Authority Vested: A Story of Identity and Change in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780802844576)

Like other major Protestant denominations in the United States, the 2.6-million-member Luther Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), founded in 1847, has struggled with issues of relevance and identity in society at large. In this book Mary Todd chronicles the history of this struggle for identity in the LCMS, critically examining the central--often contentious--issue of authority in relation to Scripture, ministry, and the role of women in the church. In recounting the history of the denomination, Todd uses the ministry of women as a case study to show how the LCMS has continually redefined its concept of authority in order to maintain its own historic identity. Based on oral histories and solid archival research, Authority Vested not only explores the internal life of a significant denomination but also offers critical insights for other churches seeking to maintain their Christian distinctives in religiously pluralistic America.

Author: Mary Todd
ISBN-10: 080284457X
ISBN-13: 9780802844576
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Language: English
Published: 12/28/1999
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.16lbs
Size: 9.16h x 5.94w x 0.84d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 10/01/2000 pg. 349
Christian Century 02/13/2002 pg. 67