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Reminder of Our Free Chat room Software
The folks at Digital Messenger (http:www.digitalmessenger.com) have
provided free of charge a very fine chat room and message opportunity. You can access the
free software for downloading at the top of the side bar menu links when you enter the
ELCM web site. This software is very easy to install. If you wish to be involved in chat
room dialogues on ELCM monitored topics and discussions be sure you list revroy@elcm.org
in the list of contact screen names. We post here again the link for the free download
from the Digital Messenger folk: http://www.digitalmessenger.com/download/index.html
This free software also gives the ability for those who are listed
to be in contact via Instant messages (again at no cost) across the various Internet
servers. It truly allows for distances and costs of travel in order to be in contact and
discussion to disappear as barriers for organization, fellowship, and association.
Another location for chat room meetings with the capability of live
voice interaction is at our Centrist Lutheran Yahoo Chat room . You need to register to
join Yahoo but it is free and then as you access the Centrist Lutheran Club area you will
notice a "Chat room" area for Centrist Lutheran Club members. The installation
of the Java Script and Java applets are free. As our ELCM Ministerium and Congregational
rosters continue to grow we will be setting appointed times for meetings of ELCM members
in these chat room areas. Other Times will be set for discussions with those having
interest in ELCM.
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Welcome to Pastor Mark D. Isaacs
The Rev. Mark D. Isaacs was officially certified and received as a
rostered member of the ELCM Clergy Roster on 9 January 2000. He officially resigned from
the ELCA Clergy roster upon receiving notification of ELCM approval of his application for
Clergy roster membership in a letter to the Metropolitan New York ELCA Synod Bishop dated
January 12, 2000. Pastor Isaacs was extended an Official Call as an ELCM Rostered Pastor
by St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Rhinebeck, New York (a nominal but now inactive ELCA
congregation) by unanimous vote at a duly called and very well attended meeting of the St.
Paul congregation on Sunday January 23, 2000. ELCM President, Rev. Roy A. Steward was
present as an invited guest to witness and to attest to the vote and Official Call of the
congregation.
Pastor Isaacs is a 1992 graduate of the Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He received his BA from Westfield State College in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1980. At present he is completing S. T. M. degree
work at LTS, Philadelphia PA and is now a Ph.D Doctoral candidate (History, Religion, and
Theology at Trinity Theological Seminary, Newburgh, IN with accreditation through
Liverpool University, UK.
He has been editor in chief (86-88) of the Business Times, Rocky
Hill, C. T., Feature Editor (85-86) of the New American magazine, Publishing and Managing
Editor (82084) of On Principle, and Research Economist (80-82) for the American Institute
for EconomResearchrch, Great Barrington, Mass. Pastor Isaacs has over 350 published
articles. In addition to pastoring the St. Paul Congregation he currently serves as an
adjunct Professor at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York lecturing on Business Ethics.
We count ourselves in ELCM to be very fortunate to have Pastor
Isaacs join our Clergy Roster. President Steward has written the Metro New York Synod/
ELCA Bishop and expressed the hope that if there are any more pastors of the high quality
of Pastor Isaacs who are viewed as no longer fitting in with the ELCA that the Bishop
please encourage them to apply for membership in ELCM.
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Track two of the ELCM Seminary program receives its first applicant
We have prepared for two tracks leading to ordination in ELCM. The
first would follow the traditional four years of college and four years at a Seminary with
each student being mentored throughout the traditional degree process by one or more ELCM
pastors.
Our second track provides for 2nd career persons to prepare for
ordination while actively engaged in serving congregations or in the establishment of
Mission efforts. This track follows the model put in place by H. M. Muhlenberg and his
associates where Lay Catechists were trained by and mentored in preparation for
ordination. The applicant need not have a College degree to begin this track but needs to
demonstrate some basic awareness of our Lutheran Confessional understandings. Our recent
applicant is of this orientation. He comes to us from a Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
background.
The first applicant to our track #2 approach to Seminary training
and eventual ordination pushed us in ELCM to examine whether we would emphasize an
academic degree basis for ordination into Word and Sacrament Ministry.
The Ministerium of ELCM decided to recommend to the General
Conference that indeed we should have a degree basis for all Ordained ELCM pastors.
The advent of the Internet has made available some non traditional
means of obtaining accredited degrees and this has fit very well with our Track #2
approach. The ministerium has thus approved the application of our first Track #2
candidate provided He agree to enter the academic degree program provided by Trinity
College/ Theological Seminary while serving year to year as a licensed lay Catechist/ Lay
Minister mentored and supervised by one of our ELCM Pastors.
It is anticipated that the ELCM General Conference will adopt the
recommendation of the ELCM Ministerium. The Trinity College/Theological Seminary is
located in Newburgh, Indiana and the information on the various academic offerings is
available on the Internet at http://www.trinitysem.edu .
Trinity is in the Reformed tradition but we are not worried by that
as our Mentoring approach will provide the Lutheran element in the training of our future
pastors via this and the track #1 approach. In fact it is quite likely that our future
pastors in ELCM will emerge from this approach of study much more Lutheran in their
understandings than many or most who attend various Lutheran Seminaries (especially those
of the ELCA variety). Those of our future pastors following the traditional academic track
will be encouraged to attend a Lutheran Seminary that is truly focused upon the Lutheran
Confessions while still being mentored by one or more of our ELCM pastors.
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Word Alone Network friends schedule March Constituting Meeting
Our friends in the ELCA who have launched the Word Alone Network
effort will be holding their constituting gathering in Mahtomedi, Minn. March 26-29. Our
ELCM President is considering attending the meeting as an observer.
As of this issue a second round of meetings by ELCA Word Alone
pastors and congregation representatives has begun throughout the USA. To date 50 meetings
have been scheduled in 23 States.
The Constituting gathering will try to put together a basic
structure which will support those who are "Word Alone in focus" who wish to
remain within the ELCA and to work for reformation from within to undo the damages already
done to the ELCA as a Lutheran Church body and also to support those persons,
congregations, and pastors desiring to leave the ELCA.
Many issues will need to be discussed as the Word Alone Network
takes shape. There appear to be wide divergences in understanding even over the term
"Word Alone" and once this is dealt with there will be wide differences on other
doctrinal points and understandings. We in ELCM wish our Word Alone friends well as they
work through the many issues ahead. We hope that we will be able to be in close fellowship
with the Constituted and developing WA Network that emerges.
Our ELCM President shared the following concerns with WA leaders RE:
the model of voting being offered by many in WA effort.
From a distance some thoughts on your questions a la ELCM in
response to the questions posed to your Word Alone 2nd round gatherings.
Question # 2 needs a good bit of definition which likely can only
take place after you have somehow formed an official organization. "Word Alone"
especially needs to be defined IOV.
It strikes me that questions #1 and #3 are integrally related.
Faithfulness to the Confessional Lutheranism (freedom from Historic Episcopate, etc.) and
structuring so that basic political power is not gradually taken from the congregation
appears connected to us.
We have observed first hand a number of systems since our years in
ELCA and in following until the formation of ELCM.
I haven't accessed a lot of your discussions of late but have seen
some pieces that give the impression that you are moving toward the American Democratic
model of representational formulas for congregations based on size and toward the Robert's
rules of order Majority/Minority principles.
In our view that is exactly and precisely where the leaking away of
the congregational authority takes place and suddenly voila' the organization has
developed a centralized control system at the expense of the congregations and parish
pastors before any realize it has happened.
I would hope you folks will look at our "ELCM Consensus in
light of Scripture and in light of the Lutheran Confessions" model a bit more. We
believe this is as good a guarantee against loss of congregational political control and
also a guarantee against loss of the Confessional Lutheran stance by the wider body.
Im not angling for you all to join ELCM but it seems to me that the
formula of governance that we have put together as a result of our 8 + years of learning
and observation might be adapted or adopted by you folks.
All congregations are treated equally and Consensus in light of the
Scripture and in light of the Confessions is central. This could make adoption of things a
slow process but any who have lived in the ELCA (as we have) know that this is not such a
bad thing.
If you all adopt the representational formulas for congregations AND
the Robert's rules of order "Majority/ Minority decision making premise" I fear
you will ultimately replicate a system similar to the one that has foisted so much
nonsense upon the congregations and parish pastors.
So for what it is worth there is a bit of warning from the learnings
of your mustard seed, sliver, splinter, etc. sister ELCM. I will copy this to a few of
your Word Alone folk.
Blessings to you all in your efforts to think through the many areas
and to take a firm stand.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Pastor Roy A. Steward
ELCM President
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Re-connect with AOELS friends
We had opportunity these past weeks to re-connect with our friends
of the Augustana Orthodox & Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The AOELS was formed by former
LCA/ Augustana folk who left the ELCA following the struggle over the control of Pensions
by the ELCA. Advent Lutheran Congregation in Roseville, MN under the Pastoring of Pastor
Thomas and Pastor Matthew Basich was the focal point of the effort to defend the integrity
of the Pensions of Pastors and Church workers.
Attorney Lynn Basich and her father Pastor Thomas and brother Pastor
Matthew have been very helpful to congregations and pastors seeking advice and counsel
regarding how to get out of ELCA. Though AOELS is not on the Internet or accessible
through Email they report that they have assisted 71 congregations to date in looking at
their alternatives and some of the legal dimensions involved in leaving the ELCA.
Our ELCM has put members from the Word Alone Network in touch with
not only the AOELS but also with another former LCA/ ELCA group that has successfully left
the ELCA with the property and assets of the congregations. The other group is the very
conservative Lutheran Confessional Synod (LCS). Any wishing legal guidance may contact the
LCS Bishop, The Rev. Randy DeJaynes of Illinois via Email at LCSBish@aol.com.
The AOELS folk can be contacted by calling Advent Lutheran Church in
Roseville, MN at 651-633-3232.
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Comments from Site visitors to ELCM.org
Peace be with you!
I am curious about your 'Centrist' Lutheranism.
I never saw the point of super liberal Lutheranism - If there is no
resurrection of the flesh, why bother with church? Seems politics and the United Way would
be more efficient ways to spread social action.
Likewise, I never saw the point of super conservative Lutheranism -
If there is a resurrection of the flesh, why can't it manifest with more love and less
crucifixions of people over peripheral doctrines.
I guess I am curious about what you consider to be 'Centrist'
positions on the major Lutheran doctrines and practices.
Thanks for your response and time.
Very interesting. It looks like you folks really are trying to
be centrists.
If I understand you correctly, the creation issue is primarily that
God made the creation for a purpose...how exactly he did this is irrelevant...kinda like
the Lord's Supper issue. Funny how the super conservatives will condemn the Calvinists for
explaining the 'how it happens' of the Lord's Supper yet proceed to do the exact same
thing with the creation issue! Nice stance!
Your sola scriptura/all of the scriptures doctrine really got hashed
out in the women pastor issue it seems. Nice work! I I've mulled over that issue a good
while myself...your conclusion is very unique!!!
I assume having word alone women pastors looks like a way to be
faithful to the women prophets-apostles-teachers texts without negating the male authority
texts?
I see it this way:
The church bestows these positions: bishop, priest, deacon(ess). The
Spirit bestows these positions: apostle, prophet, teacher-pastor, evangelist. Some
individuals function with both a church bestowed position and a Spirit bestowed position
while others function with one or the other or neither.
more later,
Sorry, had to go take care of my infant.
So I guess my point about the church and Spirit bestowed positions
(ministries) is that the distinction and relationship seems so obvious to me yet no one
seems to get it. The Didache describes the church ordained working alongside the Spirit
ordained.
Does one have to have an M.Div degree to be a pastor in an ELCM
church?
I have always wondered what happened to the catholic part of the
Evangelical Catholic (Lutheran) movement of Luther. It seems to me that in order to really
espouse the 'traditional' aspects of Lutheran practice (Liturgy, infant baptism, clerical
robes, etc etc), Sola Scriptura needs to be understood in a more historical light than the
sola scriptura of American Fundamentalism. In other words, it was a needed doctrine at the
time to break with the medieval Roman works righteousness based on 'tradition'. Perhaps to
understand Scripture as the gem of the whole tradition would be a better way to look at
it? The baby would not have to be thrown out with the bath water that way! In divorcing
tradition, we lost the 'communion of saints' among other things.
May the Spirit guide you into deeper fellowship with Christ in your
journey... Sometime between 1st and 2nd Epiphany
Dear Rev. Roy?
You have an interesting web site. I hope its not taking too much of
your time.
As a Lutheran web 'guru' are you aware of any Lutheran church that
posts its weekly worship on the web in 'real audio'?
I'm a NAmerican Lutheran living in remote remote northern Japan. My
worship opportunities are very very limited and further restricted by the fact that in one
of the neighboring churches the pastor does not believe in the words of the Apostles
creed. His Christmas sermon was about the spiritual search of Malcolm X. I will not take
my wife and daughter there.
My dream preferences would be:
1. SBH second or third setting
2. Complete SBH propers
3. Complete 'connectedness' between hymns, lessons, sermon and
propers. A thematic whole.
4.Use of the Prayer of the Church SBH pg. 6ff
5. A total posting of the service down to the announcements, Mrs.
Smith's or Schmitt's cough and little Johnny's misbehavior or crying.
The language of faith and especially that of worship is 'aural' in
its meaning and its power. Printed sermons do not really carry the same effect. Radio or
ministries such as the "Lutheran" hour good as they are sound too much like a
performance as well as not really grounded in the Church year and lectionary. I would like
the 'feeling' of being there. Attendance at such a site would be supplemental to and not
in replacement of our attendance at the monthly Episcopal Eucharist where I can hear
echoes of the 'service' in a language I do understand.
Sincerely, Thanks for repeating your previous post, as
well as for the encouraging words. Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier - budgeting my
computer time is a bit of a problem!!
I just looked over some of the ELCM material, and will make note of
the site as a future resource. For the time being, though, I don't think we're the best
match. I am very appreciative of what God is doing in the charismatic streams of His
Church today. I want to be where the best the charismatic stream meets the best of the
evangelical stream. While I pastor a church that maintains the liturgical character to its
morning services, we're just now adding a non-liturgical service in the evening, and early
indications are that it is going to help our evangelistic efforts dramatically. I don't
claim any lineage to the pietists, but would probably be classified as such by many, and
have great respect and admiration for the movement, such as I've seen. Anyway, three of
the treasures that are close to my heart are three things you mentioned the ELCM is not,
so it doesn't look likely that I'll be heading your direction.
I continue to pray that the Word Alone network will move in the
direction that I see most of Christianity moving - thoroughly ecumenical (in a healthy
sense), solidly biblical (with the confessions as a helpful secondary resource), and with
the breath of the Spirit infusing our life together. That's where I hope to be headed, in
any case, and am actively searching for traveling companions.
Thanks for asking!! God's powerful blessings upon your ministries.
hello
I've done a little more reading at your web site and another you had
a hand in.
Do you have an Internet or email contact with the Augustana Ev.
Orthodox Lutheran Church people, who you describe as a little to the right of the ELCA and
a little bit to the left of where you are at.
I also think that many Lutherans who could be termed 'pietist' which
sometimes has a pejorative meaning and sometimes a positive meaning are folks who honestly
struggle with what it means to " live under Him in his Kingdom and serve Him in
everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness". Unfortunately the language
they have available to talk about this struggle is not so precise and they can get trapped
when they are cross examined about it.
Sincerely
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The Charismatic/ Church Growth/ Pietism issue revisited
This was an area that our founding pastor and congregations knew
very little about until we spent a time of trial membership in TAALC. We then were pushed
to give the matter a good bit of reflection and study. There are a great many in both ELCA
and in LC-MS who are of this orientation. The perception is that LC-MS has a bit more of
the orientation but many within ELCA bent upon Church Growth have increasingly turned
toward appealing to people via emotion in worship or in attempting to satisfy perceived
needs. The following is the note that our ELCM President sent in reply to the accurate
discernment of a site visitor of our position on these matters.
Appreciate your reply and your thoughts. We are not opposed to
the charismatic as it practiced in mild doses but have seen the direction that can take a
la the TAALC experience. It tends to become very judgmental very quickly regarding
salvation and usually without meaning to do so.
All of the Charismatic Lutherans we have encountered have been very
much into lifting up the Word Alone and Jesus Alone but really the
"experiential" seems to be also lifted right up there next in the ordering and
that can very quickly make the individual and his or her feelings the center. I hope you
and your folks can guard against that.
One of the congregations associated with us is much more into that
direction and has a good bit of Praise service focus. The liturgy though re-worked into a
pretty contemporary format is still recognizably Lutherian though. We really leave this
finally to the local congregation and pastor though in our documents do provide a strong
word of caution but advice is the only authority given to the ELCM. As we grow our
positions will be continually examined and perhaps we will somewhat ameliorate our present
advisement if such would receive a consensus in light of Scripture and in light of the
Confessions.
The Lord's Blessings and our good wishes to you and your people as
well as to the Word Alone effort
In Christ
Roy Steward
ELCM President. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
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Esteemed friend of ELCM is online editor for Lutheran Commentator
The Rev. Dr. C. H. Schmutzler has begun writing a weekly article for
Lutheran Commentator (Online). You can find the link to L. C. on the side bar menu of our
ELCM web site. Dr. S (often refered to as the Recusant) was named Online Editor of L. C.
and his various articles are being archived in what is known as the "Collective
Silence". These are very thought provoking one and all. If you haven't checked them
out, please be encouraged to do so.
Dr. S. is the Pastor of the successor to The Rev. Henry Melchior
Muhlenbergs first Congregation in America which is now known as Old Zion (Der Alte Zion).
Dr. S. conducts worship in German each Sunday at the Philadelphia PA location of Old Zion
Church.
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New Mission to begin in Queens, New York
Our new ELCM Licensed Lay Catechist/ Lay Minister is preparing to
launch our newest ELCM Mission congregation effort in Queens, New York.
Pastoral supervision of the effort will be provided by our newest
Ministerium member, The Rev. Mark D. Isaacs. As the New York State effort gets underway
with two congregations we are looking toward the organization of a New York Synod of ELCM.
Since the ELCA Metro NY Synod Bishop has indicated that they do not
recognize ELCM we have jokingly thought that perhaps we aught to establish a new ELCM
Mission in or near the Church Center , Riverside Drive, New York headquarters of the ELCA
Metro NY Synod.
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Recognition or non recognition or ELCM by ELCA.
Does a Lutheran Church Body need to be officially recognized by the
ELCA or one of its Synods in order to truly be another Lutheran Church Body?
This has been the suggestion from remarks by one of the ELCA Synod
Bishops. But it is of course a false suggestion.
A duly constituted Church body which has been formed by incorporated
congregations that emphasizes the Canonical Scripture as the only source and norm of faith
and practice, which emphasizes the enter Christian Book of Concord of 1580 as a correct
exegesis and exposition of the Scripture from the Quia stance can be argued to be more
truly Lutheran than a church body which views Scripture as only "containing the word
of God" and which holds to only the Augsburg Confession and Small catechism of the
Christian Book of Concord as primary Confessions and this in the Quatenus understanding.
Being "another Lutheran Church body" (as referenced in the
ELCA constitutions) truly is not dependent upon recognition from the ELCA. The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognizes the "Lutheran Church-ness" of ELCM, and
so do other Lutherans even though ELCM is not in Fellowship with them. AAL and LB desire
to sell Policies to our ELCM members and so clearly they recognize that we exist. Then too
on a growing number of Internet directories ELCM is listed just below ELCA separated in
some cases from ELCA by only the ELCIC.
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Military Chaplaincy enabling for ELCM has been enabled
We now have received the paper work needed to submit to the US
Military to obtain the status of being a Chaplaincy enabling organization. All that is now
required is to have a pastor who is a chaplain or who desires to be a Military chaplain
become a member of the ELCM Clergy Roster. At that time we would submit the required paper
work and documentation along with the name of the Pastor (s) and thus become a Chaplaincy
enabling Lutheran Church body.
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Evangelical Lutheran Free Conference scheduled
Finally we publicize the news about an upcoming Lutheran Free
Conference sponsored by Evangelical Lutherans ( not by Evangelical Catholics). ELCA Word
Alone Pastor Brad Jenson of Duluth, MN has been a leader in this effort as has been our
ELCA friend from Virginia, Attny William Drew. The following note by Pastor Jenson shares
the specifics of what has been developing in this area. It looks very good to us and
likely some of us from ELCM will attempt to attend and to become part of the effort.
Perhaps you read about Gerhard Forde and Jim Nestingen calling
for a "Confessional Congress." It will happen this summer. It's called the first
annual "Free Conference for the Lutheran Confessions." It will meet at Augsburg
College in Minneapolis from August 7-9(and, possibility, into the 10th). The purpose of
the Free Conference is a continuing education event focusedd on the Lutheran Confessions
which will take up major issues of confessional interpretation affecting the life and
mission of Lutheranism.
There will be presentations from some of the best Lutheran scholars
around. In one sense, it will be like the "Call to Faithfulness" conferences in
the early 1990's only instead of being organized by the Evangelical Catholics, it will be
organized by Evangelical Lutherans.
My personal hope for this annual conference is that it becomes a
"can't miss" event. In other words, if you're serious about the Lutheran
Confessions, you just won't be able to miss attending the Free Conference. It will be the
first thing every year that you plug into your schedule for continuing education.
I'm not sure that this is exactly what Forde and Nestingen had in
mind. But if they want Chicago to organize a "Confessional Congress," I'm
convinced they would be disappointed in the results. So, it's better to go with a Free
Conference.
This week, articles of incorporation were filed with the State of
Minnesota. The Board of Directors (more modestly known as the planning committee) are as
follows:
Dr. Charles P. Aurand
Term Expires: September 1, 2003
Concordia Seminary
801 DeMun Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63105
Mr. William K. Drew
Term Expires: September 1, 2003
5653 Mt. Burnside Way
Burke, VA 22015
Dr. Mark Grandquist
Term Expires: September 1, 2002
St. Olaf College
Northfield, MN 55057
Rev. David Grindberg
Term Expires: September 1, 2001
St. Mark Lutheran Church
1614 W. 5th St.
Storm Lake, IA 50588
Rev. Peter V. Gundersen
Term Expires: September 1, 2002
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
1000 Quincy St.
Hancock, MI 49930
Ms. Barbara A. Hinton
Term Expires: September 1, 2001
1545 Buckingham Drive
La Jolla, CA 92037
Dr. Gordon S. Huffman, Jr.
Term Expires: September 1, 2002
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
2199 E. Main Street
Columbus, OH 43209
Rev. Bradley C. Jenson, Vice-Chair
Term Expires: September 1, 2003
Kenwood Lutheran Church
324 West Cleveland
Duluth, MN 55811-2373
Dr. James M. Kittelson, Chair
Term Expires: September 1, 2003
Luther Seminary
2481 Como Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Dr. David A. Lumpp
Term Expires: September 1, 2003
Concordia University
275 North Syndicate St.
St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
Rev. Julie A. Smith
Term Expires: September 1, 2002
Augustana, Bergen, and Swede Home Lutheran Churches
P.O. Box 38
Clarkfield, MN 56223
Dr. Mark Tranvik
Term Expires: September 1, 2001
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Ms. Barbara S. Weigel
Term Expires: September 1, 2003
73 Bay Drive
Annapolis, Maryland 21403
Alpha
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Post Mahtomedi/ Pre Easter April 7, 2000 Issue
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IN this our Pre Easter 2000 Issue
- ELCM is open to Temporary Memberships by those wanting time to
decide their direction.
- Preparations: Seminarian Ordinations and for Official Calls to establish Mission
congregations.
- President's Inter - Lutheran contacts on journey to and from and during Mahtomedi
Convention.
- Editorial Amendment to Article I of ELCM Bylaws
-Word Alone Network Constituting Convention assessments.
- Book Review by Pastor Isaacs
- St. Paul Wurtemburg, Rhinebeck NY: First Vote results and reactions & Other
congregations leaving ELCA
- ELCM Home schooler page Linked to ELCM Web site.
- Check out our Collage page
- Coverage in "The Vine and Branches"
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Reminder of Our Free Chat room Software
The folks at Digital Messenger (http:www.digitalmessenger.com) have
provided free of charge a very fine chat room and message opportunity. You can access the
free software for downloading at the top of the side bar menu links when you enter the
ELCM web site. This software is very easy to install. If you wish to be involved in chat
room dialogues on ELCM monitored topics and discussions be sure you list revroy@elcm.org
in the list of contact screen names. We post here again the link for the free download
from the Digital Messenger folk:
http://www.digitalmessenger.com/download/index.html
This free software also gives the ability for those who are listed
to be in contact via Instant messages (again at no cost) across the various Internet
servers. It truly allows for distances and costs of travel in order to be in contact and
discussion to disappear as barriers for organization, fellowship, and association.
Another location for chat room meetings with the capability of live
voice interaction is at our Centrist Lutheran Yahoo Chat room . You need to register to
join Yahoo but it is free and then as you access the Centrist Lutheran Club area you will
notice a "Chat room" area for Centrist Lutheran Club members. The installation
of the Java Script and Java applets are free. As our ELCM Ministerium and Congregational
rosters continue to grow we will be setting appointed times for meetings of ELCM members
in these chat room areas. Other Times will be set for discussions with those having
interest in ELCM.
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Welcome to Robert Bowrosen as the newest member of the ELCM
Ministerium!
Robert is a native of Queens, New York and has been approved for
licensing as a Lay Catechist/ Lay Minister of ELCM in association with the Mission
Congregation effort of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Queens New York.
Robert is employed by the New York City Transit Authority and will
be engaging in Studies through our ELCM Track #2 Seminary program leading to eventual
ordination into the Office of Word and Sacrament Ministry. Robert joins ELCM out of a
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod background.
In accord with our track #2 Seminary program, Pastor Mark D. Isaacs
has agreed to serve as the mentoring pastor for Robert during his studies and his Tent
making Mission Planting work.
An AFLC congregation, Word of God Lutheran Church or Brooklyn Park,
MN that has received Mission support from two of our ELCM congregations has graciously
sent the new Grace Lutheran Mission congregation a goodly supply of SBH Hymnal for their
worship and devotional use.
Robert Bowrosen, coming from the LC-MS background was not familiar
with the Red SBH book and upon first hearing of it mentioned only as SBH engaged in
speculation with his wife as to what SBH meant. The shared that they hoped and prayed that
it did not stand for "Southern Baptist Hymnal".
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Track two of the ELCM Seminary program receives its 2nd applicant.
A Lay leader and member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Duncansville has expressed intent to apply for approval to enter Studies leading to
ordination into the Office of Word and Sacrament in ELCM. This will now give us two
Students enrolled in our track two ELCM Seminary Studies.
This is a most encouraging development as ELCM gets underway in its
first year of life. As the numbers of our ELCM Seminarians increase this will not only be
an encouragement to congregations worried over where to find future pastors but will also
allow us to hold regular Seminars on the Internet and in centralized locations for our
ELCM candidates for ministry.
Our Second Seminarian would be mentored by Pastor Roy Steward and
would enable the expansion of additional missions to take place in Central Pennsylvania.
To Recap from the last issue of ELCM Online: We have prepared for
two tracks leading to ordination in ELCM. The first would follow the traditional four
years of college and four years at a Seminary with each student being mentored throughout
the traditional degree process by one or more ELCM pastors. Certainly we would hope that
in the future we would be enabled to create our own ELCM Seminary but until the means
would be provided we believe we can work train up pastors via other existing Seminaries in
conjunction with regular mentoring.
Our second track provides for 2nd career persons to prepare for
ordination while actively engaged in serving congregations or in the establishment of
Mission efforts. This track follows the model put in place by H. M. Muhlenberg and his
associates where Lay Catechists were trained by and mentored in preparation for
ordination. The applicant need not have a College degree to begin this track but needs to
demonstrate some basic awareness of our Lutheran Confessional understandings. Our recent
applicant is of this orientation. He comes to us from a Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
background.
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Assessment and Observations of Word Alone Constituting Convention
by Pastor Roy A. Steward, ELCM President
I left Pennsylvania by Auto very early on Thursday March 23 and made
a several visits in Michigan and Wisconsin on my journey to the Mahtomedi, MN Word Alone
Constituting Convention. I arrived in Stillwater, MN on Saturday March 25 after journeying
for a little over 1,200 miles. Pastor Robert Whitehead arrived in Stillwater on Friday
March 24 and then joined me for our various events while we were in Minnesota.
On Sunday March 26 Pr. Whitehead and I attended morning worship at
Advent Lutheran Church in Roseville, MN and then I preached the Sermon at the 1:00 P.M.
Worship service at Word of God Lutheran Church (An AFLC Mission congregation that ELCM
congregations have given Mission support ), Minneapolis.
The Word Alone Convention began on Sunday Evening March 26 and
continued until Wednesday Noon on March 29. Pr. Whitehead and I attended all of the
sessions together until Wednesday. Pastor Whitehead's Plane left for Pennsylvania on
Wednesday morning and I attended the final sessions of the WA Convention.
Following the conclusion of the WA Convention I then began the Auto
trip east to Pa and made several visits in Wisconsin and in Ohio on the return journey
arriving back in Pennsylvania in the afternoon on Friday March 31.
It was a long trip but many wonderful connections were made. Folks I
had known only as Screen names from across the US are now names with faces and persons
with whom I have had conversation and discussion. I look forward to attending similar
future gatherings as an ELCM observer, Lord Willing.
It truly was a very fine Word Alone Convention. In many ways it is
most encouraging to be witness to not only the birth of the Word Alone Network that will
be taking a stand within the ELCA but also to see so many Lutheran Christians (Laity and
Clergy) becoming concerned with re-capturing the emphasis of God's Word Alone and
re-discovering the Lutheran Confessions.
The attendance of Laity from all around the U.S.A. was very
impressive and encouraging to this observer.
The Word Alone effort is truly becoming a movement and movements
that include such a large number of the laity are not easily stamped out. The more
stamping that takes place the more the sparks begin to spread. This will truly be a
dilemma for those who have had their way with a broad and hidden agenda.
I include here some of what I viewed as strengths of the Word Alone
Convention and Weaknesses. Others may have understood these differently but from this
outsider looking in on the discussions, of those we in ELCM regard as very close
relatives, the following are what I think I observed, heard, and read.
Observed Convention Strengths
1. Large attendance from congregations and Pastors from 25 states
(1500 seating capacity Sanctuary was filled to capacity at the opening and held up at over
1000 throughout the conference).
2. Impressive and encouraging number of Lay leaders in attendance.
3. Very fine speakers, presenters, and preachers.
4. Tremendous facilities for the holding of the conference with the
encouragement that some very large congregations are indeed supportive of the effort.
5. Lots of opportunity for mingling and individual discussion during
breaks and in Small group discussions.
6. The warmth and friendliness of the attendees (Delegates and
Observers).
7. Good audio & visual (Power point) management of the
Convention.
8. Good Chairing of the Convention by Interim Board leaders.
9. A solid and very realistic assessment based on the CGR was set
forth by Madson and Grindal.
10. A clear and blunt setting forth of the need for action to match
talk presented by Schmutzler
11. A very good mix of former ALC (laity & clergy) and former
LCA (laity & clergy). It was clear that this was not just an upper mid western
movement.
Items and Areas this observer viewed as Convention Weaknesses (with
some commentary).
1. Very little time provided for open discussion among the delegates
from the Floor of the Convention as to the direction of WAN.
2. The November 1999 WA gathering approved a two prong focus.
However at the Constituting Convention only one of the previously approved two prongs was
open for discussion, debate, and action. Speakers and Interim Board Leaders seemed to have
had an agenda of presenting only the Prong focus for staying in to work for change from
within. Subsequent news releases were all focused on the desire of WAN to stay within the
ELCA . All of this may have simply happened by default without a planned agenda but it
struck me as very curious.
3. Related to #2 above, the Convention appeared to be managed in a
very ELCAesque (ALCesque/LCAesque) manner with Robert's Rules of Order being the
dominating and control tool. This observer is a veteran attendee of LCA and ELCA
Conventions/ Church wide assemblies and to the eyes of such veterans these factors stand
out.
4. Evening times that could have been utilized for open floor
discussions were used only for worship. There really ought to have been time for more free
for all discussion.
5. There was perhaps too much worship time. We certainly cannot hear
the Word of Good too much and daily worship and prayer is very important for a Convention
intended to be centered upon the Word Alone but for those having traveled long distances
the worship times were a bit lengthy and perhaps could have been shortened so that more
time could have been focused upon discussion and debate of basic issues - 2 Prong focus,
definition of Word Alone, Benevolence redirection, etc.
6. The scheduling of blunt no nonsense speaker Schmutzler at the
very tail end of the Convention when many had already left for home ( a tactic often used
by ELCA Convention-meisters and predecessors LCA, ALC Convention managers whereby
controversial items are postponed until the tail end of the convention or assembly when it
is easier for those controlling the Convention or Assembly to carry the issue as desired).
7. The Speakers who were very good and who emphasized very solid
points for the most part in concluding remarks all (with the exception of
Schmutzler/Madson/Grindal) mitigated their main points and emphasized a common theme (by
default or by design) of the 1 prong focus of staying in to reform from within.
8. There was an apparent refusal to truly wrestle with the
definition of "Word Alone".
Someone had adopted or approved a very strange definition of Word
Alone for the WAN brochure entitled "The 3 R's of the Word Alone Network".
That definition is at some odds with the teachings of the Christian Book of Concord.
The pamphlet was approved by the Interim WA Steering Committee but
was never reviewed or approved by the Convention. It struck me as very strange that
something as basic and foundational as defining "Word Alone" was not dealt with
by the Convention.
The phrase "Gospel" [ clearly separated from Canonical
Scripture was emphasized], however, was used repeatedly during the Convention and that
usage was certainly not in line with the Confessional Lutheran understanding that the
Gospel is normed by Scripture.
It would have been helpful to have heard a discussion of the
rejection of the word "inerrant" as it regards "canon, creeds, confessions
and doctrines" in contrast to the use in the preface to the Christian Book of Concord
of the repeated word "Immutable".
All such discussions from the floor of the Convention were avoided
while an Interim Board in effect set forth and approved the doctrinal understandings of
WAN.
The inconsistency in this matter is curious as again and again the
call was issued for folks at the Convention to introduce studies of the Christian Book
of Concord (which is intended as exegesis of Canonical Scripture) regarding central
Christian Doctrine which of course points always to Christ Alone normed by Canonical
Scripture .
Now I recognized that this was likely a way of avoiding internal
dissent within the WAN movement. It is clear that many or most were aware that there are a
number of fault lines within the WAN. But if the main unity factor is simply opposition to
the imposition of the Historic Episcopate then one wonders why the use of "Word
Alone"?
9. Related to #8 it is my observation that there seemed to be an
apparent unwillingness to discuss the underlying reasons for the crisis in the ELCA beyond
the present issue of "Historic Episcopacy".
The impression was conveyed that the main unity factor in WAN is
opposition to the Historic Episcopate imposition rather than unity in the "Word
Alone" (Sola Scriptura or Sola verba Dei).
Here as with point 8 the unwillingness to discuss other factors of
the crisis in ELCA may have been avoided so as not to fracture an initially frail
movement.
10. It seemed to me that Convention Worship was overly heavy on the
"Contemporary" style especially given the context expressed by so many of
"reclaiming the Lutheran Witness". Luther's Liturgical style and innovation was
very conservative by contrast when it came to Worship changes.
This may be just a matter of taste, as friends have suggested, but
on the other hand the medium truly often becomes the message especially if
one is only talking about "Gospel" that is not seen as "normed by canonical
Scripture.
11. The bulk of the Attendees at the WAN convention were from the
upper Mid West. This was very apparent during a roll call of attendees from the various
States.
Subsequently, when the elections were held for membership on the
official WAN Board those nominated from other parts of the United States that were outside
the upper mid West by and large were not elected.
With a few exceptions all the elected to the newly elected WAN board
members were from the upper mid west. Other areas of dense Lutheran population such as
Pennsylvania, for example, had no persons elected to the Board even though there were
nominations of Pennsylvanians nominated for Board membership.
12. Related to # 11 of this section, those WAN members located in
the upper mid west have a strong built in support system for one another and this will
allow them the luxury/ and security to stay in the ELCA while openly working from within
their respective Synods without encountering the degree of risk that has been visited upon
and will afflict those pastors and congregations in Synods predominantly pro-CCM.
It appeared that this factor was the basis or common ground for the
WAN Convention focus upon only one of the two prongs that had been set forth in the
earlier November 99 WA Roseville, MN gathering.
I don't want to be overly harsh on this point, however, as it simply
could have occurred by default and seems to have been somewhat of a surprise to the
Convention planners according to WAN friends.
13. Reality appears to be , to this observer at least, that even
given wholehearted support & success of the upper mid west Synods to oppose the CCM
that even this [ a successful upper mid west block effort] would not be sufficient to
overturn the CCM implementation at an ELCA CWA.
14. In my opinion and observation the very best that can
realistically be hoped for (and I don't believe it is reality to thing that the very best
will occur given the history of things) would be compromise of the compromise proposal
known as the Common Ground Resolution (CGR).
Thus after an exhausting and futile political process those tired of
the effort will then be faced with the same basic choice they have NOW
namely, the choosing of total submission or of leaving.
15. Those submitting (which will be the bulk of the ELCA unless I am
proven wrong in my assessment) will then have set the precedent or helped set the
precedent for the subsequent issues arising from the real core problem that will be
introduced by a hierarchically and bureaucratically strengthened ELCA officialdom. Once
the praxis of submission is set then other very controversial issues will have much easier
sailing as they are proposed and then adopted by the ELCA system. Lord Grant that I am
wrong in this observation and assessment! Amen.
Some Thinking out loud (or in Print)
1. As I have reflected on the Convention I believe I see the dilemma
that is faced in trying to implement a two prong approach as adopted by Word Alone folk at
Roseville in November 1999.
How does a group of ELCA folk begin a new Lutheran Configuration
that can receive congregations and pastor, ordain Seminarians to special mission call or
to Call in congregations, etc. and still stay an active and legitimate force within the
ELCA?
A possible ELCM help
We in ELCM, who are tiny and with no power pretensions have offered
ELCM as essentially the initial temporary 2nd prong - a safe haven for pastors,
congregations and Seminarians.
At this point we have organized only our national expression of ELCM
which is currently functioning as the non geographical synod. As pastors and congregations
from a state would desire temporarily to join ELCM they could organize as WA Synod in
waiting with their own leaders and then if and when something forms from the Word Alone
Network effort they could transfer as a Synodical group into the WAN generated church
body.
We in ELCM would have that understanding up front.
Congregations and Pastors are beginning to leave the ELCA and to go
through colloquy to join other Lutheran Bodies. These are very good groupings but as
individual congregations and pastors move in that direction they will essentially be lost
with perhaps a few exceptions to any future WAN derived grouping whereas we would stress
the temporary safe haven understanding in ELCM and would hope to be in ongoing very close
relationship with whatever grouping would form from WAN .
Thus Ordinations of Seminarians could take place under the temporary
safe haven of ELCM. Our constitution calls for a Dean to be the officer normally doing the
ordaining but the General Conference would certainly approve having others of WAN serve as
the officiants with or without an ELCM Dean present. ELCM ordained seminarians could then
accept official calls to ELCA congregations with a precedent set already by (of all
congregations) the former ELCA congregations in San Francisco, CA. Or ELCM ordained
pastors could be extended a special call by the ELCM General Conference Executive Board to
serve as Mission developers. As Benevolences are received these could be earmarked for
Salary support to these various newly ordained Pastors.
Certainly all of this would need to be worked out in detail but
truly we would offer ELCM for this service fully understanding that it would be a
temporary safe haven arrangement for all choosing that category. At any rate it is
something we propose. If the ECUSA can suspend its ordinals we in ELCM can suspend some of
our Constitutional provisions for those desiring the temporary safe have category.
Down the Road.
1.Looking down the road I believe most of us in ELCM would not be
locked in to remaining ELCM if a WAN derived grouping would organize around basic
principles with which we in ELCM could agree. A WAN derived group being larger we of
little ELCM would, I think, be willing to look at a merger or absorption again if the
organizational principles would be in harmony with our basic principles.
If there were areas were we had ongoing differences then we would
still be very interested in some sort of Joint Synodical arrangement with a fairly like
minded WAN derived grouping.
2. In my reflecting I see the wisdom [ by WAN] of trying to work
within the ELCA as long as possible until either kicked out or so totally blocked that the
only choice is total submission of leaving.
Truly there are a very large number of lay folk who really have not
heard of what has been going on much less the implications of the various ELCA actions,
such as :
Formula of Agreement;
JDDJ;
and CCM e
tc.
An incredible number of pastors for a variety of reasons have kept
their congregations very much in the dark on these issues.
Thus the desire to educate, educate, educate the laity of the
congregations is a wise approach in my view.
3. I understand, I think, the fault lines within WAN and the desire
not to bring those fault lines to earth quake status at this time but eventually if it
becomes impossible to stay within ELCA those fault lines will need to be dealt with
beginning with defining what exactly is truly understood by "Word Alone".
As more people study the Christian Book of Concord that will
indeed, in my view, begin to bring many of these issues to the surface at future WAN
gatherings.
It is my suspicion that some who are at the point of leaving the
ELCA NOW are pushed in that direction by definitions that have not received
WAN Convention approval such as several printed in the pamphlet "The 3 R's of
the Word Alone Network".
Well for now the above are some of my observations and thoughts
growing out of the Mahtomedi, MN WAN convention.
Pastor Whitehead and I were very warmly welcomed and received and we
are deeply appreciative. Many now know that a little band now exists primarily in the
North East known as ELCM and we are very grateful for the friendships and acquaintances
that we have been enabled to make.
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St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Wurtemburg, Rhinebeck New
York
has voted to seek to preserve its 240+ year heritage by leaving the
the ELCA. St. Paul Congregation held a special congregational meeting on February 27, 2000
and the members of the congregation casting valid ballots voted unanimously to leave the
ELCA and to join the ELCM.
The second vote of the congregation is scheduled for June.
Pastor Mark D. Isaacs had resigned from the ELCA Clergy roster in
early January upon being received to the Ministerium roster of ELCM. The St. Paul
congregation held a duly called congregational meeting on January 23, 2000 and unanimously
voted to extend and official Call to Pastor Isaacs to be their Pastor even though they
continued to be officially an ELCA congregation and he was a rostered ELCM pastor.
Since January the St. Paul congregation has shown rapid growth to
the point where the congregation anticipates needing the 3 balcony areas of the church
Nave for worship seating.
While the Mahtomedi WAN Convention was in session the congregation
received letters from the Bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod and from the ELCA
Hudson Conference Pastors of the same Synod. The Conference pastors requested in their
letter that St. Paul Congregation reconsider its action. They were joined as signatories
by several former pastors of St. Paul's.
The Letter from the Synod Bishop requested a meeting in May with the
St. Paul Council and advised that he would be accompanied by a Synod Council
representative.
St. Paul has ceased all remittance of Benevolence to the Metro New
York Synod as well as all participation in Conference or Synodical events.
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Congregations voting to leave ELCA since January 2000
St. Paul's of Wurtemburg, Rhinebeck, New York is being joined
by other congregations (former LCA and former ALC) who have voted to leave the ELCA. The
vote by St. Paul was 100% unanimous based on all valid ballots cast.
St. Paul's Lutheran, Napoleon, Ohio voted to leave the ELCA
in order to join with the AALC on February 13. This was their first vote and was
overwhelmingly in favor of leaving. The Pastor like the Pastor of St. Paul Rhinebeck,
preceded the vote by joining the AALC and being called as an AALC pastor to the
congregation.
Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Northwood, North Dakota took their
first vote to leave the ELCA on February 20. The vote was 86% in favor of leaving.
St. Luke Lutheran, Traer, Iowa took their first vote to leave
the ELCA on February 13. 76% of the congregation voted in favor of leaving. The
congregation took the vote even though they were without a pastor.
Grace Lutheran, Morris, Illinois took their first vote to
leave the ELCA since the beginning of the year.
St. John Lutheran, Ambridge PA has taken their first vote to
leave the ELCA since the beginning of the year.
United Lutheran Church, Manteca, California took its first
vote to leave the ELCA and has joined the AALC. United Lutheran Church, Laurel,
Nebraska had scheduled its first vote to leave the ELCA on April 9.
With the basic decision made at the Mahtomedi Word Alone
Constituting Convention to try to stay within the ELCA to work for reform, education and
change through resolutions in Synods and the election of Bishops who will not support the
Historic Episcopacy it appears that there will be a good number of other pastors and
congregations who will be moving toward acting to leave ELCA before the CCM requirements
go into effect upon the approval of CCM by the Convention of the ECUSA (Episcopalian
Church - USA).
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ELCM Bylaws Editorial Amendment
Pastor Mark Tiede of WAN was reading over our ELCM organizational
principles and came across an error that needed correction. Under Principle #10 item f. He
discovered a misprint. The current item reads:
"Elected and Called "Deans" throughout our ELCM
structures shall be given the task of pastoring other pastors and the General Conferences
within the respective prescribed jurisdictions but it shall be a basic principle that they
shall do so without the "Organizational Power" that has again and again in
church history proved so frequently destructive and hurtful to the Mission of the Church.
[The only authority of a Dean is to be the Word of God and its exposition in the
Lutheran Confessions. ] This shall also be the only authority basis of General
Conferences and Officers of ELCM, its member Synods, and member Districts."
We have bracketed the segment above that needed correcting. Many
thanks to Pastor Tiede for pointing this area out to us! The bracketed area above should
now read (with the consensus approval of the pastors and congregations of ELCM):
"The Deans only authority and power comes from God's Word
and the exposition of the Word as set forth in the Lutheran Confessional writings."
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BOOK REVIEW: Frank C, Senn, Christian Liturgy:
Catholic and Evangelical, (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997), xx & 747 pages.
by Rev. Mark D. Isaacs, Pastor ELCM St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
of Wurtemburg 371 Wurtemburg Road Rhinebeck, New York
I love history of all types. Some people’s brains are wired for
mathematics, others for art or music, others for science, and others for dance or physical
movement.
My gray matter is hard wired for all concepts historical. For some
reason I tend to understand things if I can see them bracketed and presented within the
context of historical narrative, and within the framework of great historical movements
such as the Medieval Scholasticism; the Reformation, Protestant Scholasticism [Orthodoxy];
Pietism, the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Modernism, and Post modernism.
As a result, I am here to praise Frank Senn’s masterful
historical tome. Senn’s book, Christian Liturgy, is sweeping, detailed, and huge. It
costs $55.00; it must weight about seven pounds; and it requires a major change in
lifestyle to read, reflect, and digest. I have been reading --and studying-- my copy since
December 1998.
Senn’s book is a detailed historical survey of Christian
Liturgy from the Early Church [the Patristic Period] down to the present day. Senn’s
book is a virtual encyclopedia of Christian worship that you will want to use and reuse
for the remainder of your career. Senn’s book gives the reader a deep sense of
historical perspective that provides a high level of immunity from the most recent worship
fads and trends.
Senn’s book stands in line with Luther’s Reed’s great
classic [and now dated] The Lutheran Liturgy first published in 1947. Reed revised and
updated his book in 1960 to help educate Lutheran worshipers about the red Service Book
and Hymnal of 1958.
When the Lutheran Book of Worship was published in 1978 Senn and
Philip H. Pfatteicher agreed to produce a history and a commentary on the LBW.
Pfatteicher’s useful –and somewhat dry-- Commentary on the LBW was published in
1990. Pfatteicher’s book is an excellent resource which provides guidelines for
specific services. In contrast Pfatteicher’s Commentary Senn’s book is a
sweeping historical overview that can and should be read cover to cover. Thus, the two
books compliment one another.
If you are a Lutheran clergy person, or a worship planner or a lay
leader, Senn’s book is a must read. My wish is that Augsburg Fortress could get the
price down so that every Lutheran Church could buy a copy --and use it. Along with the
LBW, WOV, and Pfatteicher’s works Senn’s book could spark and sustain a real
liturgical renaissance. Knowing why we do what we do --liturgy as the work of the people--
deepens and enhances our worship busting us out of the LBW Setting One Sunday grind that
many of our churches have been caught in since 1978.
Senn’s book is as much about the future as it is about the
past. After reading Senn’s book I feel confident that we Lutherans have the
Lectionary, the tradition, the full rich liturgy, the depth and the breath to fill our
people with the full substance of Word and Sacrament. Most American Protestants --mislead
by shallow emotionalism, bogged down with Decisional Theology, and caught up with the
latest worship fads and trends [e.g., Praise music, the Church Growth Movement, etc.]-- in
the long run leave you longing and searching for more substance. Senn’s magnum opus
certainly provides the substance that potentially could lead the Church back to the joy
and the wealth of the traditional Christian liturgy!
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Presidents Inter Lutheran contacts on the trip West, North,
Southeast and East (to and from Mahtomedi)
A series of highlights in my the trip to attend the WAN Convention
was the opportunity to stop and visit with folk from a variety of Lutheran traditions.
There were meetings along the way with:
- ELCA Lay leaders unable to attend the Mahtomedi gathering,
- With and Independent Lutheran Pastor and his growing and expanding
Non denominational congregation (which is composed of 90% former Lutherans);
- With the folk of a tiny AALC congregation that has its own church but
no pastor and who have been meeting for years in the church listening to a weekly
refreshed tape recorded service and Sermon from a large Lutheran congregation in Iowa
(they sing along with the liturgy and the hymns and then listen to the lessons, Sermon,
etc. and insert their own prayers;
- with lay members and a leader of the LMS-USA;
- with dear friends of the AOELS;
- with many of the officers of the AALC who were in attendance at the
Mahtomedi gathering;
- with the little Mission congregation of the AFLC in Minneapolis that
ELCM congregations have given mission support, together with their pastor and several
leaders in the AFLC;
- and finally with a member of the CLC who likes the Centrist Lutheran
Stance.
ELCA of course stands for Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America;
AALC or TAALC stands for the American Association of Lutheran Churches or sometimes
called the Association of American Lutheran Churches;
AFLC stands for the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (or is it Churches);
AOELS stands for the Augustana Orthodox & Evangelical Lutheran Synod formed by
those who won the freedom for pastors to withdraw Pension funds from the ELCA.
LMS-USA stands for the Lutheran Ministerium & Synod - USA;
CLC stands for the Church of the Lutheran Confessions;
And of course ELCM stands for the Evangelical Lutheran Conference & Ministerium
of North America.
With the groups that were from the former ALC or LCA and the present
ELCA background President Steward raised the possibility of establishing a consortium of
synods for exploring areas of joint effort, exchange of information about call
opportunities, etc. This would not be an attempt to merge the various groups and would
allow each to maintain the special concerns that led to the respective formations and
polities. All of the above mentioned groupings with the exception of CLC have come out of
the ALC/LCA or ELCA and represent a spectrum of Moderate to Middle Conservative. It would
be hoped that a group emerging from the WAN movement might also be included in such a
consortium.
From the initial feelers there seemed to be interest in a
Consortium.
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Additions to our Web site links
-We think we have figured out how to do a map link where in the
different areas of the map or in this case a "Reformation Collage" are link-able
to other parts of our site. Check it out and let us know if it works for you. It is listed
at the top of the side bar link scroll area as ELCM Collage.
-Members of Faith Lutheran who have been avid home schoolers and
have been doing a terrific job at educating their children now have set up a web site. In
fact the kiddos of these home schoolers know the Small Catechism inside and out and are on
their way to a better than average understanding of the entire BOC. The introduction of
the Catechism by Luther was certainly intended to be used in home schooling. At any rate
our ELCM home schoolers now have a Web page and that is linked to the ELCM site from the
side bar scroll-able link area. Check it out ! Pastor Steward recently served as a Judge
for a Home School History and Science Project fair held in the Altoona PA. Area. He
reports on what he viewed as truly impressive work by the large number of home school
students taking part in the event.
-We have added the Web site of "Abiding Word Ministries"
to our links of other Lutherans that we recommend. Abiding Word Ministries is produced by
former LCA and now AFLC pastor David Barnhart. They produce a publication entitled "The
Vine and Branches" and have been a great deal of help over the years to many
seeking to know about the various trends in Lutheranism and of the options available for
pastors and congregations. Our link to Abiding Word is also located in our scroll-able
side bar link area.
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Post Easter/ Pre Ascension-Pentecost Issue of ELCM Online: May 19, 2000
+++++++++++++++
ELCM President Journeys since March
Pastor Steward has made two journeys since March 23. The first was
an overland round trip by Auto to Mahtomedi, MN via Michigan to the UP of Michigan and
then across Northern WI to Minnesota. The return trip was via Southern WI to Illinois,
Indiana, and Ohio. On this trip President Steward visited with ELCA Lay members, ELCA
Pastors, the Pastor and family of an Independent Congregation, TAALC members, LMS-USA
members, AOELS leaders, AFLC pastors and members, and a member of the CLC. These contacts
with Laity and Clergy together with acquaintances made during the Mahtomedi WAN Convention
are viewed as very helpful.
On May 7 President Steward began a second trip of visitation. This
was not nearly as lengthy but nonetheless covered a good portion of Eastern and East
Central Upstate New York. On this journey Pr. Steward met with ELCA lay members at various
locations and with the leaders and pastor of one of our New York ELCM congregations. As
with the first journey so also this 2nd journey is viewed as very helpful.
+++++++++++++++
Pastor Robert Whitehead Impressions of the WAN Convention held at
Mahtomedi on March 26, 2000
Over all, I was impressed with the Word Alone conference,
particularly with the large attendance of laity.
Other factors:
.1. they did not establish a support system, financial, spiritual,
etc., for pastors who would be punished by presiding bishops.
2. Neglected to form a committee to study the church constitution to finds means and
measures for the defeating CCM from within.
3. [Failed to] Establish guide lines for congregations and, or, pastors who elect to
remove themselves from the [ELCA] church roll.
4. [Did not establish the ] Procedure for "recalling" a bishop and REMOVE him
from office
5. [Appeared to be ] Using seminarians as test material in "ordination" without
some support for them to find and serve congregations outside of the ELCA.
6. [Failed to] Establish a profile of congregations willing and able to withdraw from the
national church [ELCA].
[Pastor Whitehead attended the WAN Convention with President Steward
as an ELCM observer. He also attended and participated with Pr. Steward in visits to AOELS
leaders and with AFLC pastors and members.]
+++++++++++
Reopened Reflections and Conversations about Women on the ELCM
Clergy Roster
Shortly after the organization of ELCM the pastors and congregations
of ELCM determined to make ELCM available as a "Temporary Safe Haven" for any
and all Lutheran congregations and pastors who might need such. Our view was that an
emergency situation could well develop and we determined to provide a safe haven for all
ELCA Lutherans who might need such a place. As part of our concern to provide a Temporary
Safe Haven it was decided that ELCM needed to make provision for "Word Alone focused
Women pastors" and congregations served by Word Alone focused women pastors. It was
also our desire to provide a Temporary safe haven for Word Alone focused ELCA Seminarians.
We took our ELCM action to allow for Women Pastors and Women Seminarians who would be Word
Alone in focus shortly after our September 1999 Constituting and organization as ELCM.
Since taking our action to provide a Temporary safe haven for ELCA
Word Alone focused pastors and congregations it has become more and more clear that ELCM
is unlikely to receive any application for membership by Word Alone focused women pastors.
Therefore since no applications have been received for Temporary Safe Haven membership in
ELCM by Word Alone focused Women pastors and/ or by congregations served by Word Alone
focused Women pastors and since The Seminary Graduation time for current Seniors has
arrived with no applications to ELCM for Safe Haven by Word Alone Focused Women
Seminarians we in ELCM have begun a re-examination of our position on the matter. We have
seen notification of the ELCA WordAlone Network (WAN) Board of Directors action to begin
their own "Association of Congregations and Pastors" as the 2nd prong of their
efforts. This would in effect become a new Denomination for ELCA congregations and pastors
feeling they no longer can remain in the ELCA. This new WAN Association will thus provide
the safe haven that we in ELCM attempted to make available. We are still hopeful that down
the road we will be able to have a fraternal connection with the congregations and pastors
of the WAN Association but it is our desire to be faithful to Scripture and so with a
substitute for our emergency Temporary Safe Haven now being put in place by WAN we will
again open reflection on the matter of "Women in Ministry".
Some, indeed likely most, in ELCM favor returning to an earlier
proposal known as "Grand mothering". This proposal would allow for the reception
of women who have already been ordained into the ELCA but who are Word Alone in
orientation. These would be Women pastors specifically making application to join ELCM
with a congregation. Under this proposal any "Word Alone in focus woman pastor
serving congregations" could be received onto the ELCM clergy roster and continue to
serve that respective congregation. No ordination of Women by ELCM would, however, occur.
In the place of the praxis of ordaining Women there would instead be an ELCM program for
the training and "consecration" of women to serve as "Deaconesses". It
is posited that provision for Deaconesses as an office for women desiring to do public
ministry would be much more in line with the clear Biblical witness.
This matter is only under discussion at this point in time, however.
In order to change the previous ELCM positions allowing for Word Alone focused Women
pastors and for the ordination of Word Alone focused Women Seminarians a consensus support
from all ELCM pastors and congregations will be needed. We are not intending to rush to a
decision but will take a close look at the writings of men like Dr. C. H. Little (
Seminary Professor of ULCA days) et. al. The matter at any rate has now been reopened for
consideration in light of the action reported from the ELCA WAN Board of Directors.
Comments and thoughts pro or con from all on our mailing list are very welcome.
++++++++++++++++
Thoughts on the Women in Ministry Subject
(from a friend of ELCM who comes from the same Eastern US Colonial
New York Ministerium tradition as the President of ELCM. He writes his comments to our
President)
"I'm sure that you have heard most if not all of the
Lutheran theological arguments against women pastors, so I won't repeat them now. Some of
the arguments coming out of the Lutheran Church are not, in my opinion, Lutheran
arguments, but are instead Roman Catholic arguments or Greek Orthodox arguments. The
Lutheran arguments are summarized most basically in one of the chapters of C. H. Little's
DISPUTED DOCTRINES.
I'll make two small points and then move on to another subject. I
think that when you apply the Galatians passage to the question of women in the public
ministry in the way that you do, you are not using that passage correctly. The sedes
doctrinae for the doctrine of the public ministry should be those passages that address
the subject of the public ministry. Passages that address other topics should not be used
to obscure the clear intent of the passages that address the topic under discussion. So,
while Galatians might very well have something to say, in a general sense, to the
discussion of the public ministry, it is not on an equal footing with those passages that
address the subject explicitly. That's the principle Luther was following in his exegesis
of the applicable passages. He wasn't trying to "balance" what Saint Paul said
in Galatians or anywhere else with what St. Paul said in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy. He
was simply trying to take it all into account, in its proper context and with careful
attention to what St. Paul was saying in each place.
Second, have you given thought to promoting the restoration of the
office of Deaconess, with a full and vigorous use of that office, as an alternative to
ordaining women as pastors? There may very well be a legitimate yearning on the part of
many women to serve the church in some form of "public ministry" which would not
necessarily be THE public ministry. You can say, "Sure, we ordain women. We ordain
them to the office of Deaconess." Much of what you say about the historical evidence
for women serving in various capacities would be addressed by a restoration of the office
of Deaconess."
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Southern Baptist Convention adopts an approach very similar to the
Grand mothering proposal before ELCM.
Southern Baptists Take Pastor Stand by RICHARD N. OSTLING AP
Religion Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Southern Baptists, America's largest
Protestant denomination, have drawn up a proposed statement of belief declaring that women
should no longer be ordained as pastors. The statement, released Thursday, will come up
for ratification at the denomination's annual meeting June 13-14 in Orlando, Fla. The text
reads: ''While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of
pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.'' A footnote cites biblical support in
1 Timothy 2:9-14 (''I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to
keep silent'').
The estimated 1,600 current Southern Baptist clergy women would be
allowed to continue to serve, but the text opposes future ordinations.
Passage of the text is likely, said the Rev. Molly Marshall, who was
a faculty member of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,KYy., until her
1994 dismissal. She said the action ''signals a long, repressive period.''
For the Baptists, the document is not a ''creed'' but a statement of
generally shared principles. Though local congregations and individuals are not bound by
its tenets, the text can affect hiring decisions.
Besides the male-pastors-only language, the Baptist convention
platform includes changes on such issues as abortion, homosexuality and mercy killing, in
line with the strong conservative shift in the denomination, which has 15.8 million
members in nearly 41,000 congregations.
In 1998, the Southern Baptists declared that a wife should ''submit
herself graciously to the serva
