of all believers
special office of the public ministry is clear from the fol-

ré all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?” (1 Cor.

‘shall they preach except they be sent?” (Rom. 10:15.)

nd all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself
hrist and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
at God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself,
g their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto
d-of Reconciliation. Now, then, we are ambassadors for