Empowering the Priests in the Pew: The Shepherd Leader Delegates to Multiply Ministry

Abstract

August Pieper observed in the early 20th century that most Christians sitting in the pews rarely nor actively participated in the ministry of the Church, despite being members of the priesthood of all believers. This observation still holds true in the 21st century. What can be done? How might Lutherans retain what Pieper calls “the essence of Lutheranism”? How might Lutheran pastors empower, encourage, and equip the people under their care to be the priests that God has made them to be?This paper endeavors to answer these questions and to propose ways in which a pastor might properly, sufficiently, and successfully delegate areas of ministry to the priests within his care. The goal of any Lutheran shepherd is that his sheep cherish their status before God and fully realize and exercise their purpose in life on this side of eternity.This paper points the reader toward that goal.