the pastor, acting in persona Christi We don't need anyone to stand in for Christ Cronos, we can go directly to Him for forgiveness...and only He has that authority just as He has said....and further when we go to Him we are a sinner before Him with our sin to confess to Him that that is what it is...sin. Additionally Jesus never uses a "formula" to forgive us...He has promised to forgive and we believe Him that He will and does as we come before Him. Jesus Himself is our stead...He needs no other.. nor do most who know Him desire another. He is sufficient of Himself in every and all ways. That Cronos...is relationship with Christ.
Hey, I posted that as
Lutherans have Holy Absolution which is done privately to the pastor (commonly only upon request). Here the person confessing (known as the "penitent") confesses individual their sins and makes an act of contrition as the pastor, acting in persona Christi, announces this following formula of absolution (or similar): "In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
This is to a Protestant pastor. Yes, there are differences between Orthodox/Catholic/Oriental confession and Anglican confession and Lutheran Holy Absolution, but the specific point on which you said about "We do not confess to our Pastors" is incorrect considering Protestant pastors as a whole.