LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 457

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ADDITIONAL THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS—OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 457

turn our attention to the relationship of the royal priesthood to the
pastoral office.

The congregation’s duty and obligation toward the pastor.

The congregation’s first duty and obligation is to recognize that
the office of the public, pastoral ministry is a divine office. Christ
our Lord commissioned men to go out and preach the Gospel. He
did this with the apostles, and then later with the seventy (Luke 10).
He commissioned His apostles specifically to forgive and retain sin
in John 20. Paul indicates clearly in his epistles, in numerous
places, that it is Christ Himself who has given the church the pas-
toral office and it is Christ who calls men to this office through the
call of the congregation.

The congregation is given the privilege to love and to care for
their pastor. St. Paul writes, “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect
those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and
who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love be-
cause of their work. Live in peace with each other” (1 Thess.
5:12-13). This is the attitude of God’s people toward their shep-
herd in Christ. The congregation is to hold the pastor in high re-
gard because of the office to which he has been called and in which
he works; however, the pastor is not to demand this respect. You
probably have heard the old saying, “You do not demand respect,
you earn it.” Well, this is certainly true in regard to the pastoral
ministry.

Hebrews 13:17 states, “Obey your leaders and submit to their
authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an ac-
count. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for
that would be of no advantage to you.” This is perhaps not a popu-
lar passage with some people in the church, but the Holy Scriptures
do indicate that obedience is to be given to our leaders in Christ.
This is not an obedience outside of the rule and norm of Holy
Scripture. Pieper notes in this connection, “This passage requires
obedience to the Gospel. It does not establish a dominion (rule) for
the bishops apart from the Gospel,” and it is important that we al-
ways remember this. Nor does it call for such an attitude because
pastors are superior human beings, but because they labor for us
by the calling of God. They are accountable to the Lord for their
labors and for those under their care. So many congregational ten-
sions could be resolved if this principle were kept in mind. Obedi-
ence is due the pastor when he functions as God’s servant among
us, and this precisely so that his work will be a joy, not a burden.

Honor and esteem are also to be shown to the pastor. St. Paul
writes, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are
worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching
and teaching,” and our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, “He who listens
to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who re-
jects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16). Again, this honor
and esteem are due the shepherd is because of the message he
brings and the calling he has, not simply because of his person.
Walther, in his essay on The Duties of an Evangelical Lutheran
Synod, indicates how the congregation is to treat the pastor:

Our dear congregations . . . should not be too harsh in their judg-
ment but should consider, ‘Did he do that out of weakness? Is it really
serious enough to sound the alarm or not?’ If the congregalion insists on
nitpicking about every little thing, then the beautiful relationship of the
spiritual father and his spiritual children will come to an end. Then the
devil will laugh up his sleeve, when the people no longer heed their pas-
tor’s word; then he has torn the members from their orthodox pastor. We
must support one another! The pastor should not expect the members of
his congregation to be nothing but angels, and the members should not
demand that their pastor be an angel either, for that he cannot be.”
None of this is to suggest that the congregation is to be blindly

obedient, but on the other hand, there are far (oo many situations in
which members of our congregations feel they have the right to
second-guess and argue with the pastor on every point of his min-
istry. The principle of one’s calling to the office of the ministry is

very important. One who is not called to this office does not have
the right, nor is given the responsibility in the congregation, to take
the role of the pastor and exercise inappropriate judgment over him
and his ministry. The congregation as a whole may find it neces-
sary at times to offer a gentle word of correction to their pastor,
even to indicate to him where they feel there is a problem, but this
must never become “open season on the pastor.”

Our Lutheran Confessions also indicate that this is not to be the
case in our congregations.

He [Paul] says that love is a bond and unbroken chain linking the
many members of the church with one another. Similarly, in all families
and communities harmony should be nurtured by mutual aid. for it is
not possible to preserve tranquility unless men cover and forgive certain
mistakes in their midst. In the same way, Paul commands there be love
in the church to preserve harmony, lo bear, if need be, with the crude
behavior of the brethren, to cover up minor mistakes, lest the church
disintegrate into various schisms and the hatreds, factions, and heresies
that arise from such schisms. For harmony will inevitably disintegrate if
bishops impose heavy burdens on the people or have no regard for their
weaknesses. Dissensions also arise when the people judge their clergy’s
behavior too strictly or despise them because of some minor fault and
then seek after some other kind of doctrine and other clergy. On the
other hand, perfection (that is, the integrity of the church) is preserved
when the strong bear with the weak, when the people put the best con-
struction on the faults of their clergy. when the bishops take into ac-
count the weakness of the people” (Ap IV. 232-234; Tappert. p.
139-140).

The congregation’s interest in and support for the work of its pastor.

Encouragement, positive and supportive encouragement, is a
very important way the congregation can demonstrate their interest
in the work of the shepherd. In fact, this is one of the reasons for
which our Synod exists, to protect and support its faithful pastors in
their calling. The most important way the congregation can sup-
port its pastor is by supporting his orthodox and faithful preaching
and teaching. The same would hold equally true for our district and
synodical leaders. It is the responsibility of our district presidents to
make sure of two things: that our pastors and other church workers
are faithfully fulfilling their duties. Of equal importance must be
our district presidents’ concern that the congregations of the Synod
are being faithful to their duties and properly treating their pastors
and other church workers.

The laity must keep in very first place the spiritual purpose for
which its congregation exists. Nothing is more discouraging for a
pastor than parishioners who just cannot seem to sense the spiri-
tual dynamic and purpose of their church. Study and grow together
with your pastor. Recognize and treat your pastor as a gracious gift
from God. Even though he may not measure up to all of your per-
sonal expectations, he is still the called servant of Christ among
you. Be accepting of differing styles and approaches to the min-
istry. We are not talking about doctrine here. We are talking about
style and techniques in the ministry. Just because you have ‘always
done it that way” does not mean it cannot be changed. Do not ex-
pect your pastor to be a perfect ten. You will find that he is pretty
much like his people. He will have both strengths and weaknesses.
Do not continually keep comparing him to a previous pastor. Look
for those chances where you can give your pastor praise, encour-
agement and cooperation. Ongoing complaints and criticisms tend
to kill enthusiasm, while praise and encouragement just the oppo-
site. Insist that your pastor take time off and respect that time in
his life and schedule. Your pastor will be the most effective in his
ministry if he makes it a point regularly to spend time away from
his office and from his duties. Insist that your pastor do this! Be
sure to respect your pastor’s right and need for privacy. Even
though being in a parsonage understandably places your pastor and
his family in a fishbowl, you can still do much to preserve some
privacy for them. Be sensitive to this personal need of your pastor
and his family.

2001 Convention Workbook