A Lutheran Response to the Vatican Declaration, "Dominus Iesus"

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A Statement by Dr. A. L. Barry

President of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod

(St. Louis, September 15, 2000)-- The Vatican's recent assertion that "there exists a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him," came as a surprise to many in today's ecumenical climate. But this claim is neither new nor surprising. Rome is merely restating its historic position.

The Christian Church on earth is one, holy, universal and apostolic, not because it is the Roman Church, or has a pope, but because it is Christ's church. The church is the assembly of all believers in which the gospel is taught purely and the sacraments are administered rightly. God the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church, He daily and richly forgives our sins and the sins of all believers.

The Bishop of Rome is not the head of all Christendom by divine right on the basis of God's Word. The church cannot be better ruled and preserved than by living together under one head, Jesus Christ, united in teaching, faith, sacraments, prayers, and works of love.

Therefore, we Lutherans continue to reject these claims of the Roman Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome as contrary to Sacred Scripture. With many other Christian churches, we express our deep regret and profound disagreement with this statement by the Vatican.