Priesthood, Pastors, Bishops: Public Ministry for the Reformation & Today (Lutheran Reformation 500)
Books / Paperback
Books › Religion › Christianity › History
ISBN: 0800663136 / Publisher: Fortress Press, June 2008
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.
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Today's Protestant churches are often rent by disagreement and dissent over the office of bishop, the roles of the ordained, and myriad forms of lay ministry.Timothy Wengert's new work overturns many of the pious myths about these matters to probe the core conviction of Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and the early reformers about public ministry. Theirs was an original vision of Christian ministry, revolutionary for its time. It jettisoned the lay/clerical distinction and brought new authority and purpose to the public office in Christ's church, says Wengert. After resurrecting that initial context, Wengert traces the diminution and distortion of this foundational vision through the centuries. He shows that many of the modern fights over public ministry are simply wrong-headed, and he then draws striking and helpful conclusions about the rich assets and forms of service in the single public office of ministry today.
Read Less