I want to be under someone’s authority when I serve. Whether it is of the church’s voters, their board or in the case of when I was senior pastor at St. John, the Mission and Ministry Council. I didn’t have authority just because I was ordained. I was acting under their authority. And they, as duly elected servants, were acting under the authority of God.
So when I pronounce absolution, I am ultimately doing so under Jesus’ authority, the One who has been given all authority (Matthew 28:18). Whenever we share the gospel we are doing so under the authority of Jesus. Whenever we forgive one another we are doing so under Jesus' authority.
