No issue at the 2001 LCMS Convention was more debated or took more time to resolve than Resolution 7-17A, the resolution to reaffirm Walther's "Church and Ministry" as the official doctrine and practice of the LCMS.

Will clerical hierarchy, a corporate board of directors, or lay people in voters' assembly, govern congregations? The Convention voted for lay people governing their congregations.

Now a year after it's passage, "The Lutheran Witness" has finally addressed the issue in its June 2002 issue and we must say in grand style. The politics and opposing views on how LCMS congregations are to organize themselves continues to intensify.

Doctor Robert Rosin, Chairman of the Concordia Seminary Department of Historical Theology, has boldly defended and explained the issues in the June 2002 Lutheran Witness (http://www.lcms.org/witness/june02.pdf ). There are only a few LCMS professors who are able to speak knowledgeably or correctly on this subject. Rosin is at the top of the list. We showed also note that neither "Affirm" nor "Jesus First" endorsed Resolution 7-17A.

There is no question that Rosin has placed his career in jeopardy by taking such a clear and decisive stand. Even the sainted A. L. Barry, in his excellent "What About . . . " series did not put out a pamphlet for the LCMS endorsing Walther's "Church and Ministry" and congregational polity. It was just too controversial.

With such an article, Rosin risks the wrath of district bureaucrats by potentially arousing the laity to wrestle control of the Districts back to the congregations. Since the first full-time District President in 1960, Districts are now diverting 10's millions of dollars from the Synod for buildings, staff, and programs. In 1960, the Synod was considerably larger than it is now. Today the congregations are paying a lot more and getting a lot less for their money.

All Rosin is doing is telling lay people to read Walther and learn that they run the congregations and the Synod.

The adoption of Resolution 7-17A was the culmination of a hard fought battle for three years with Hyper-Euro-Lutherans and Church Growth/Leadership training fanatics. It led to the creation of the website Reclaimingwalther.org, operated by LCMS layman Brad Vincent.

Debate on the issue of church governance by clergy, boards of directors or Voters' Assemblies was waged on the Internet to thousands of readers on Reclaim News and on the pages of Christian News.

No one did more to inform the LCMS on the issues involving 7-17A than Christian News. It ultimately resulted in the publication of a book titled, "How to Keep and/or Start Your Own LCMS Congregation." Herman Otten sent a free copy to every LCMS 2001 Convention Delegate.

But finally, someone had to carry the issue to the Convention floor. By the grace of God, this was accomplished by Committee Seven Floor Chairman, Montana District President, Dr. George Wollenburg. In the most dramatic moment of the 2001 Convention, in the midst of a fiery speech, Wollenburg held Walther's "Church and Ministry" over his head in front of the Convention and shouted, "This is Synod's Magna Charta." Without Wollenburg, Rosin wouldn't have anything to write about.

After expensive debate, the resolution was adopted by an overwhelming 73%, seven points more than necessary for a two-thirds majority. The lay people got the message. Most of the negative voices at the microphones were clergy and clergy cast most of the negative votes.

Will the Synod stay the course on church and ministry or fall headlong into the structural chaos we are now witnessing in the Catholic Church, the ELCA and so many other denominations? It will be up to men like Dr. Robert Rosin to get the job done.

Rosin's article is titled, "A Vital Relationship." The following are few quotes from his article:

"The relationship between pastor and people is vital to life in the church." (page 10)

"At last year's convention, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod reached back to the mid-19th century to speak on church and ministry." (page 10)

"Times do change, and we do have to consider today's circumstances and problems. Yet God doesn't change and the fundamental theological position remains the same even as the 21st century is off and running." (Page 10)

"There are so many positions on church and ministry vying for support, not only among other Christians but sometimes in our own congregations, too." (page 10)

In his article, Rosin correctly shows that:

1. The congregation is still a church when it doesn't have a pastor.
2. Christ gave the Office of the Keys to every person in the congregation.
3. The congregation has to agree to all excommunications.
4. Only congregations have the God given authority to call pastors.
5. Ordination is not a sacrament.
6. Walther and Luther agree on "Church and Ministry."
7. The pastoral office is the highest office in the church.
8. The lay people have the right to judge doctrine.
9. The Bible is the final authority in the congregation.
10. Therefore, article five of the Augsburg Confession places the office of the ministry, which is the proclamation of justification in article IV, into the hands of the lay people. In other words, lay people get to hear the Gospel by calling pastors.

Who is Robert Rosin? He is the Synod's finest Reformation scholar. He comes from a distinguished line of Missouri Synod scholars and theologians. His uncle retired as the Synod's Secretary and his father is the former Academic Dean of Concordia Fort Wayne. His grandfather, Dr. Spitz, was a distinguished professor on the St. Louis faculty who Robert Preus regarded as one of the Synod's most trusted and respected theologians. His uncle, Dr. Louis Spitz, was Chairman of the Department of Reformation Studies at Stanford.

Rosin has a clear understanding of "Church and Ministry" and is able to explain it in simple terms. In short, he is a Missouri Synod Lutheran. He understands the importance of Walther's "Church and Ministry" for the survival of the LCMS.

Obviously, Rosin could have said a great deal more about, Walther's "Church and Ministry." He recommends that the laity read the book and asks that they ask their pastor for copy of Resolution 7-17A.

If they read Walther's book, they will find these quotations:

"It belongs to each and every Christian to know and judge doctrine . . ." (Page 333)

"For when our Savior Christ says, 'Tell it to the church,' He by these words commands the church to be the supreme judge." (Page 343)

" . . . the congregation has the supreme authority in all church matters such as reproof, church discipline, divisions, judging doctrine, and appointing pastors, to mention on these things." (page 343)

"Chemnitz presented the matter to the whole congregation as to the final and supreme judge." (Page 343)

". . . Indeed, 'all the multitude' of believers (v. 12) were together and on the basis of a common vote the resolution was adopted:" (page 346)

June 24, 2002