- - when I preside at a marriage, I am simultaneously acting as an officer of the state and a called and ordained minister of Word and Sacrament (marriage is not a sacrament in the Lutheran church, BTW)
Why is it that marriage is NOT a Sacrament in the Lutheran Church (or is that just in the ELCA?) For how long has the doctrine been such?
Going on 500 years now... Sacramental definition in the Lutheran church is that Christ commands it and ties God's Word and promise to that which we can taste, see, touch, smell, hear - i.e. water, wine, bread.
