The Lutheran Theology of Ordained Ministry in the Finnish Context
Martin Luther’s ordination formulary (1539) followed the early Church in its essential elements of the word, prayer, and the laying on of hands. Ordination was also strongly epicletic, including the invocation of the Holy Spirit. Although Luther did not understand ordination as a sacrament, he affir...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
Published: |
[2020]
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In: |
Ecclesiology
Year: 2020, Volume: 16, Issue: 3, Pages: 361-378 |
IxTheo Classification: | KBE Northern Europe; Scandinavia KDB Roman Catholic Church KDD Protestant Church KDJ Ecumenism NBP Sacramentology; sacraments RB Church office; congregation |
Further subjects: | B
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
B Lutheran–Roman Catholic dialogue B Ordination B Christian Ministry B Communion of Porvoo Churches B Eucharist B Finnish Luther research B Lutheran Theology |
Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
Summary: | Martin Luther’s ordination formulary (1539) followed the early Church in its essential elements of the word, prayer, and the laying on of hands. Ordination was also strongly epicletic, including the invocation of the Holy Spirit. Although Luther did not understand ordination as a sacrament, he affirmed its effective, instrumental character. The Lutheran Reformation retained bishops, but the Augsburg Confession’s article concerning ministry did not mention episcopacy. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland’s ordination is by a bishop through the word, prayer, and laying on of hands. Ordination is not merely the public confirmation of vocation but an instrumental and sacramentally effective act, in which benediction confers the ministry. If the Church is Christ’s presence and the incarnate Word is the basic sacrament in Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue, is a differentiated consensus possible concerning the ministry of word and sacrament, and ordination within this context, as a means of grace indwelt by God? |
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ISSN: | 1745-5316 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Ecclesiology
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/17455316-bja10001 |