# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S1053
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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314 PARISH EDUCATION
The teacher a public servant of the Word.—In 1939 B
Fehner delivered an essay at the Michigan District Convention on
the office of the teacher. He Pointed out that although the teacher
does not hold the entire office of the ministry and is not the Gog.
appointed teacher and shepherd of the entire Congregation, Yet
he is a public servant of the Word, called especially for this
Purpose by the congregation. He is an elder that labors in the
Word and doctrine, and he has, therefgre, a divine call and office.56
Fehner gives the following reasons for the statement that a teacher
has a divine call: 1. The call is issued by the Christian congregation,
2. The office embraces an activity of the public ministry. 3. The
office is concerned with the teaching of God’s Word. Fehner
asserts, however, that the teacher's office is subordinate to the
office of the minister. He says: “Since the teacher is not the
teacher and shepherd of the whole congregation, but merely of
the children, it follows that he holds an office subordinate to that
of the minister, who has. the whole office of the ministry. The
spiritual care of the children outside of school hours is not so
much the official duty of the teacher as of the minister. Indeed,
a teacher will, as a token of his affection for the children, show
them his interest also outside of school hours by visiting them in
time of illness and the like.” 57 Fehner points out that in view of
the fact that the minister is entrusted with the oversight of, and
responsibilities for, all members of the flock, the minister remains
the overseer of the school.. Even though the teacher is called to
instruct the children in the Word of God, the minister is thereby
not relieved from responsibility for the lambs. Fehner asse
however, that the minister's supervision of the school does not
imply that he is to interfere officiously in regard to the methods
the teacher may use or the daily arrangements of subjects he may
introduce. He points out that the pastor’s supervisory activity con-
sists simply in this, that he sees to it that God’s Word is properly
taught, that Christian discipline is maintained, and that the school
generally is conducted as a Christian nursery for the young.
Walther’s “Kirche und Amt” quoted approvingly on the office
of the Lutheran teacher.—In 1939 Theo. Buenger delivered an
essay at the Iowa District East Convention, in which he quoted
approvingly Dr. Walther’s Kirche und Amt. He stated: “We are
glad to see that Dr. Walther in this first book of his Plainly states
that the office of the schoolteacher who teaches the Word of God
in the school, is also a divine and sacred office of the church, which
exercises a part of the one office and is an aid to the ministry of

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56 H. B. Fehner, “The Ministry Is the Highest Office in the Church,"
Proceedings, Michigan District, 64 (1939), p. 44, .

57 Ibid., p. 46.

PARISH EDUCATION 315

‘ It is evident that no one can come and teach, in public,
ne ; ngregation that has its minister. How should w
religion "0 oche h religion if teaching in school were not
permit @ teacher ve vninie ed office?” We could
perm ch of the try and thus a sacr ou
a br bt whether the teacher as far as he teaches sec ar
perhaps de i. a sacred office. But I think that even that can
branches affirmative way, because the education of the
answered “ all the task of the parents of the church. But be
children . really will always take the standpoint that the teacher
this : in the name of the congregation the Word of God, func-
teaching as a helper to the minister.” 58 Buenger emphasized
tions only acher’s office is a part of the divine office, an aid to the
tha and that the teacher is a helper to the minister.
an ‘her essay ‘based on Walther’s “Kirche und Amt. DL, eo
- an essay delivered before the Southern Illinois Dist we
Maye" io in 1939, quotes verbatim Thesis VII of Walther: <
Cony the ministry is the highest office in the church, out o
office ‘ all other church offices.” Mayer asserts that the office
which AoW etry is the only office instituted by God. He deduces
of tee vn the fact that God has given His Church only one com-
Ca ee Preach the Gospel. Since this is so, it follows that there
ie nl one office of the Church. He also points to the various
weed nd titles for ministers (“Prediger”) which denote the same
ce. He comes to the conclusion that all titles point to a single
ome whether the titles are bishop, pastor, apostle, shepherd,
serve t, or elder. Mayer maintained that these different titles
simply oint to the fact that our Savior has provided the office
with diferent gifts and functions. The names do not, however,
indicate that different offices have to be established in a
egation.59
. "Mayer asserts that the office of the ministry has two main
duties: 1. It should proclaim the Word publicly, especially to the
congregation: should teach the children, and those who Zeauire
teaching, the Word of God; should admonish those wl ! a © erred
should comfort the sorrowing; should administer the pact ments;
and should rule the congregation. 2. The office of the minieery
should further exclude the impenitent sinners. He asserts nat
only the “Predigtamt,” instituted by God, performs these
in the name of the congregation.
In addition, Mayer states that there are other functions in the
church which flow from the ministry. He refers to 1 Corinthians 12,

58 Theo. Buenger, “The Three at Theses of Walther’s Kirche und

” Proceedings, Iowa East, 2 (1939), p. 22. _
Amor Proce Meee ‘Das Predigtamt ist das hoechste Amt in der Kirche,”
Proceedings, Southern IIL, 20 (1939), pp. 33—-35.