WELS doctrine and practice

I can offer you a personal response. By synodical convention resolution, our church body has taken an “eclectic approach” toward the use of Bible translations in publishing our materials. That means authors can indicate which translations they would like used in their works. Individual congregations have always determined for themselves which Bible translation(s) they are going to use for their worship services and Christian educational purposes.

Because God has not prescribed how we are to worship him, we enjoy Christian freedom in our worship life. Still, we desire to apply this biblical directive to our worship services: “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

When it comes to the public ministry, I can direct you to these words from This We Believe, a statement of belief of our church body: “We believe that God has also established the public ministry of the Word (Ephesians 4:11), and it is the will of God that the church, in accordance with good order (1 Corinthians 14:40), call qualified individuals into this public ministry (1 Timothy 3:1-10; 1 Corinthians 9:14). Such individuals minister publicly, that is, not because as individuals they possess the universal priesthood but because they are asked to do this in the name of fellow Christians (Romans 10:15). These individuals are the called servants of Christ and ministers of the gospel. They are not to be lords over God’s church (1 Peter 5:3). We believe that when the church calls individuals into this public ministry, the Lord himself is acting through the church (Acts 20:28). We believe that the church has the freedom to establish various forms within the one ministry of the Word, such as pastors, Christian teachers, and staff ministers. Through its call, the church in Christian liberty designates the place and scope of service.”