LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 112

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112 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

sciously preach) stems in part from Missouri's crying lack ofan
updated systematic theology—our standard volume in this
critical area, published in 1931—more than 50 vears ago—
does not deal even with the more radical theologies since
written”: and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod does
have such orthodox theologians. capable of writing an updated
systematic theology text, as Robert Preus. Kurt Marquart,
David Scaer, Raymond Surburg, Ralph Bohlmann, Sam Nafz-
ger. Karl Barth, and others: therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
publish an orthodox and updated systematic theology.

Trinity Lutheran Church
New Haven, Mo.
Orville Mever. Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-48B

Bethany. Bakersfield. Calif. L. W. Faulstick

3-49

To Cease Publication of ‘“‘Ordination:
Human Rite or Divine Ordinance”’

Introduction

Dr. C. F. W. Walther, first President of the Synod, wrote in
his theses on the church and the ministry: “The ordination of
those called, with the laying on of hands, is not of divine
institution but is an apostolic ecclesiastical arrangement and
only a solemn public confirmation of the call” (C. F. W.
Walther. Walther on the Church, trans. John M. Drickamer. p.
85).

In writing these words. Dr. Walther was confirming a
position held in the church since apostolic days. The Lutheran
Confessions give witness to this: *... for there was a time when
people elected pastors and bishops. Afterwards a bishop, either
of that church or of a neighboring church, was brought in to
confirm the election with the laying on of hands; nor was
ordination anything more than such confirmation” (Treatise.
70).

Ordination

Martin Chemnitz, one of the authors of the Formula of
Concord of the Lutheran Confessions. wrote: ‘Although the
ordination does not make the call, nevertheless, when anyone
has been rightly called, then this rite is a declaration and
public confirmation that the call. which preceded it, is legiti-
mate” (Walther, p. 92).

A later theologian, F. Balduin, wrote: ‘May a person be
admitted to ordination who as yet has not been called to a
certain ecclesiastical office? I reply: By no means! For ordi-
nation is the confirmation of the call” (Walther, p. 93).

That the Missouri Synod has continued to hold this position
on ordination is affirmed in later writings: “The ordination of
called ministers is not a divine institution, or ordinance, but a
church rite; for while it is mentioned, Acts 14, 23. it is not
commanded in Scripture. We therefore rightly classify ordi-
nation among the adiaphora and affirm that not the ordina-
tion, but the call makes a person a minister” (J. T. Mueller,
Christian Dogmatics, p. 574).

Dr. Mueller later wrote: “Romanizing Lutherans, who
regard the ministry as a ‘special spiritual estate, ... which is
self-propagating, change the church rite of ordination into a
divine institution, or ordinance. These Romanizing Lutherans
emphatically deny that the Christian minister receives his
office through the call of the congregation, though this doctrine
is clearly taught in Scripture” (Mueller, p. 576).

Recently, the Concordia Theological Seminary Press, Fort
Wayne, Ind., published a paper entitled “Ordination: Human
Rite or Divine Ordinance.” In it the author treats of the “laying
on of hands” in 1 Tim. 4:14;5:12; and 2 Tim. 1:6, and concludes:

1—Ordination as a ceremony through which persons are admitted

into the office of pastor. is mentioned three times in the Pastoral

Epistles. 2—In all three citations the laying on of hands is men-

tioned as part of the rite. 3—Those actively participating in the rite

are only those who already possess the office into which the recipient

is heing ushered. 4—Through the activity of this rite. a charisma, a

gift of endowment, is given to the recipient. 5—The gift is given at

one time and in one act. No repetition of the act is mentioned. 6—The
gift exists continually within the recipient. 7—-The gift may fallinto
disuse and he revitalized hy its possessor. S—Though this gift is
given through the laying on of hands, God is the Giver of the gift.
9—The gift is not availahle to any Christian for the asking but is to

he given to those who have met certain criteria. 10—Ordination 1s a

rite whose misapplication carries a threat. 11—It is a rite through

which those who bestow it share in the ministry of the one who
receives it. 12—The gift given in the rite is identified as the Holy

Spirit hestowing certain gifts. 13—Itis a rite which is encompassed

within the apostolic command. I4—It is a rite which Paul enjoins

upon Timothy to continue. Paul is not giving instructions for one
time-limited situation.

The author concludes this section: "I personally find it very
difficult to designate as a human rite or adiaphoron any
ceremony (in which all the above takes place). He concludes
the paper: “The reader will come to the concusion that the
writer not only has adopted a very serious attitude to ordi-
nation, but that he considers it is more than an adiaphoron, a
human rite.”

The author has in fact adopted the *Romanizing Lutheran”
position.

Resolution

WHEREAS, “The Synod, and every member of the Synod,
accepts without reservation: 1. The Scriptures of the Old and
the New Testament as the written Word of God and the only
rule and norm of faith and practice’ (Constitution, Art. II); and

WHEREAS. The Synod has taught and continues to teach, in
keeping with Scriptural and confessional principles, that
ordination is a human nite and “only a solemn public confir-
mation of the call”: and

WHEREAS, The position taken on ordination in thedocument
“Ordination: Human Rite or Divine Ordinance” is an Epis-
copal, Romanizing position which is antithetical to the teach-
ing of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Concordia Theological Seminary Press,
Fort Wayne. Ind.. be directed by the convention to cease
publication of this document: and be it further

Resolved, That the administration and faculty of the Fort
Wayne seminary develop a comprehensive statement of their
position on ordination to be published no later than October 31,
1983: and be it further

Resolved, That the statement include an opinion on the
document “Ordination”: and be it further

Resolved. That teaching the Romanizing position on ordi-
nation asa Viable option will not be tolerated in the classrooms
of either of our seminaries: and be it finally

Resolved, That the Introduction be considered part of this
memorial.

St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Rocky River, Ohio

Richard Dorow. President
Kenneth Maver, Secretary

3-50

To Establish Timetable
for CTCR Documents

WHEREAS, It is a synodical principle that “‘in its relation to
its members the Synod is... an advisory body” and that
congregations in responding to the Word of God have the basic
responsibility for determining faith and practice (Constitution,
Art. VID; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 2.593b, in defining the function of the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations, is consistent
with this principle when it prescribes that the CTCR is to