Today’s Scripture

Psalm 146       Amos 6:1-7      1 Timothy 3:1-13         Luke 16:19-31

 

            I remember the times in grade school when we would gather at the church for choir practice after school.  We would walk the couple of blocks from Herscher Grade to Trinity Lutheran.  The church was open.  Usually Mrs. Clark was there to greet us.  Sometimes Rev. Sauer was there too.  But there was that occasion when no adult was around.  That gave us the opportunity to sneak peeks at those “secret” places in the front of the church.  The bravest we would get would be to go into that little room behind the pulpit (I now know that that was the sacristy/vestry as we have behind me here).  There were a couple of steps.  Then the door that opened to the pulpit.  We would cautiously or nervously open that door and peek into that hallowed space.  I do not remember anyone ever walking into that spot.  That was only for Rev. Sauer.

 

            The office of the public ministry.  To the individual congregation it is your pastor.  Where do these men come from?  What has caused them to serve in this place?  What in Scripture is the basis for the pastoral office?  What kind of man does it take to be a pastor?  What qualifies one for the rite of ordination?  What is the call to become a pastor and what is the call to serve a congregation (or institution) and what is the difference.

 

            In Paul’s letter to Timothy God speaks of the qualifications of one who will serve as bishop/pastor/elder in a local congregation.  Those terms are synonymous as a pastor at that time.  How we use those terms takes on different meanings today.  The deacon position Paul refers to are those who assist in various roles in the congregation to free up the pastor for more time for prayer and the ministry of the word.  As the young Christian church was expanding, there was not a formal process to train and certify pastors as we are accustomed today.  It is at this time that God, speaking through Paul, sets some of those attributes to recognize men who will serve as pastors, the “under shepherds” of his local flocks. 

 

            The Christian Church is established by Jesus first.  We see the foundation of the church when he speaks to Peter and the disciples.  Peter had just professed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God [Matthew 16:16].  Jesus says that it is on this rock, this profession of faith, that he will build his church [v. 18].  Christianity is the life and salvation God has given in and through Jesus Christ.[1]  Jesus establishes his church before establishing the pastors, etc.  Those first pastors were the disciples whom Jesus renamed apostles – ones sent out [Mark 3:14].  From these add Mathias (who replaced Judas) and then Paul.  It is interesting that the first apostles (including Paul) numbered 13, quite different than our superstitions about that number. 

 

            From the apostles we see others gathered in the public ministry, specifically Timothy and Titus, young pastors groomed by Paul and in whom he writes those “Pastoral” epistles as we know those letters to them.  Paul writes to Titus [1:5] that his purpose in Crete was to “…appoint elders in every town…”  In today’s passage from Timothy Paul speaks of taking care of God’s church [v. 5].  In their visits to the churches in Galatia, “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust,” [Acts 14:23].  Here is a reference to the rite of ordination that we practice today, when a man takes the promise and responsibility to serve as a pastor.

 

            In the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, we practice the office of the public ministry, ordination as a pastor in the following way.  We base the process and qualifications on Scripture and the fourteenth article of the Augsburg Confession.  “Our churches teach that nobody should preach publicly in the church or administer the sacraments unless he is regularly called [Augsburg XIV].  We are certainly at liberty to establish the qualifications that are appropriate and as long as they fulfill what is established in Scripture.  In the Apology (to Augsburg) is, “The ministry of the Word has God’s command and promise [XIII].  The functions of the pastoral office are executed in the name of the congregation and by its authority.  As your pastor, I conduct the services here, administer the sacraments, lead teaching in the word, and other activities by your authority and in the name of Immanuel in this community.  When I lead services (i.e. nursing homes) or conduct prayer in public places (upcoming mayor’s prayer breakfast), I do those things as Immanuel’s pastor and not my recognition alone.

 

            The most commonly followed practice is instruction and training in our seminaries.  In our synod we have two, Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.  I am a product of Fort Wayne.  Pastor Bouman of St. Louis.  Pastor Davison who served during our vacancy and Pastor Holm were from Concordia Theological Seminary but when it was located in Springfield, IL.  That seminary moved to the Fort Wayne campus in the early 1970’s.  Both seminaries are quite similar today in the preparations for pastors.

 

            The most common course is the Master of Divinity, a 4-year program of three years of studies and one of vicarage.  The second is the Alternate Route that is two years of studies and one of vicarage.  To qualify for this one must be over 35, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and ten years active participation in leadership roles in a congregation.  There is also a recently re-defined route for specialty ministries that includes a type of correspondence or on-site education, some on-campus education, and continued experiences assisting and/or performing pastoral duties in congregations and/or institutions.  This is a three-year preparation.  Men who have served in the pastoral office in other Lutheran organizations and other Christian denominations enter by what we call colloquy – an individualized program of instruction and preparation.  There are other Lutheran Synods throughout the world that we are in partnership and pastors may serve across these synods.  The most recent is the AALC here in the United States that we have established what we call “Altar and Pulpit Fellowship.”   

 

            In regards to “the call” and “the calling.”  An individual receives a calling to serve in the ministry.  This is individual to that person.  As a man struggles with this calling, he is often assisted and encouraged (or discouraged) by a pastor, and others who are close to him.  It is internal and between the individual and God (in the person of the Holy Spirit) alone.  The call to serve as a pastor is from the congregation and/or the institution.  The call process varies from congregation to congregation in regards to assembling a list of men to consider and the process by which men are considered and evaluated.  This process involves congregational, self-study, prayer, and evaluating the human qualities of the men considered.  Sometimes congregations issue calls irrespective of this process.  In Immanuel’s case, you entrusted then NID President Rev. Ameiss to work with the seminaries for calling a graduating student.  No matter what the process, we proceed in faith and trust God the Holy Spirit to lead us to call and the individual called to respond to that call.  Note, it is not “my call,” but it is “the call” issued by the congregation.  Note that the process may differ greatly for senior or sole pastors as compared to calls for associate and assistant pastors.  Likewise with teachers, deaconesses, DCE’s, lay ministers and the like.  That is due more to our human frailties than anything else.

 

            Your pastor is your:

• Pastor – that is shepherd of this flock acting by the command and in the stead of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• Preacher and Teacher – leading the congregation through preaching as this is today, and leading the teaching.  The “Preaching and Teaching” ministry is well beyond our conception of the school teacher.  Preaching and teaching happen together.
• Plans and conducts the worship services at Immanuel.
• Conducts the services and practice of the sacraments so that the congregation is assured that all is done “in proper order,” as God has called and commanded us to do.
• Performs those special duties including baptisms, weddings and funerals on behalf of the congregation.
• Prays for the congregation – individually, leading the corporate prayer, leading with prayer life whether it be “prayer circles,” the e-messenger prayer list, etc.
• Provides faith counsel to members and those who are brought to the pastor by members or other referral.
• Is visible in the community and respected in the community.  I am not here for Immanuel alone, but to our entire community as outreach, serving our brothers and sisters in various ways.  Some is purely outreach.  Some is in the pastor’s personal life, as Paul writes to Timothy not one who lives an unholy life. 
• With permission from the congregation through its officers and the Board of Elders, oversees and instructs those who assist in the ministries at Immanuel.

 

            The church is established by God as the body of Christ on this earth.  The office of the public ministry is established and commanded by God as service to his people and for the sake of proper order in the church.

 

            Your pastor is here as the vessel that brings God’s word and blessings to you.  He is here to remind you of your sinful nature and sinful lives.  He is here to bring you the great news that God loves you, he made you, and in Christ Jesus forgives your sins so you will be with him throughout all eternity in heaven. 

 

In Jesus’ undying love.                       Amen.