LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 341

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PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES
the Small Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of
Concord (Constitution Article II);

and
WHEREAS, One vows the same as part of the rite of ordination;
and
WHEREAS, One cannot honestly take such vows without knowing
the contents of the canonical Scriptures and the Book of Concord;
and
WHEREAS, One cannot be considered “apt to teach” without a
knowledge of what one is teaching; therefore be it
Resolved, That the following bylaw be added:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
2.7 Eligibility for Individual Membership
…
2.7.6
No one shall be considered qualified for membership as an
ordained minister except upon his written affirmation to the pertinent
faculty or colloquy committee that he has read the Holy Scriptures
and the Book of Concord in their entirety.

Holy Trinity
Walnut, IL
Ov. 6-37

To Restore Binding Key to Rites of Ordination
and Installation of a Pastor
WHEREAS, Jesus says in Matthew 16:19, “I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed
in heaven.” Again, He says in Matthew 18:18, “Truly, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever
you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” And, in John 20:21–
23, “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has
sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he
breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you
forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold
forgiveness from any, it is withheld’”; and
WHEREAS, The ordination and installation rites in Liturgy and
Agenda (1921) ask only three questions of the man to be ordained
and installed and do not go into detail about the duties of the Christ’s
office that he will perform, but ask only if the man intends to
discharge those duties faithfully in accordance with the Scriptures
and the Symbols of the Evangelical Lutheran Church:
Dost thou hold and profess the doctrine of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church as laid down in the Symbols contained in the
Book of Concord of 1580, to wit, the three Ecumenical Creeds,
the Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the same, the Smalcald
Articles, the Small and Large Catechism, and the Formula of
Concord, to be the true doctrine of the Holy Scriptures? Answer:
I do so hold and profess.
Art thou determined to discharge faithfully the duties of the holy
ministry [in this Congregation] in full accordance with the Holy
Scriptures and the said Symbols of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church? Answer: I have so determined by the grace of God.
The Ordination and Installation of a Minister:
Dost thou believe the canonical books of the Old and the New
Testament to be the inspired Word of God and the only infallible
rule of faith and practice? Answer: I do so believe.

341

Dost thou hold and profess the doctrine of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church as laid down in the Symbols contained in the
Book of Concord of 1580, especially the three Ecumenical
Creeds, the Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the same, the
Smalcald Articles, the Small and Large Catechism, and the
Formula of Concord, to be the true doctrine of the Holy
Scriptures? Answer: I do so hold and profess.
Art thou determined to discharge faithfully the duties of the holy
ministry in this Congregation in full accordance with the Holy
Scriptures and the said Symbols of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church? Answer: I have so determined by the grace of God.
The Installation of a Pastor:
I ask thee, therefore, dear Brother, in the presence of God and
this Congregation: Art thou willing and ready to take upon thee
the charge of this Congregation, and to perform faithfully all the
duties of thy ministry? Answer: I am.
Wilt thou preach and teach the pure Word of God in accordance
with the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and
adorn the doctrine of our Savior by a godly and holy life?
Answer: Yes, with the help of God (Liturgy and Agenda [St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House (CPH), 1921], 375–85).
and
WHEREAS, The ordination and installation rites in Lutheran
Worship Agenda (1984) specifically include the reading of John
20:21–23 and expand the number of questions asked of the man
being ordained and installed to six while also going into more detail
about the duties of Christ’s Office that he will fill, including
explicitly mentioning the loosing key but omitting mention of the
binding key:
Will you faithfully instruct both young and old in the chief
articles of Christian doctrine; will you forgive the sins of those
who repent, and will you promise never to divulge the sins
confessed to you; will you minister faithfully to the sick and
dying; will you demonstrate to the Church a constant and ready
ministry, admonish the people to a lively confidence in Christ
and holy living? Response: I will with the help of God (Lutheran
Worship Agenda [St. Louis: CPH, 1984], 205–21).
and
WHEREAS, The ordination and installation rites in Lutheran
Service Book Agenda (2006) add a seventh question for the man
being ordained and installed while making only a minor change in
the wording of other questions and also explicitly mentioning the
loosing key but continuing to omit mention of the binding key:
Will you faithfully instruct both young and old in the chief
articles of Christian doctrine, will you forgive the sins of those
who repent, and will you promise never to divulge the sins
confessed to you? Will you minister faithfully to the sick and
dying, and will you demonstrate to the Church a constant and
ready ministry centered in the Gospel? Will you admonish and
encourage the people to a lively confidence in Christ and in holy
living? Response: Yes, I will, with the help of God (Lutheran
Service Book Agenda [St. Louis: CPH, 2006], 160–81).
and
WHEREAS, This omission of the binding key leaves out a
significant portion of Christ’s command and necessary Christian
doctrine and may improperly teach the full extent of the pastoral
office’s responsibility; therefore be it

2023 Convention Workbook