Essays (Page 3)

An Exercise in Parsing: A Small Contribution to the Ongoing Discussion concerning the ELS Ministry Statement

AN EXERCISE IN PARSING: A Small Contribution to the Ongoing Discussion concerning the ELS Ministry Statement I. Introduction  One of the main difficulties in the controversy over the doctrine of the Public Ministry currently underway in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod is that different people seem to be reading the adopted document on “The Public Ministry of the Word” (PMW) in different ways, and are construing it to say different things. This is problematic on many levels. It is not really…

Understanding “The Public Ministry of the Word”

Understanding “The Public Ministry of the Word” An important key to understanding the ELS statement on “The Public Ministry of the Word” is a recognition of the fact that the term “office” – as used in the PMW and in the Lutheran theological tradition as a whole – has more than one meaning. Sometimes this term refers to a work, duty, activity, or function. At other times it refers to a position of responsibility to which a certain work, duty,…

Some Reflections on the Military Chaplaincy (With Special Reference to Lutheran Chaplains in the Union Army During the Civil War)

Some Reflections on the Military Chaplaincy (With Special Reference to Lutheran Chaplains in the Union Army During the Civil War) Confessional Lutheran churches have always been cognizant of their duty to minister to the spiritual needs of their members who serve in the military, but they have also often struggled with the theological and ecclesiastical ambiguities that are associated with the military chaplaincy. Before the Second World War all of the major Lutheran synods in America participated in the military…