The main issue of this article is ministry and common priesthood according to present Lutheran ecclesiastical constitutions. Beginning with methodicalreflections the author considers aspects of the relationship between ministry and common priesthood in the New Testament. Then he interprets what is said in the Lutheran confessions about ecclesiastical ministry. He continues with an overview of the historical shape of Episcopal ministry from the Reformation until the 19th century. Then the article analyses Lutheran ecclesiastical constitutions regarding their implicit concept of church and ministry. Finally the author presents recommendations for the ecumenical dialogue.

---

---

Personen: Wilckens, Ulrich

Schlagwörter: Neues Testament Ökumene Lutherische Kirche Kirchenleitung Kirchliches Amt Priestertum aller Gläubigen Kirchenordnung Kirchenverfassung