Priesthood, Pastors, Bishops: Public Ministry for the Reformation and Today

Today's Protestant churches are oftenrent by disagreement and dissent overthe office of bishop, the roles of theordained, and myriad forms of layministry.

Timothy Wengert's new work overturnsmany of the "pious myths" about thesematters to probe the core convictionof Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon,and the early Reform about publicministry. Theirs was an original visionof Christian ministry, revolutionary forits time. It jettisoned the lay/clericaldistinction and brought "new authorityand purpose to the public office inChrist's church," says Wengert.

After resurrecting that initial context,Wengert traces the diminution anddistortion of this foundational visionthrough the centuries. He shows thatmany of the modern fights over publicministry are simply wrong-headed,and he then draws striking and helpfulconclusions about the rich assets andforms of service in the single publicoffice of ministry today.