Pg. 47

The delegates were asked in Resolution 6-35 to amend this paragraph in such a way that positions other than that of pastor qualified one for ordination. Since Synod was on record as holding to the scriptual position that ordination is nothing more than the public confirmation of the call to the office of the ministry (pastoral office), adopting this amendment would mean adopting a view of the doctrine of the church and the ministry which was entirely foreign to that held by Synod throughout its history. In fact, it was a view Synod had repeatedly rejected.

The delegates did adopt the amendment, thus setting aside the one distinguishing mark that set the Missouri Synod apart. Since that day, it has been necessary when talking about Synod prior to 1962 to refer to it as "Old Missouri".

Pg. 55

It is not uncommon today for a candidate to be ordained in his home congregation and then travel to his calling congregation to be installed. Other candidates talk about being ordained and installed on such and such a day in the presence of the calling congregation.

The CTCR enlightens us on the subject. At first glance it seems to affirm the "Old Missouri" (orthodox) position: "(Ordination) is a public ratification of the call..." (Of course we know now that by "call" and "minister" is meant not only candidates called by congregations but also those called to the "office of the ministry" of the synodical "church").