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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 260

2026 Convention Workbook
225
THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS  —COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
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VI:4 Though the power to remit or retain 
sin, to make known the Law and the 
Gospel, was originally and 
immediately given by the Lord of the 
Church to all Christians, that is, to the 
whole Church and also to the 
individual congregation, and though 
all believers are a spiritual priesthood, 
yet the office of the ministry is not 
identical with the spiritual priesthood 
of all believers in Christ. But there is a 
vital connection between the two 
inasmuch as the ministry by the 
institution of the Lord necessarily exists
within the Church which is the royal 
priesthood and the people of God.
Matt 16:15–19; Matt 18:15–20; 1 Pet 
2:9; John 20:19–23; Luke 24:33–36; Rev 
1:6; 5:10; 1 Cor 12:28,29; Rom 10:15; 
Smalc. Art., Tract.24, 67-69.
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VI:5 The office of the ministry is essentially 
an office of service to the Lord and 
His Church with the Word and the 
Sacraments, which office the ministers 
of the Church must exercise in 
obedience to their Lord and the 
directions given in the Word. 
Therefore, the office of the ministry 
does not give to those who bear it, 
arbitrary power over Christians, nor 
does it deliver the ministers of the 
Word up to the arbitrary directions 
and commands of men. Likewise, it is 
not a Levitical priesthood of the New 
Testament (Apol. XIII,7-11; XXIV, 58,59); 
nor are those who bear it an exclusive 
class distinct from Christians generally; 
nor do they possess a peculiar 
sanctity or an indelible character; nor 
does the ministry possess the power of 
self-perpetuation.
Matt 23:8–12; I Cor 3:5; 4:1,2; 2 Cor 4:5; 
Col 1:23–25; 1 Pet 5:1–3; Matt 20:25–
28; Apol.XXVIII, 13,14; XXII,9; XXIV, 86 
(German and English text re Liturgia); 
Smalc. Art., Pars II, IV, 9; Form.Conc., 
Sol. Decl. XII, 30; XI, 29. 
Replace ‘men’ with ‘people’:
The office of the ministry is essentially 
an office of service to the Lord and 
His Church with the Word and the 
Sacraments, which office the 
ministers of the Church must 
exercise in obedience to their Lord 
and the directions given in the 
Word. Therefore, the office of the 
ministry does not give to those who 
bear it, arbitrary power over 
Christians, nor does it deliver the 
ministers of the Word up to the 
arbitrary directions and commands 
of people. Likewise, it is not a 
Levitical priesthood of the New 
Testament (Apol. XIII,7-11; XXIV, 
58,59); nor are those who bear it an 
exclusive class distinct from 
Christians generally; nor do they 
possess a peculiar sanctity or an 
indelible character; nor does the 
ministry possess the power of self-
perpetuation.
Matt 23:8–12; I Cor 3:5; 4:1,2; 2 Cor 
4:5; Col 1:23–25; 1 Pet 5:1–3; Matt 
20:25–28; 
Apol.XXVIII, 13,14; XXII,9; XXIV, 86 
(German and English text re 
Liturgia); Smalc. Art., Pars II, IV, 9; 
Form.Conc., Sol. Decl. XII, 30; XI, 29.
VI:6 According to the New Testament the 
spiritual functions of the Apostolate 
are continued only in the ministry of 
the Word and Sacraments.
Acts 6:1–4; Acts 24:23; Acts 20:28; Phil 
1:1; Col 4:17; 1 Tim 3:1ff; 5:17; Titus 
1:5ff; 1 Pet 5:1; Heb 13:17; Apol.XV, 42 
(44); Smalc. Art. Tractatus: 10, 13-15, 
60-65; Smalc.Art., Pars II, IV,9; Form. 
Conc., Sol. Decl. X.10.
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VI:7 ‘No one should publicly teach in the 
Church or administer the Sacraments 
unless he be regularly called’ (C.A. 
XIV). The Lord calls individuals into the 
office of the ministry through the 
Christian congregations, Acts 13:1–4; 
and the Christian congregation, 
either alone or together with other 
congregations, or through properly 
appointed representatives, calls 
qualified persons (1 Tim 3:1–7; Titus 
1:6–9; 2 Tim 2:24,25; Acts 1:24) into the 
office of the ministry publicly to 
exercise the functions of this office. 
The minister of the Word is thus called 
by the Lord through His Church, and 
by the Church as through human 
agency and authority, but in 
obedience to the command of the 
Lord. He is therefore the servant of the 
Lord Jesus, a minister of the New 
Testament, a steward of the mysteries 
of God, called to serve by publicly 
administering the means of grace.
2 Cor 4:5; Rom 10:15; 2 Cor 5:18; 1 
Thess 5:12,13; Augsburg Confession 
XIV; Apol.VII,28(end of paragraph); 
Smalc. Act. Tractatus: 14, 15, 24, 26, 
67-69. 
Replace ‘he’ with ‘they’:
‘No one should publicly teach in the 
Church or administer the 
Sacraments unless they be regularly 
called’ (C.A. XIV). The Lord calls 
individuals into the office of the 
ministry through the Christian 
congregations, Acts 13:1–4; and the 
Christian congregation, either alone 
or together with other 
congregations, or through properly 
appointed representatives, calls 
qualified persons (1 Tim 3:1–7; Titus 
1:6–9; 2 Tim 2:24,25; Acts 1:24) into 
the office of the ministry publicly to 
exercise the functions of this office. 
The minister of the Word is thus 
called by the Lord through His 
Church, and by the Church as 
through human agency and 
authority, but in obedience to the 
command of the Lord. They are
therefore servants of the Lord Jesus, 
ministers of the New Testament, 
stewards of the mysteries of God, 
called to serve by publicly 
administering the means of grace.
2 Cor 4:5; Rom 10:15; 2 Cor 5:18; 1 
Thess 5:12,13; Augsburg Confession 
XIV; Apol.VII,28(end of paragraph); 
Smalc. Act. Tractatus: 14, 15, 24, 26, 
67-69. 
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VI:8 Ordination, though not a Sacrament, 
is the solemn ecclesiastical rite in 
which a duly qualified person (1 Tim 
3:2–7); Titus 1:5–9), having accepted 
a call by a congregation or the 
Church, is received by the Church as 
a gift from the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 
4:11: Titus 1:5) and publicly declared 
to be a minister of the New 
Testament, his call thereby being 
ratified and publicly acknowledged, 
and the blessing of the Lord is invoked 
upon him with the laying on of hands. 
The laying on of hands is an old and 
biblical rite, but it has no divine 
command and is not essential for the 
validity and efficacy of the office.
Acts 6:6; 8:17; 13:3; 1 Tim 5:22; 4:14; 2 
Tim 1:6; Num 27:18; Smalc. Art. 
Tractatus 70. 
Replace ‘his’ or ‘him’ with ‘their’ or 
‘them’: 
Ordination, though not a 
Sacrament, is the solemn 
ecclesiastical rite in which a duly 
qualified person (1 Tim 3:2–7); Titus 
1:5–9), having accepted a call by a 
congregation or the Church, is 
received by the Church as a gift 
from the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 4:11: 
Titus 1:5) and publicly declared to 
be a minister of the New Testament, 
their call thereby being ratified and 
publicly acknowledged, and the 
blessing of the Lord is invoked upon 
them with the laying on of hands. 
The laying on of hands is an old and 
biblical rite, but it has no divine 
command and is not essential for 
the validity and efficacy of the 
office.
Acts 6:6; 8:17; 13:3; 1 Tim 5:22; 4:14; 2 
Tim 1:6; Num 27:18; Smalc. Art. 
Tractatus 70.
VI:9 Although the office of the ministry is 
the only office ordained by Christ for 
His Church of the New Testament, yet 
the Christian congregation has the 
authority to establish auxiliary offices 
(elders, deacons, teachers, Sunday-
school teachers and superintendents, 
trustees, wardens, etc.) after the 
example of the apostles and the early 
Christian Church (eg, diaconate). 
Acts 6:6; Rom 16:1.
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