Supreme Court-and Lutheran Teaching Ministers

It must be the first time that a matter relating to a Lutheran teaching minister was heard by the US Supreme Court. The case was heard and last month the court issued its much publicized decision. This decision has implications for all in that esoteric category of commissioned ministers. Within Lutheranism in the USA only the LCMS and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod choose that or a similar category of professional church workers.

Most of the secular press correctly focused on the “ministerial exception “ aspect of the ruling. That exception said that churches are exempt from certain work related anti-discrimination laws when dealing with officially rostered ministers of religion

My joy comes from another place; namely, that the Court reaffirmed that Commissioned Teachers are, in fact, ministers of religion in the eyes, not only of the church, but also of the state.

That is great for those who teach in Lutheran schools. Without in any way taking away from the ministry of lay teachers it does affirm the particular role in which “called teachers” see themselves and their calling. Even the US Supreme Court said that they are doing ministry in all their teaching and not just when teaching a formal religion class. That is what veteran Lutheran teachers have always affirmed and hopefully demonstrated.

It came home to me at another more personal level. I am officially listed by my denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as an Associate in Ministry. However, in the ELCA I am considered a layperson. Just to dig up ancient inner-church conflict: when former LCMS teachers first were rostered with the ELCA they were given temporary minister of religion status. Subsequent church action decided to not do that. Only ordained clergy had the right to be classified and recognized by the church or by the US government ministers of religion.

So here’s a “hats off to the LCMS leadership for its role in its advocacy before the Court and here’s to all my colleagues who humbly (and proudly) claim their status of minister of religion. May they be blessed in their vital work of ministering in a Lutheran school!