# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S480
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINISTRY IN RELATION TO CHURCH 465

It would also appear that evangelists were not

so much an institution in the apostolic church as
men who possessed the necessary gifts for going
to those who had not yet heard of Christ and pro-
claiming the Good News to them. The activity or
function of an evangelist is to evangelize, that is,
to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
. The apostle Paul told Timothy: “Do the work of
an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5).
Timothy was in charge of the church at Ephesus.
In some sense, he could be called a “diocesan
bishop,” so far as his office is concerned. This is
indicated by the instruction about what should be
done in the churches (1 Tim. 1:3 ff.; 2), and the
instructions about what kind of persons should
become bishops (chapter 3). But this same Timothy
is told: ‘Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your
ministry.” (Timothy also had other duties; see,
for example 1 Thess. 3:1, 2.)

The work of an evangelist, then, does not nec-
essarily call for a separate office. It is a function
of the total Ministry and, may be carried out even
by bishops, and certainly by parish pastors. How-
ever, the work of evangelizing the unchurched is
so great and pressing a task that the church may
well find it desirable to appoint persons in addition
to the parish pastors, who are often fully occupied
with parish work, to the task of evangelizing. The
church may call and ordain suitable persons spe-

cifically for the work of evangelizing. If a congre-
gation calls an evangelist, he will as a matter of
course work under the supervision of and in closest
harmony with the pastor, who is the shepherd of
the whole flock entrusted to his charge, including
the evangelist.

Summary Statement on the Office and Functions
of the Ministry

Christ Himself instituted the office of the Ministry of
Word and Sacrament. Many functions belong to this
office: evangelizing, preaching, teaching, shepherding,
supervising, admonishing, disciplining, and administer-
ing. Because it is often difficult or impossible for one
person to perform all the functions of the ministry, the
church may entrust various functions of this office to
a number of persons. According to her needs, the church
may under the one Ministry of the Word establish such
“offices” as the situation requires. If the situation
changes, she may also abolish some “‘offices.”” However,
she must at all times remain faithful to the commission
of her Lord to preach the Gospel, to baptize, to celebrate
the Lord’s Supper and to feed and guard the flock of
Christ.

* * *

Note: All citations of the Lutheran Confessions are
taken from The Book of Concord, edited by T. G.
Tappert (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969).