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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 316

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

316

THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS

The Ministry: Offices, Procedures,
and Nomenclature

Citations from the Lutheran Confessions are taken from The Book of
Concord edited by T. G. Tappert (Philadeiphia: Fortress Press, 1959). and,
In some cases, Concordia Triglotta. The following abbreviations have been

used

AC ~ Augsburg Confession

Ap — Apology of the Augsburg Confession

FC — Formula of Concord

LC — Large Catechism

SD — Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord
Trig — Concordia Trigiotta

Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, copyrighted 1946, 1952, © 1971, 1973 (except when
otherwise noted). Used by permission

INTRODUCTION

This report on “the ministry” nas been prepared in response to
questions and requests for guidance from many areas of The Lutheran
Church—Missour: Synod. The Commisison on Theology and Church
Relations has conducted a thorough exegetical investigation of this subject
The results of this study have been discussed in conversations and
conferences with District presidents, presidents and representatives of the
Synod's teacher colleges. seminary faculties, and other leaders of the
church

The manner in which the church considers issues relating to the
doctrine of the ministry's important for the church and also for the men and
women whose lives and services are involved. For instance, the church
needs to distinguisn the office of "the teacher” from the office of “the pastor.”
and yet to do so while paying full respect and honor to each. This necessitates
a consideration of terminology and definitions. Words such as “ministry,”
“ordination,” “installation,” “pastor,” “teacher,” and “call” possess a variety
of meanings for various people. These terms have taken on different
connotations as they have evolved in our pluralistic, 20th-century society

Questions concerning ministry must be approached on a number of
levels. On certain levels we must speak with the authority of diane
revelation. On other ievels we speak in awareness that even adiaphora
‘things indifferent in themselves! may become matters af confession (FC SD.
X1, On yet a different level we may seek uniformity in the church as we use
our freedom in awareness of the influence of our choices upon others. On still
another ievel we must speak with integrity and clarity tn our piuralistic society
and to governmental! agencies whose decisions impinge upon the personnel
of the church. We must therefore take into account the following factors in
this consideration of the ministry

t. Some matters pertaining to ministry are set forth in the Holy
Scriptures and are not negotiable in a church that declares God's
Word to be :ts norm. Moreover. in a confessional church attention
must be paid to those documents which are accepted as a true
expositon of the Scriptures. What is taught and practiced in The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod about the ministry must be in
agreement aith The Book of Concord

CONTENTS

Introduction 4
I. The Ministry in the Lutheran Confessions 6
I Definitions and Distinctions 10
A. Ministry i
B. The Office of the Keys 12
C. The Office of the Public Ministry 13
D. Office and Function 16
E. Other Offices in the Church 16
F. One Ministry or Many? 19
G. Parish and Non-Parish Pastors 20
H. Ordination 21
Ill. Theses on the Office of the Public
Ministry and Auxiliary Offices 24
1V. Some Practical Applications 32
Summary 40
Appendix: C. F. W. Walther’s Theses on the Ministry 43
Notes

2. Some maiters regarding the ministry. although not divinely com:
manded by the Lord or by apostolic authority, have suggested
patterns or models in Scripture

3. Some matters concerning ministry, having developed by common
agreement and usage. are not “doctrine” but have contributed to
good order in the church

4. Some aspects of the ministry are in themselves matters of freedom,

except tnat the usage, understanding. and sensitivities of fellow

Chnisuars and sister churches must be carefully taken into account

In a study of this type consideration must also be given to the

understanding and usage of certain terms reiating to the ministry in

non-Lutheran churches ang even among unchurched members of
our society. For instance. “clergy” may mean simply a professional
and duly authorized worker in some reiigious enterprise It may mean
sometning different to a nospital administration that issues “ciergy”

Passes for parking privileges

6. Matters of ministry are of concern fo some governmentai agencies

In the United States, for example. agencies concerned with internal

revenue and selectwe service for the military require accurate

defininons. While tne ex:gencies of state-church interaction cannot
dictate our doctrine of the ministry, proper and consistent definitions
are needed to avoid contusion and inconvenience

Finaily. inadequate def:nitions of terms tend to lead to a drift into

Practices that create confusion in the church and that may even

contradict sound doctrine The result ts confusion in the minds of

ooth the lay members of the church and of those who work
professionally in the church :n various capacities