The Petrine office: this is the term used to describe the specific mission of the Chief Apostle. In the following lines, the actual bearer of this office explains its origin and significance.
To write about the Chief Apostle is to speak of a ministry which I now exercise myself. This is not an easy task. All too quickly, our thoughts turn to specific individuals, namely the Chief Apostles who have left their mark on us. My first thought, however, is not of a person, but of the mandate itself: it does not belong to me. It has merely been entrusted to me. It does not relate to the person who exercises it, but to Christ, who leads His church.
The function came first, the title later
In our Church, the designation “Chief Apostle” was not the starting point, but the culmination of a function that had developed over time. The Chief Apostle is the highest spiritual authority. He is accorded a leading position in the circle of the Apostles. It was under Friedrich Krebs that the leadership role as such began to take shape. A responsibility that had already been exercised in practice was given the designation “Chief Apostle”. What is essential is this: it was not the designation that gave rise to the ministry. Rather, the ministry found its name. And this ministry is rooted in biblical testimony and is directly associated with the mission entrusted to Apostle Peter.
In the service of unity
I am intrigued by how Peter put this commission into practice in the early church. This gives me guidance. The Acts of the Apostles indicate that he made arrangements for the vacancy among the Apostles caused by Judas Iscariot’s death to be filled. Even today, the Chief Apostle ordains the Apostles himself, wherever possible.
It is a great concern of mine to strengthen this circle so that its focus may remain the same: to make salvation accessible to all human beings. At the same time, this reflects the unity among the Apostles, which is also part of the Chief Apostle’s responsibility to reinforce.
The Chief Apostle defines the order within the Church as a means of fostering unity and as a reliable framework for the activity of the Church. The purpose of spiritual order is not to impose constraints, but to create space for the gospel.
Open for new insights
Peter also provided guidance in this regard when he delivered the Pentecost sermon. So it is that, to this day, this ministry serves to preserve the doctrine and ensure the uniform spread of the gospel.
But we do not stop there. Opening up new insights and the gradual and cautious development of the doctrine are also part of this responsibility. Peter is also an example in this: the Lord showed him that salvation is not restricted to a single group of people, but rather intended for all human beings.
Mercy rather than greatness
During his encounter with Cornelius, Peter recognised that God excludes no one: the gospel is also addressed to the Gentiles. They too are called to share in salvation and are to be baptised with water and the Spirit. When Cornelius fell down before Peter and worshipped him, Peter helped him up and said: “Stand up; I myself am also a man” (Acts 10: 26).
Peter was not a man without faults. He was conscious of his failings and well aware of the Lord’s mercy. That is why Jesus’ words to him touch me in a special way: “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22: 32).
The decisive question
I, too, know that my faith is not strong enough on its own. It lives by the grace of God. All I can offer is my trust in Christ, however small it may be—perhaps as small as a mustard seed—but open to what He wishes to accomplish.
Jesus knew Peter’s weaknesses and limitations. He did not ask anything extraordinary of him, other than a clear answer to the crucial question: “Do you love Me?” Only after receiving the answer did Jesus entrust him with his mission: “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep” (John 21: 15–17).
Thus it becomes clear that the Petrine office is not based primarily on authority, but on love for Christ. This is a question I have been asking myself too. If I am to lead the Church, I must love Christ, and for that very reason, place myself at the service of others.