Doctor Scaer's article in the Reformation 1999 issue of "Logia" may lead some to think that he does not support the conferral of the pastoral office by God through the congregation's Voters' Assembly but by ordination through other pastors.

Thanks to, Rev David Anderson, Chairman of the Fort Wayne Board of Regents, and his recent affirmation that the faculty only supports Voter Supremacy; we rest assured that Dr. Scaer has the proper perspective on Church and Ministry.

Anderson writes on January 24, 2000: "I talked with a number of our professors at CTS this past week and found no one who teaches or who knows anyone who teaches that the congregational voters' assembly is not supreme."

Scaer makes and astute observation when writes: "Perhaps the issue is as much political as it is theological, since it has to do with who runs the church. In these terms we are speaking of a business and no longer a church. No more can the church be defined as a human organization than the ministry can be defined as simply another occupation. Simply put, the church is not a business and her clergy are not employees.." (Dr. David Scaer, "The Lutheran Confessions on the Holy Ministry With a Few Thoughts on Hoefling," "Logia", Reformation 99, page 37)

While properly rejecting the contemporary false teaching that everyone holds the pastoral office, Scaer keeps referring to the importance of ordination rather than the importance of the divine call from the congregation as the validation of the pastoral office.

He makes numerous references to the importance of ordination such as ".if ordination is merely a church custom without significations,." ("Logia," page 37) "Ordination is attached to an officially sanctioned preaching office and not functions common to all Christians." ("Logia" page 41)

President A. L. Barry clearly states that the congregation is the God directed source of the pastoral office. "The holy Ministry is the power, conferred by God through the congregation as the possessor of the priesthood and all church power, to exercise the rights of the spiritual priesthood in public office on behalf of those who possess them together [vom Gemeinschaftswegen]". (A. L. Barry, "Church and Ministry: Issues in the LCMS Today," An Essay from the Office of the President The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)

Luther places great emphasis on the fact that the ministers must be sent, hence called. "Thus the whole root and origin of our salvation lies in God who sends. And if He does not send, those who preach preach falsely; and this preaching is the same as not preaching, indeed it would be better not to preach." (Luther, AE, Vol. 25, page 413.)

Some further confusion may arise when Scaer writes: "The church receives her holiness from Christ, and she is establish and maintained by his ministry given by him to his apostles. ("Logia" Reformation 99, page 37)

Is Scaer saying the apostles maintain the ministry of the church today? Surely the Word given to the apostles maintains the church. Ephesians 2:20 "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" Ephesians 3:5 "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;" 2 Peter 3:2 "That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior."

However, we also know that pastors today are not apostles and do not hold the apostolic office. Saint Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 12:29 "Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?" In Ephesians 4:11 Paul tells us, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers."

In addition, the Nicene Creed says, "I believe in one holy Christian and Apostolic Church." It doesn't say we believe in "one holy apostolic ministry." The entire church including the ministry is apostolic in that it is all based on Christ's Word and command.

It would be helpful if Dr. Scaer would also tell us that the Office of the Holy Ministry is derived from the Word of God through the writings of the Apostles and that there are no more apostles today and no one today holds the Office of Apostle.

Another statement by Dr. Scaer that might lead to a similar confusion, unless properly understood, reads: "Since Luke 10:16 speaks of sending of the seventy(-two) and not the twelve, the suggestion is that the office of the ministry, while being derived through the apostles, was directly established by Christ. Melanchthon's failure to make use of the commissioning of the twelve for the specific function as witnesses (Mat. 10:2-4; Mk 3:14-19, Luke 6:13-19) may suggest that he considered this unique apostolic function to be untransferable, but he does place the origin of the ministry in the commission give to Peter, 'Therefore Christ addresses Peter as a minister. The ministry of the New Testament . exists wherever God gives his gifts, apostles, prophets, pastors teachers.' Ministers include the 'apostles, prophets, pastors teachers,' an allusions to Ephesians 4:11." ("Logia" page 40)

Some might misread Scaer and think he is saying that pastors' hold the apostolic office. We know the apostles held every office but that pastors only hold the office of pastor and not the office of apostle.

"It [the office of the ministry] was originally exercised by the apostles. This office had its own authorization and qualifications. It was limited as to who could and could not serve in it, and it had an overarching responsibility which shaped the day-to-day decisions of those who held it. Of course, there are no apostles as such today. Yet the same commission the apostles had received -- to preach the Gospel and forgive sins -- continues to this day. It is the commission to shepherd the sheep, if you will, and now it is carried out by pastors. The German translation of the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope correctly notes that the Office of the Ministry "proceeds from the common call of the apostles." (A. L. Barry, "Church and Ministry: Issues in the LCMS Today," An Essay from the Office of the President The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)

Once again, we thank Dr. Scaer for is excellent work and Rev. Anderson for his reassuring words. The Missouri Synod and all the professors at Fort Wayne continue to teach that the office of the ministry is given by the divine call of the Voters' Assembly.