LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 174

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174 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

WHEREAS, The assumption that church bodies or synods might
rightly be called “church” by divine authority without a specific in-
stitution in Holy Scripture is not a mere “exegetical error” but
rather “false teaching” and totally incompatible with the “analogy
of faith” or “seat of doctrine,” which bases all doctrine on clear
Bible passages; and

WHEREAS, Some leaders in our Synod have failed to distinguish
between the divine institution of the local congregation and the
strictly human institution of the Synod, which possesses no author-
ity of its own but only such functions specifically authorized by
and delegated to it by the member congregations; and

WHEREAS, When Orthodox theologians sometimes call synods.
consistories, and denominations “churches,” we need to understand
that they are using the term “church” in a topical sense, as a figure
of speech or a metaphor, as if one was the same as the other, when
in reality they are not! When Jesus called Herod a fox (Luke
13:32), He was speaking metaphorically. When Jesus described
Himself as the only door that gives eternal life in heaven (John
10:9), He was using a figure of speech; and

Wuereas, Unless these biblical distinctions are clearly under-
stood, the scriptural teaching of the divine institution of the pas-
toral office and its correlation with the local congregation will con-
tinue to be abused and false doctrine and practice in both church
and ministry will continue to be taught and preached in our semi-
naries, in our Districts, and throughout the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled reaffirm its
historic position on church and ministry, namely, that only the local
congregation and the office of the holy ministry connected with the
local congregation have been divinely instituted and all other insti-
tutions, such as synods, Districts, and their attending offices, exist
solely by human authority and are only called “church” metaphor-
ically because of the churches (congregations) that organized them.

Trinity, New Haven, MO; [mmanuel, San Antonio, TX;
Faith, Corning, NY: Trinity, Bridgeton, MO

3-57

To Emphasize Proper Relationship between
Priesthood of Believers and Office of Ministry

Wuereas, By faith all Christians are royal priests before God
(1 Pet. 2:9): and

WHEREAS, When Christians come together as a congregation,
they possess the Office of the Keys and all that this Office implies
(1 Cor. 3:21-23); and

Wuereas, Christ rules and governs His church by His Word;
and

Wuereas, In matters not determined by the Word of God the
congregation is free to make those decisions that it deems expedi-
ent in its particular circumstances; and

WHEREAS, The call to the pastorate of a congregation comes
trom God but is conferred through the congregation; and

WHEREAS, The pastor is to serve as the shepherd of the flock
that has called him by proclaiming the Gospel (Mk. 16:15), admin-
istering the Sacraments (Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11:25), and remit-
ting and retaining sins (Jn. 20:22—23; Matt. 18:17-18) (Augsburg
Confession, Art. XX VIII, 5-9); and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures enjoin obedience to pastors (Heb.
13:17; Lk. 10:16), but only when they teach, admonish, and com-
fort on the basis of God’s Word; and

WHEREAS, The power of the Office of the Ministry does not ex-
tend above or beyond the Word of God; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention remind all members of
its congregations of the high privileges and responsibilities that are
theirs as members of God’s royal priesthood; and be it further

Resolved, That congregational members are urged to give their
pastors the love and honor that are their due; and be it further

2001 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That pastors be reminded of their obligation to pro-
claim God’s Word, administer the Sacraments according to Christ's
institution, and remit and retain sins; and be it further

Resolved, That pastors also be reminded that they are not to lord
it over their flocks but serve them in love; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod call upon all who are involved in the
training of future pastors and other church workers to seek to mold
their students for a ministry of love and service to God’s people as
it is described and exemplified in God’s Word.

Holy Cross, Arlington, TX; Family of Faith, Houston, TX;
Lord of Life, Leawood, KS

3-58

To Reaffirm, Teach, and Practice
Doctrine of Priesthood of Believers

WHEREAS, There appears to be confusion and neglect in many
of our LCMS congregations regarding the teachings and/or prac-
tice of “the pnesthood of believers”; and

WHEREAS, Such confusion and neglect can create disruption in
the church and a hindrance to the ministry and mission of the
church; and ‘

WHEREAS, It is clear from Scripture in ] Peter 2:9; Mark 16:15;
Matt. 28:1 8—20; John 20:22—23; Matt. 18:17—20; and Matt. 16:19
(cf. Small Catechism, V) Christians constitute a royal priesthood
to whom the treasures of the Keys are bestowed by God; and

WHEREAS, The entire congregation (i.e., all true believers) have
received the power of the Keys from Christ, and whereas all Chris-
tians are true spiritual priests who offer themselves, pray and pro-
claim the Gospel, and all Christians have the Office of the Keys
originally (1 Peter 2; Heb. 4:16; 10:19-25; 13:15-16; Rom. 3:2;
10:8-10; Romans 12; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; 1 Thess. 4:18;
| Corinthians 3); and

WHEREAS, The great commission passages in Scripture such as
Matt. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; John 20:21, 23; Luke 24:45—-49,
and Acts 1:8 apply not only to the Office of the Public Ministry but
also to the ministry of the Gospel given directly and originally to
the church, the general priesthood of believers; and

WueEREAS, All Christians have a specific office, vocation, or
calling in life and are led by God to do what they do in their life’s
station (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Phil. 2:1—5); and

WHEREAS, The public ministry of the Word and the Sacraments
in the church is not entrusted to all Christians in general (1 Cor.
12:28ff; Eph. 4:12; Rom. 10:15; Act 20:28), while every Christian
minister, not every Christian, holds the Office of the Public Min-
istry; and

WHEREAS, Our Lutheran Confessions state the following:

Il is necessary to acknowledge thal the keys do not belong lo
ihe person of one particular individual bul to the whole church ...
He bestows the keys especially and immediately on the church
and for the same reason the church especially possesses the right
of vocation, (Treatise 24) (Note reference to Matthew 16; 18;
John 20-21.)

Wherever the church exists, the right lo administer the
Gospel also exisis—this right is a gift given exclusively to the
church and no human authority can take it away from the
church. (Treatise 68; cf. also SA III, [V)

Christ gives supreme and final jurisdiction to the church,
when He says: Tell it to the Church. (Treatise, Triglotta, p. 511,
24)

In | Cor. 3:4-8, Paul places ministers on an equality and
teaches that the church is above the ministers. . . . That is to say
that neither Peter nor the other ministers should assume lordship
or authority over the church nor burden the church with tradi-
tions, nor let anybody’s authority coun! for more than the Word.
(Treatise 11}; and

WHEREAS, Luther wrote:

He confers this honor upon all Christians—this holy adorn-
ment—signifies praising and honoring God, preaching and con-