In the LCMS, we often talk 1989 when we talk about confusion regarding the office of the public ministry. But there was an anomaly of sorts long before Wichita. Honestly , I do not know when it began. But I know I have participated in many ways in this anomaly. I have held the almost office. I have installed most recently men into it. I speak of the almost office of Vicar.
Now there are always stories of vicars who do everything given to Pastors to do. Vicars with congregation and without true supervision. But for the purpose of this post, I am going to assume that that is not the normal situation (Although I fear it is becoming more normal. After all if true laymen can do these things, surely almost pastors can). I will focus instead on the general way we do things in the church.
This means that somewhere in seminarian’s second year they stand up in chapel and are licensed to preach in any and all churches. And while some preaching is done that year, it truly is unleashed in the vicarage year.  In most cases, vicars do not celebrate the sacrament (although with shut-ins is quite common) publicly. But where did we come up with this convenient distinction? Well, part of it has to do with the fact that the sacrament is praised in certain segments of our church to the point of devaluing the preaching of the Word, but that is another post all together. But last I checked, ACXIV says,
“…they teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called.”
Somehow we have now reworded it this way,
“…they teach that no one, except vicars, should publicly teach in the Church or, well now we mean no one, no one shall administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called.”
I suppose the main reason for this, like so many changes in the church, was not theologically based. It was likely following the trend of many other professions were apprenticeship became much more hands on and supervision off. Watching and learning was no longer enough.
But this change has not only caused confusion in regards to what we teach about the Office of the Public Ministry, but has also resulted in vicarage being viewed mostly as practice rather than learning. It has become much less about pastor mentoring vicar and more about vicars mentoring congregations. I an not convinced this is good for congregations or vicars.
We have been blessed this last year with a great vicar in our circuit. And I have no doubt that the new vicar will do well also. But just because something appears to work well does not mean it is necessarily proper. Your thoughts?
Philip,
In Oswald Hofmann’s bio, he states his class was the first for vicarage, circa 1934 or so. There weren’t enough calls for candidates due to the Great Depression. He went to the University of Minnesota and earned a PhD in classics for his vicarage. It takes at least a decade before the LC—MS institutionalizes vicarages as part of pastoral training. Vicarage is now something quite different than for Hofmann and his succeeding generations.
The phrase “Preisthood of believers” comes to mind when reading this post. Anyone with good public speaking and a basic understanding of the Bible can preach right? I didn’t go to Seminary, but my Bachelor’s in Theology and good public speaking skills makes me qualified right?
OK, you know me well enough to dicern the sarcasm. I fear that the rush to turn out “polished” pastors by pushing them during the vicarage is the wrong way to go. If we want them to “practice” let them read a sermon prepared by the supervising pastor. If we want them to “learn” let them practice preparing a sermon for the supervising pastor to review and discuss their exegesis, separation of Law/Gospel, etc.
Or we could all take turns giving sermons about “what the Bible means to me.”
I have trouble with the “somehow we have reworded”.
What “somehow”?
Someone intentionally reworded it.
Who?
When?
Why?
Life is not just a collection of stuff that happens.
There are forces, intentions, and people doing it.
I think it is usually of combination of good intentions meeting tough situations and those who intentionally seek to redefine our confessions. Never sure what percentage is what.