Building a Preaching Ministry in the English Church during the Reformation. (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Liu
• Is Part Of: Social sciences in China. Volume 39:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 186
• Page End: 198
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: priesthood of all believers -- sacramental priesthood -- preaching ministry -- the English Church; 基督徒皆为司祭 -- 主持礼拜仪式的司祭 -- 讲经布道的牧师 -- 英格兰教会; China -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; China -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; China -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 300.951
• DOI: 10.1080/02529203.2018.1414418
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0252-9203

Abstract

Abstract: Martin Luther's concept of "priesthood of all believers" implies that everyone who has been baptised not only becomes a Christian, but also becomes a consecrated priest. There is room for a logical extension of Luther's concept. If every Christian is a consecrated priest and has the right to administer the sacraments for himself, is there any necessity to retain a professional priesthood for the Church? While detailing how Luther's concept entailed the shift of clerical functions from a sacramental priesthood to a preaching ministry as occurred within the evolving Protestant Churches, this paper offers a clarification of what Luther actually meant by his formula.