Reddit reviews The Church and The Office of The Ministry

>Basically I was asking: "Since every single Lutheran Church where I live ordain women, and I don't feel like putting myself under the authority of women, can I don't go to a Lutheran church instead, where the Sacraments may or may not be administered to you guys' satisfaction?"

I have no idea where you live, but I have a VERY hard time believing this one. I know people who live here in the US who drive over an hour to get to an LCMS church. Is it a peculiar dedication? Yes, and quite admirable. I would be happy to even find a church for you, but I would need a location from you.

As to the question of interpretation, NO. Individuals do not interpret scripture. We place ourselves at its feet and learn from it, exactly as Peter lays out: scripture isn't meant for each man's interpretation, but rather it is an inspired text that speaks clearly where it needs to.

As to Apostolic Succession, it is "claimed because the laying on of hands is still part of our ordination, and our pastors have claim this back to the reformation, and therefore beyond. This is merely to say we are an apostolic church, as we confess in the creed, "one holy, christian, and apostolic church."

When it comes to the topic of ordination, the synod, through its use of the seminaries, chooses who is fit for ordination. However, Augustana 14 states very plainly that it is the call by which a Pastor is rightly able to live out his role as ordained. To state succinctly, it is a hybrid between ecclesiastical order and congregationalism, although that descriptor isn't the best. To gain a full understanding of this, C.F.W. Walther's Church and Ministry will be enlightening.