Is the Pastorate in the Congregation the Only God-Ordained Office in the Church?

Abstract

Harold E. Wicke’s article, Is the Pastorate in the Congregation the Only God‑Ordained Office in the Church?, published in Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly (April 1971), addresses the claim by the Lutheran Churches of the Reformation (LCR) that the congregational pastorate is the sole divinely instituted office. Wicke argues this position is unscriptural and historically inaccurate, noting its inconsistency with Scripture, Lutheran Confessions, and Luther’s own teaching. He demonstrates from passages such as Ephesians 4:11–12 and 1 Corinthians 12 that the ministry of the Word encompasses diverse forms—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—rather than a single office. The essay reviews New Testament evidence of multiple elders and shared ministry in congregations, contrasting this with the LCR’s restrictive interpretation. Wicke concludes that while the parish pastorate is a primary form, Scripture allows flexibility in administering the ministry of reconciliation. Limiting it to one office, he asserts, goes beyond Scripture and undermines other legitimate Word‑centered roles in the church. Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT‑4).