Hi Tom,

I'm having an intense week of training away from home for a new job, so I don't have the time to properly exegete the verses I shared with you, but I do indeed believe that we have been given "the keys of the kingdom" and that the Church does indeed have authority to forgive and retain sins. You will find this in most of the great confessions of the majority of Reformed churches.

You'll find some wonderful study material right here at the-Highway to help you sort this out. Look under subjects such as "church discipline" and "the keys of the kingdom."

Tom, when you lead a person to faith in Christ, and he or she shares their confession of faith with you, do you not take delight in informing them that God has forgiven their sins? For me those are the sweetest, most wonderful words a human can utter: "Your sins are forgiven!" A Lutheran minister "pronouncing absolution" is not really any different from telling a newly-converted believer that his sins are forgiven.

Hope this helps a bit!