Private Confession and Absolution: A Hidden Treasure

Abstract

The topic of this thesis is private confession and absolution. Looking around at WELS churches today, one can see that private confession and absolution has largely fallen out of practice. Is this good? Is this bad? Is private confession and absolution something the WELS would want to reinstitute? These are questions that I look at in the paper. The methodology of the paper is a simple three-part study. 1) A scriptural study on private confession and absolution. 2) A church history study on private confession and absolution. 3) A practical study on private confession and absolution.

The results of the study were as follows: 1) While nowhere in Scripture is private confession and absolution commanded, Scripture clearly supports the practice. 2) Our Lutheran church fathers treasured the practice of private confession and absolution and stressed the importance of it in their writings and their practice. 3) As a synod, we need to do a better job of instructing our people about the practice and benefits of private confession and absolution. Not every church needs to practice private confession and absolution, but every church should know about the practice.