Can Lutheran pastors marry and have children?

MarkRohfrietsch

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Yes, and yes. There are even (gasp) pastors who are divorced, and pastors (GASP) who are divorced and remarried in the LCMS.
Yes, but there is a large portion of the LCMS and LCC that have issues with divorced clergy. Many congregations would not consider these individuals for a call. Married is the norm. I do know of a number of LCC Pastors that have chosen to remain celibate; but it is their choice.
 
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We do have divorced and remarried Pastors in the ELCA, although my church has never had one. Our most recent Pastor, who unfortunately just moved on to a new church, was married and she and her husband had an adopted son.
 
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What does the Bible say? There's your answer :D

But the office of Pastor didn't exist in Biublical times so the question isn't actually addressed in Scripture. However Scripture does say that deacons are to be "the husband of one wife" so that would imply that Pastors may marry, but it does not say so directly.
 
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GracetotheHumble

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But the office of Pastor didn't exist in Biublical times so the question isn't actually addressed in Scripture. However Scripture does say that deacons are to be "the husband of one wife" so that would imply that Pastors may marry, but it does not say so directly.

Pastors did exist. They are mentioned in Ephesians 4:11. Also various titles may be used speaking of the same office such as Bishop or Overseer.
 
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Pastors did exist. They are mentioned in Ephesians 4:11. Also various titles may be used speaking of the same office such as Bishop or Overseer.

I stand corrected, although the version of the Bible that I use uses the term teachers, not pastors. In any event, that chapter does not addresss whether teachers/pastors should be married.
 
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GracetotheHumble

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I stand corrected, although the version of the Bible that I use uses the term teachers, not pastors. In any event, that chapter does not addresss whether teachers/pastors should be married.

No, but 1 Timothy 3:2 is believed to be directed towards Pastors.
 
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No, but 1 Timothy 3:2 is believed to be directed towards Pastors.

Yes. I believe that I already said in my earlier post that "Scripture does say that deacons are to be 'the husband of one wife' so that would imply that Pastors may marry, but it does not say so directly." I think we are in agreement.
 
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MarkRohfrietsch

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The NKJV, arguably the best English translation for word for word and thought for thought translations of our time translates this passage this way:
1 Timothy 3:2New King James Version (NKJV)
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

The ESV (current adopted version of the LCMS used in LSB).

1 Timothy 3:2English Standard Version (ESV)
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

KJV uses "Bishop"; RSV uses "overseer" ; Luther Bible uses " Bischof"; NASB "overseer" as well.

That would be Pastor in today's lingo.

You must be using one of the more "protestant" Bibles or a paraphrase maybe?
 
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