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Priesthood and the Doctrine of Vocation
Priesthood and the Doctrine of Vocation

In this previously unpublished paper, Lutheran writer Dr Gene Veith, identifies the source of confusion in the contemporary church over the roles of pastors and laypeople. In many modern churches, the pastor acts more like a CEO of a company, supervising and managing the church, while the lay people fulfil all or most of the ministry activities. This disordering of roles within such churches stems from an ‘anti-church’ movement, which espouses ideas such as ‘everyone a minister’, and which ultimately leads to the belief that there is no need for pastors. This is evident in both the activities of ‘mega churches’ and in the increase in house or home churches.

Veith argues that at its heart, this mistaken belief stems at least in part from an improper understanding of the ‘priesthood of all believers’, and that the church could benefit from a better understanding of the doctrine of vocation, which rightly identifies and values the office of the holy ministry and the vocations of all believers.

This extract is taken from a longer paper. Readers are encouraged to download and read the full paper via the link at the end of this article.

Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Interview with Dr Harold Ristau 

Dr Harold Ristau, pastor and author, has served in ministry and mission in widely varied contexts, and taught in seminaries in Canada and Africa. He holds an MA in Political Science from the University of Waterloo (1996), and a PhD in Religious Studies from McGill University (2007). During Lent, we shared an article from Dr Ristau on Fasting and Feasting, based on one of his books, When You Fast: The Sacramental Character of Fasting. His other works include Spiritual Warfare: For the Care of Souls, At Peace with War, My First Exorcism - My First Exorcism: What the Devil Taught a Lutheran Pastor about Counter-Cultural Spirituality, a novel and a bilingual children’s book.

In this article we learn more about Dr Ristau’s journey, the new challenge he has embarked on, and his reflections on theological education.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Women in the Body of Christ

Deaconess Kathleen Mills shares her reflection on the role of women in the body of Christ.

What is the church? What is my place in it? How do I know where I belong? These questions are common, and answers can vary by denomination, and even by congregation. It can be hard to “find one’s place” in the world, and the same holds true in the body of Christ. Paul tells us in  
1 Corinthians, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”  Chapter 12 is a beautiful and often quoted section of Scripture, defining how all of us are working together as one body. Different parts have different functions, but we all have the same goal. It’s amazing – and sometimes maddening, because we aren’t told by Paul or any other passage which part of the body we are!  Am I a foot or a hand? An ear or a mouth? Who knows, I might be the pinky toe! 

I find this lesson of the body of Christ particularly useful when I think of my role in the Church as a woman.

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