Priesthood, Pastors, Bishops: Public Ministry for the Reformation & Today

by Timothy J. Wengert

Overview

Today's Protestant churches are oftenrent by disagreement and dissent overthe office of bishop, the roles of theordained, and myriad forms of layministry.

Timothy Wengert's new work overturnsmany of the "pious myths" about thesematters to probe the core convictionof Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and the early Reform about publicministry. Theirs was an original visionof Christian ministry, revolutionary forits time. It jettisoned the lay/clericaldistinction and brought "new authorityand purpose to the public office inChrist's church," says Wengert.

After resurrecting that initial context, Wengert traces the diminution anddistortion of this foundational visionthrough the centuries. He shows thatmany of the modern fights over publicministry are simply wrong-headed, and he then draws striking and helpfulconclusions about the rich assets andforms of service in the single publicoffice of ministry today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800663131
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	06/04/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Timothy J. Wengert is emeritus professor of church history at the United Lutheran Seminary. He has written extensively on Luther, Melanchthon, and the Reformation, including The Augsburg Confession: Renewing Lutheran Faith and Practice (Fortress, 2020). He was coeditor, with Robert Kolb, of the English edition of the Book of Concord (Fortress, 2000) and translated Luther's Small Catechism, used throughout the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He lives in Long Valley, New Jersey.