Res. 6-03 — To Give Thanks for the Office of the Holy Ministry and our Synod’s Pastors

Preamble The foundational confession of the Lutheran Church was made before Emperor Charles V in 1530 at the Diet of Augsburg. The seven Lutheran princes made the Gospel the center of their Confession in Article IV: “Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight” (AC IV [Reader’s Edition, 2nd]). This Gospel must be brought to real men and women in the Church, and this is the purpose of the Office of the Ministry: “So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given [John 20:22]. He works faith, when and where it pleases God [John 3:8], in those who hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ’s sake” (AC V). This Office of the Ministry is not optional for the Church and men must be called to and placed in this Office of the Holy Ministry: “Our churches teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church, or administer the Sacraments, without a rightly ordered call.” (AC XIV)

WHEREAS, Since its founding, the Synod has been bold in its confession of the Book of Concord’s biblical theology; and

WHEREAS, The Office of the Ministry is a divine gift for the life of the Church; and

WHEREAS, All men who are trained, examined, called, and ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry are brothers in the same holy office, even while their assignments and roles may differ according to human arrangement; and

WHEREAS, The Lord has provided pastors who have been brought into the office via a “rightly ordered call” (AC XIV) for our Synod through various pathways (Master of Divinity, Residential Alternate Route, Cross-cultural Ministry Center, Specific Ministry Pastor [SMP], SMP–Español/English Program, Center for Hispanic Studies, Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for the pure confession of the faith made at Augsburg in 1530 and handed down to us today; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for all faithful pastors serving our Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod rise and sing “To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray” (LSB 768).