More LCMS Pastors Open to Episcopal System VS. Voters Assemblies
By Rev. Jack Cascione

 

A Statement of Tolerance for Episcopal Structure by LCMS Pastors

We are in constant dialogue with LCMS pastors who are convinced that the following statement is correct when they couldn't be more confused.

"Polity is not a matter of doctrine. The LCMS could have an Episcopal system or a congregational system. That does not matter. The Confessions and Scripture allow for either and anything in-between."

It does indeed matter that LCMS congregations have Voters' Assemblies and not Bishops. This openness to Episcopal structure is coming straight from Fort Wayne.

The LCMS could not have an Episcopal System because then it would not be the LCMS, no more than the USA could be the USA if we still had a king. An immigrant can't become a naturalized citizen of this country by telling the judge it doesn't matter if America has a king, but yet many pastors want to be in the LCMS and still agree to the above statement.

The Bible never said that we "have to have" Voters' Assemblies. The Bible also never said there has to be an LCMS that only permits its congregations to call LCMS pastors. A congregation can be Lutheran without an LCMS pastor. The Confessions certainly allow all Lutheran Congregations to have "Lutheran Pastors" who don't have to be LCMS pastors.

Walther's Defense of Voters' Assemblies from the Bible

The Bible certainly teaches about Voters' Assemblies according to Walther in the following statement: "The Congregational Meetings" "Since, according to God's WORD, the congregation is the highest court within its circle (Matt.18:17; Col. 4:17), and the preacher has church authority only in common with the congregation (Matt. 20-25-26; 23:8; 1Peter.5:1-3; 2Cor.8:8), the preacher must be concerned that the congregational assembly, both regular and special ones as needed at times, be held in Christian order to consider and carry out what is necessary for its governing (Matt. 18:17; 1Cor. 5:4; 2Cor.2:6; Acts 6:2; 15:1-4, 30; 21:17-22; 1Tim. 5:20)."

"All adult, male members of the congregation have the right to participate actively in the discussion, votes, and decisions of the congregation since that is a RIGHT OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION. See Matt. 18:17-18; Acts 1:15, 23-26; 15:5; 12-13, 22-23; 1Cor.5: 2; 6:2; 10:15; 12:7; 2Cor.2: 6-8; 2Thess. 3:15. Excluded from the exercise of this right are the youth (1Pet.5: 5) and the female members of the congregation (Cor.14: 34-35) [see also 1Tim.2: 8-15]." (Pastoral Theology by C.F.W. Walther, CN New Haven Mo., 5th Edition 1906 page 257)

Defense of Congregational Supremacy and Opposition to the Episcopal System from the Lutheran Confessions

The Lutheran Confessions certainly tell us that the Congregation is Supreme and not the Pastors. They never teach an Episcopal form of church government, in fact they condemn the Episcopal system, that many LCMS pastors find so acceptable, in paragraph 11 of "The Power and Primacy of the Pope" from the Triglotta as follows: (The capitol words in the brackets were added for clarification.)

"11] V. In 1 Cor. 3, 6, Paul makes ministers equal, and teaches that THE CHURCH [THE LOCAL CONGREGATION] IS ABOVE THE MINISTERS. Hence superiority or lordship over the Church or the rest of the ministers is not ascribed to Peter [in preference to other apostles]. For he says thus: All things are yours, [I.E. THE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL CONGREGATION] whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, i.e., let neither the other ministers nor Peter assume for themselves lordship or superiority over the Church; let them not burden the Church with traditions; let not the authority of any avail more than the Word [of God]; let not the authority of Cephas be opposed to the authority of the other apostles, as they reasoned at that time: "Cephas, who is an apostle of higher rank, observes this; therefore, both Paul and the rest ought to observe this." Paul removes this pretext from Peter, and denies [Not so, says Paul, and makes Peter doff his little hat, namely, the claim] that his authority is to be preferred to the rest or to the Church."

Just in case the reader has any doubts about the Confessions teaching supremacy of the local congregation over the clergy, please take note in paragraph 24 that the local congregation is clearly identified in Matthew 18:17, and not the clergy, as the final authority in the Church. The clergy are not the church. The people are the church! Therefore the congregation is supreme according to Matthew 18:17 and the Confessions use the Word SUPREME. Walther calls the gathering of the Congregation for Church business the Voters' Assembly. The Voters' can't change the doctrine but they certainly are the final judges of doctrine and all that takes place in the congregation.

"24] In addition to this, it is necessary to acknowledge that the keys belong not to the person of one particular man, but to the Church, as many most clear and firm arguments testify. For Christ, speaking concerning the keys adds, Matt. 18, 19: If two or three of you shall agree on earth, etc. Therefore he grants the keys principally and immediately to the Church, just as also for this reason the Church has principally the right of calling. [For just as the promise of the Gospel belongs certainly and immediately to the entire Church, so the keys belong immediately to the entire Church, because the keys are nothing else than the office whereby this promise is communicated to every one who desires it, just as it is actually manifest that the Church has the power to ordain ministers of the Church. And Christ speaks in these words: Whatsoever ye shall bind, etc., and indicates to whom He has given the keys, namely, to the Church: Where two or three are gathered together in My name. Likewise Christ gives SUPREME and final jurisdiction to the Church, when He says: Tell it unto the Church.]"

Notice above that the power to ordain ministers belongs to the congregation.

Defense of Congregations' Biblical "Right" to Elect Their Own Pastors

It is also false doctrine for many LCMS pastors to teach that the "The LCMS could have an Episcopal system or a congregational system. That does not matter."

It does indeed matter because the Lutheran Confessions clearly teach that the congregations must maintain the right to elect their own pastors, which an Episcopal System, as operated by the Episcopal Church, Catholic Church, and Orthodox Church, do not allow. Of course, pastors could invent their own Episcopal system and say that in their Episcopal fantasy church the Voters' could still elect the pastor of their choice. But then, we all know this is fantasy and so would the pastors.

In the "Power and Primacy of the Pope' we read as follows: "67] For wherever the Church is, there is the authority [command] to administer the Gospel. Therefore it is necessary for the Church to retain the authority to call, ELECT, and ordain ministers. And this authority is a gift which in reality is given to the Church, which no human power can wrest from the Church, as Paul also testifies to the Ephesians when he says, Eph. 4, 8: He ascended, He gave gifts to men.."

"69] Lastly, the statement of Peter also confirms this, 1 Pet. 2, 9: Ye are a royal priesthood. These words pertain to the true Church, which certainly has the right to ELECT and ordain ministers since it alone has the priesthood."

"72] From all these things it is clear that the Church [THE LOCAL CONGREGATION] retains the right to ELECT and ordain ministers."

At this point, Voter Supremacy is the only acceptable form of Church Government in the LCMS. If pastor object or want more latitude they are free to encourage the 2001 LCMS Convention to change its mind.

I think it is rather clear to the laity that many of the clergy are not interested in reaffirming Voter Supremacy at the LCMS 2001 Convention, because they are too busy being "free" to find alternatives to Voter Supremacy. They are open minded about relieving the laity of their "rights" according to the Lutheran Confessions.


Rev. Jack Cascione is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS - MI) in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He has written numerous articles for Christian News and is the author of Reclaiming the Gospel in the LCMS: How to Keep Your Congregation Lutheran. He has also written a study on the Book of Revelation called In Search of the Biblical Order.
He can be reached by email at pastorcascione@juno.com.

September 28, 2000