CONTEMPORARY REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH AND MINISTRY IN C.F.W. WALTHER

Outline of Presentation

Introduction

1. The Congregation and the Church
   1. 1847 Constitution
   2. Church and Ministry, Thesis 6
   3. Marks of the church
   4. Altenburg Debate
   5. Biblical basis
   6. Confessional basis

2. Not "Congregationalism"
   1. Walther's Gesamtgemeinde
   2. Congregation and synod
      1. Walther's 1848 Presidential Address
      2. 1847 Constitution
      3. unity in the Word of God
      4. General Council and Synodical Conference

3. The Church and Church Fellowship
   1. Concern for truth
   2. Close (closed) communion
      1. Walther's essay on communion fellowship (1870)
      2. "the true, visible church"
      3. tolerance or indifference?
      4. the sacraments as signs of fellowship
      5. a witness against false doctrine

Introduction

1. The Present Crisis
   1. Women's ordination
   2. Multiplication of "helping offices"

2. The Office of the Ministry in Synod's History
   1. 1847 Constitution
   2. Grabau's position
      1. office and word together
      2. absolute necessity of ordination
   3. Walther's position
      1. God confers the office
      2. office a divine institution
      3. call through the congregation (but not in isolation)
      4. ordination an affirmation of the call

3. Helping Offices and the Office of the Ministry
   1. 1847 Constitution and Church and Ministry
      1. two kinds of helping offices or one?
   2. The office of school teacher
      1. assistant pastor?
      2. assistants to the office but not in the office?
   3. The "Wisconsin" position: emphasis on function
   4. The "Missouri" position: emphasis on the pastor
   5. Bridging the gap
   6. What is at stake? lex agendi, lex credendi

Conclusion

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