The Doctrine of Church and Ministry in the First One Hundred Volumes of the Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly

Abstract

John Brug’s essay surveys a century of doctrinal discussion on church and ministry within the Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, highlighting its centrality to WELS theology. He traces two major periods of debate: the early 20th-century response to the Cincinnati Case and the late 20th-century dialogue with LCMS and other confessional bodies. Brug outlines five key concerns: commitment to sola scriptura, the relationship between congregation and synod, the balance between the priesthood of all believers and the public ministry, the legitimacy of various forms of ministry beyond the parish pastorate, and the continuity of WELS teaching with Luther and Walther. He emphasizes the exegetical foundation of WELS doctrine and its consistent rejection of hierarchical or rigidly institutional views. The essay concludes with a call to preserve gospel freedom, doctrinal clarity, and unity through Scripture-based dialogue. —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)