Acolytes?

[Searching_for_Christ]

I haven't been to a Lutheran service yet but I did go to an Anglican service (in the same building as the Lutheran Church actually) and they had a 40-something year old woman in the black garbs, carrying the cross during the processional, and she sat up front with the other guys for the whole service.


I think coming from an conservative evangelical background, upon entering an Liturgical Church its usually the last thing I would expect to see.

But remember, this is all my person "tastes" I'm not condemning female acolytes....I just think they look strange lol.

 

[Aibrean]

I've never ever seen a woman...the other church I went to (LCMS) was girls.

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

the thing is, SfC, is that it isn't women doing it - it's girls, and it's for service and training purposes. i've been to several Lutheran churches and have never seen a woman as acolyte - i've seen boys and girls, and i've seen men (elders) - but never women.

My old LCMS church has two old women who were the head acolytes for many years (until they were no longer physically able and then I stepped into that role). But it is not common certainly, in part because it is simply not common to have adults as acolytes.

 

[DaRev]

I haven't been to a Lutheran service yet but I did go to an Anglican service (in the same building as the Lutheran Church actually) and they had a 40-something year old woman in the black garbs, carrying the cross during the processional, and she sat up front with the other guys for the whole service.


I think coming from an conservative evangelical background, upon entering an Liturgical Church its usually the last thing I would expect to see.

But remember, this is all my person "tastes" I'm not condemning female acolytes....I just think they look strange lol.

As long as they are not carrying out any of the specific functions of the pastoral office, girls (or women for that matter) may serve in the church, even during a worship service. Lighting candles, handing the ushers the collection plates and then bringing them up to the altar, carrying the processional crucifix, or collecting used communion shot glasses do not constitute functions of the pastoral office.

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

As long as they are not carrying out any of the specific functions of the pastoral office, girls (or women for that matter) may serve in the church, even during a worship service. Lighting candles, handing the ushers the collection plates and then bringing them up to the altar, carrying the processional crucifix, or collecting used communion shot glasses do not constitute functions of the pastoral office.

If it is a duty of the pastoral office, they should not be carrying out regardless of sex. Anything a lay man can do, by nature of the priesthood of all believers lay women can do. Anything they are restricted from because it is the pastoral office, must be restricted from the lay men as well--that much is clear in the confessions.

In short, no acolyte should be carrying out the pastoral office (in public worship).

 

[DaRev]

If it is a duty of the pastoral office, they should not be carrying out regardless of sex. Anything a lay man can do, by nature of the priesthood of all believers lay women can do. Anything they are restricted from because it is the pastoral office, must be restricted from the lay men as well--that much is clear in the confessions.

The Confessions state that no one should preach or administer the Sacraments unless he be rightly called. Scripture clearly states that assistants (deacons) may be chosen to assist with certain functions, and even gives the qualifications for such. A pastor may appoint and assistant to assist with the administration of the sacrament (distribution). This is very much in keeping with the Confessional charge.

In short, no acolyte should be carrying out the pastoral office (in public worship).

That's what I said in my post. Read it again.

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

The Confessions state that no one should preach or administer the Sacraments unless he be rightly called. Scripture clearly states that assistants (deacons) may be chosen to assist with certain functions, and even gives the qualifications for such. A pastor may appoint and assistant to assist with the administration of the sacrament (distribution). This is very much in keeping with the Confessional charge.



That's what I said in my post. Read it again.

The scriptural reference to deacons are a poor illustration because the duties they are asked to carry out are not assisting with the pastoral office. So no, scripture does not clearly say that.

If you consider assisting with the distribution part of the pastoral office, the deacon should NOT assist because 1) he has not been properly called 2) scripture reserves the functions of the pastoral office in public worship to the pastoral office, hence why our confessions say this much.

All other forms of church polity, governance, or assistants are not a divinely instituted office and therefore any duty they exorcise is grounded in the priesthood of all believers. A proper doctrine of ministry teaches such. Therefore, if a deacon may assist with communion it means assisting is not a role reserved only for the pastoral office and cannot be limited to only men, because their authority in that position is grounded in the priesthood of all believers. It cannot be reserved to men only on the grounds of an extension of the pastoral office because all laity are thus excluded and scripture does not give the pastor the authority to do such (not too mention it is then an affront to the congregational call, since they did not call the assistant. It is appointment within the congregation towards pastoral functions).