Do the Lutheran Confessions reject the historic episcopate for Lutherans?
Nowhere do the Lutheran Confessions reject the historic episcopate. In fact, the Augsburg Confession (Article 28) expresses the desire to maintain the traditional ecclesiastical and canonical polity (see also paragraph 11 of “Called to Common Mission”). The Lutheran Confessions point to Scripture and also to the teachings of the “Church Fathers,” including bishops such as Augustine and Ambrose, as well as the doctrinal statement of the Council of Nicaea (a.d. 325) in their affirmation of the tradition of the Church throughout the centuries.