Lay Leadership: How the Universal Priesthood Hinders a "Pastor Only" Mindset

Abstract

"The topic that will be focused on in this paper is applying the teaching of the universal priesthood to the development of lay leaders. If one properly understands the teaching of the universal priesthood, it will then follow that one wants to develop lay leaders in the church. This comes with the aim of introducing lay leaders to a method that hinders congregations from having a “pastor-only” mindset. Some highlights of the research show that there is a distinction between the public ministry as well as the private ministry of every believer. It is also at the same time understood that God gives to his church every right to preach and teach his word. How that is applied in different WELS churches changes depending on location and available gifts. However, the importance that has been discovered is that when the universal priesthood is put into action, God blesses that work."