Lutheran CORE Director Says ELCA is Not Honoring Bound Conscience

Where Does “Mutual Respect” Stand?

The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted a statement on human sexuality which acknowledged four different opinions the ELCA held “with conviction and integrity,” ranging from “same-gender sexual behavior is sinful” to “same-gender couples should… seek the highest legal accountability available for their relationships.” It called on members “as we live with disagreement… to accompany one another in study, prayer, discernment, pastoral care, and mutual respect.” So how is this going? Three recent announcements cast into question just how seriously the ELCA is officially holding to the balance among these four convictions.

First, Bishop Mark Hanson was announced as the keynote speaker for “Reconciling Works 2012,” the gathering of Lutherans Concerned/ North America, to be held in Washington, D.C., in July.  The website of Lutherans Concerned notes, “This is the first time a presiding bishop of any denomination has delivered the keynote address at our assembly.” Lutherans Concerned is the leading group advocating within the ELCA for full acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender relationships.

We asked Bp. Hanson whether his presence there upsets the balance among these four opinions. He responded:  “As presiding bishop I am called to provide servant leadership for this whole church. I believe that it’s an important time in the life of the ELCA to reach out broadly to members of this church by taking opportunities to proclaim the gospel and share stories of how we are engaged together in God’s mission.

“My address will focus on the state of the ELCA and will not advocate for further divisions. It is my hope that my commitment to being available to diverse groups to speak about the gospel that unites us will not be used by anyone to further divide us.”

Another person being put forward in several official ELCA events is perhaps less worried about dividing people. Pr. Nadia Bolz-Weber has cultivated a public image which can charitably be called “edgy” in her attempts to reach out to young adults.Her website and email address are “sarcasticlutheran,” and her mission congregation “House for All Sinners and Saints” proudly abbreviates itself as HFASS. The mission describes itself on its website as “a group of folks figuring out how to be a liturgical, Christo-centric, social justice oriented, queer inclusive, incarnational, contemplative, irreverent, ancient–future church with a progressive but deeply rooted theological imagination.” She published online a “liturgical naming rite for a transgendered church member” and has boasted on the Internet about her use of profanity.  Pr. Bolz-Weber has been designated as the opening night speaker for the ELCA National Youth Gathering in July in New Orleans, where she will travel shortly after serving as Bible study leader for the same Lutherans Concerned conference at which

Bp. Hanson will be keynoter. She will also be the keynote speaker at a worship conference in San Antonio in June sponsored by the Southwest Texas Synod.

(Side note: A smaller but much more doctrinally-reliable youth event, “Impact,” sponsored by

Youth Encounter, will be held July 5-8 in Nashville, Tennessee. Pastors, youth leaders, and parents might want to consider this event, advertised below, instead.)

Finally, we note an action by the Minneapolis Area Synod at its assembly this year, in which it overwhelmingly adopted a resolution to “oppose the Minnesota state constitutional amendment on marriage proposed for the 2012 general ballot that would prevent one group of committed couples and their families from pursuing ordinary legislative or legal means to gain the support and protections afforded to all other(s).”

In other words, the synod is clearly advocating marriage or its equivalent for same-sex couples.

One must ask, “Why did the synod take this action?” (We understand there will be a similar resolution presented to at least one other Minnesota synod).  Their resolution will be unlikely to change one vote regarding the amendment, but such a declaration further marginalizes the large number of ELCA members who hold to one of the other three opinions that the sexuality statement says are held “with conviction and integrity.”

Lutheran CORE calls on the ELCA leadership on every level to be aware of how these actions seem to move the denomination in a direction quite different from the conclusions of the 2009 social statement. Especially as so many congregations and members have felt conscience-bound to withdraw from the ELCA, it behooves ELCA’s leadership to work very hard to build bridges with the traditional members who remain, instead of burning those bridges by inflammatory actions.  Pr. Shipman, director of Lutheran CORE, can be reached at sshipman@lutherancore.org.

Matthew Kennedy Sees Parallels in Evolution of Mainline Denominations

March 19, 2012

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/?%2Fsf%2Fpage%2F28532#.T2sgYI3DesM.facebook

How Revisionist Activists Subvert the Church

One of the things we’re intentionally setting out to do now that we’ve broadened Stand Firm’s scope of coverage is to shine a spotlight on those troubled areas where revisionist activists are beginning to eat away at the Body of Christ.

Theological liberalism is parasitic. It survives and thrives by attaching itself to a healthy orthodox Christian denomination or communion, and subverting its weakest members—namely, those who are insufficiently grounded in scripture, those nursing past hurts and resentments, those who want desperately to be seen as “smart”, and those looking to make a name for themselves by playing the maverick.

The pattern usually plays out as follows:

1. A small group of revisionist activists embrace an unbiblical but culturally popular idea.

2. Orthodox leaders respond by reasserting the Faith.

3. Those styling themselves “moderate” (who often don’t quite grasp the theological issues at stake) emphasize the need for unity and patience. Three of the most common moderate templates are: an appeal to the “Gamaliel model” from Acts 5; an attempt to re-cast the conflict as adiaphora—a dispute over “non-essential” issues; and/or an argument from Jesus’ command not to “judge”.

4. The theological liberals congratulate and fawn over “moderates” for their “open-mindedness”, feeding the moderates’ need to be liked/admired.

5. At some point the secular media (perhaps alerted by the revisionist activists) is attracted to the conflict and various outlets report on the “growing controversy”. The media portrays orthodox leaders as stodgy reactionaries. Theological liberals are showcased as cutting edge enlightened thinkers, courageously challenging the powers-that-be on behalf of the downtrodden. “Moderates” who hold traditional views but counsel “dialog” are featured as the “voices of reason” in the troubled denomination.

6. What had been a tiny group of relatively harmless revisionists now begins to gain steam as members of the denomination uninformed and unprepared for the controversy are exposed to revisionist arguments for the first time via the media alongside gentle calls for moderation, patience and open-mindedness.

7. Well-meaning, conflict-averse orthodox pastors hope to shield their flock by “focusing on mission” and avoiding the topic.

8. Having leveraged the moderates and the press, the tiny group of revisionist activists now has the political clout to influence the direction of the entire denomination. They “put facts on the ground” and initiate legislative action.

9. Many otherwise orthodox leaders do not speak forcefully against these measures because those who have already done so have been successfully characterized as “angry zealots”, “fundementalists” and “rabble rousers.”

At this point it is generally only a matter of time before “facts on the ground” become legislative facts and the denomination begins to crumble. Traditional-minded members quietly leave for other churches. Others hole up in “safe” ghettos hoping to ride out the storm. The vast majority seek desperately to continue on as if nothing has happened. But as traditionalists leave the revisionists gain power and a vicious cycle picks up steam.

This process, or one like it, is working itself out in the United Church of Christ (UCC), the Episcopal Church (TEC), the Lutheran Church (ECLA), the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), and the United Methodist Church (UMC). It looks to be gaining steam in the Reformed Church in America (RCA). And revisionists like Rob Bell and Brian McLaren are busy exporting theological liberalism from the mainlines into the wider evangelical realm.

Key to building an effective response, I believe, is recognizing that the fight in the Episcopal Church is the very same fight playing out in the PCUSA, the UMC, the ECLA, the RCA, the wider evangelical world and, increasingly, within Catholicism. The revisionist activists use different tools determined by differing denominational structures but the process is almost always the same as is the result—a once healthy body gutted and corrupt.

Identifying disputes over human sexuality, the truthfulness of scripture, the uniqueness of Christ, the existence of hell and judgment, the relationship between “social justice” and evangelism as part of a larger single conflict extending across many different denominational fronts, will make it easier to recognize the process revisionist activists use and identify effective means of undermining it.

How do orthodox Christians in a given denomination stop and roll back the cycle? I wish I had definitive answers to that question. I do have some initial thoughts below. None of them are new, unique, or especially creative but I do want to get the conversation going.

1. Produce biblically literate orthodox, theologically discerning congregations that understand the need both for prayer and political involvement; congregations that are prepared to endure both scorn and loss for the sake of biblical fidelity.

2. Promote and support politically astute strategic minded orthodox leaders prepared to use the media, the church courts, and legislative action to defend and implement orthodoxy.

3. Organize politically minded orthodox groups committed to working locally, regionally, and nationally to thwart theological liberalism and create denominational structures and laws that prevent further revisionist incursions.

4. Create online orthodox communication hubs—places where the words and deeds of revisionist activists can be publicly exposed and disparate orthodox leaders and people can network and strategize.

5. Follow the Apostolic model and contend zealously for the faith. Publicly identify, name, and critique and criticize ideas and leaders who challenge orthodoxy. Do it early and often from the pulpit, in print, and online.

6. Make a practice of ignoring calls for “patience”, “moderation” and do not allow those who make such calls to set the tone of the debate.

7. Habitually eschew the spiritual sounding advice from well-meaning allies who suggest political involvement and action is unworthy of the Christian.

So what would you add to this list?

Assistant to the Bishop of SW WA Synod's Wife's Congregation Joins NALC

Pastor Lori Hoyum

Assistant to the Bishop Ronald Hoyum

Port Madison Lutheran Church, Bainbridge Island, WA passed second vote to leave the ELCA (81%) and join the NALC. (Reported by Lori Hoyum, pastor of the congregation. Her husband is assistant to ELCA bishop in Tacoma.)

(Editor's note:  Pastor Lori Hoyum grew up in Fertile, MN and participated in the youth program of the Lutheran Evangelistic Movement.)

As general information and as a prayer request, we include part of her communication:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I wanted to write and let you know that Port Madison Lutheran Church of Bainbridge Island, WA held a second vote today to leave the ELCA and join the NALC. The vote passed with 81% agreeing to this change in affliliation.

Even though our congregation has not experienced severe conflict over this matter, we have lost a number of members. We are asking you to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for our leadership as we seek to unify the congregation and plan for the future.

By the way, PMLC will celebrate 100 years since the dedication of our historic sanctuary on May 20, 2012. The first baby baptized at the baptismal font turns 100 years old in a couple weeks and hopes to attend the celebration in May. We are very excited, and hopeful that the next 100 years at PMLC will be our best years of serving Christ!

Finally, some of you know that our 18 year old daughter, Gretchen, has been very sick since August. In late January she was admitted to the hospital with acute renal failure, weight loss (45 pounds -- she was literally starving to death!), an abscess and a massive abdominal infection that had not been properly diagnosed. On Feb. 10th, after her kidney issues were resolved, she had surgery to remove the mass of infection, plus a over a foot of diseased intestine. The diagnosis is severe Crohn's Disease. She was miraculously discharged on Feb. 17th, and will begin Remicade infusions next month. Already she is feeling much better!

To be honest, the last 6 months have really tested my faith. Nothing has mattered to me as much as Gretchen's restoration to health -- not even this change in affiliation. But because we saw God's hand on Gretchen's life in such a miraculous way, I have been able to rest in His goodness and strength as we anticipated this second vote.

God's peace!

Lori Hoyum, Pastor
Port Madison Lutheran Church
Bainbridge Island, WA

No Dual Roster for First Lutheran--White Bear Lake

FYI: FIRST LUTHERAN in White Bear Lake, MN, St. Paul Area Synod
is no longer a member of the ELCA as of about 3 weeks ago. They
were unhappy with the decisions made at the ChurchWideAssembly in
2009 so their lead pastor spoke to Bishop Rogness about dual membership
with LCMC. Bishop Rogness told him that it was against the constitution
to have dual membership but he would not disallow their joining, so First
joined LCMC.

Recently, the dual membership has become a problem and the ELCA has
NOW decided to enforce their ruling on the problem. First Lutheran is no
longer affiliated with the ELCA.

FYI: Grace Lutheran in Eau Claire continues to need our prayer support as
they continue their battle with the court system to retain their property.
Please uphold them in your prayers and if you feel the need to financially
support them, they would be most grateful as their expenses are huge.

Blessings,
Gerry Peterson
WA/CORE Coordinator, MAS
952 473 8124

Archbishop of Canterbury: Who are the Contenders?

16 March 2012 Last updated at 09:13 ET

 

As the Archbishop of Canterbury announces his intention to stand down in December, who are the favourites to replace him?

Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, 62

Dr Sentamu studied law in Kampala and is an advocate of the Ugandan High Court

Dr Sentamu, the sixth of 13 brothers and sisters, came to the UK in 1974 from Uganda, where he was a critic of dictator Idi Amin.

Known for dramatic interventions, he cut up his dog collar on television in 1997 in protest against Robert Mugabe's rule. He vowed not to wear it until the Zimbabwe president had been removed from power.

Dr Sentamu also pitched a tent and camped in York Minster for a week, foregoing food, in solidarity with those who had suffered in the Middle East conflict.

A former barrister and judge, he was ordained in 1979, serving in churches across south London before being consecrated the Bishop of Stepney in 1996.

As Bishop of Stepney, Dr Sentamu acted as an adviser to the Macpherson Inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. He has also campaigned against guns, knives, drugs and gangs.

More recently, he attracted controversy and racist emails when he spoke out against gay marriage.

Dr Sentamu is married with two grown-up children and two grown-up foster children.

Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, 64

Dr Chartres delivered the sermon at last year's Royal Wedding

Dr Chartres recently hit the headlines after protesters Occupy London set up camp outside St Paul's Cathedral.

He took over the running of the site after top clerics, including Canon Dr Giles Fraser, resigned after the City of London Corporation and the cathedral took action to evict the protesters.

A friend of Prince Charles, he delivered the sermon at the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last year.

Dr Chartres, who became the 132nd Bishop of London in 1995, attended Hertford Grammar School before studying history at Trinity College, Cambridge.

He taught Ancient History at the International School in Seville, before ordination in 1973.

Appointed Chaplain to Robert Runcie, then Bishop of St Albans, in 1975, he was consecrated Bishop of Stepney in 1992. He is married, with four children.

Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev Nick Baines, 54

Rt Rev Nick Baines is a keen blogger

The Liverpool-born bishop attended one of the city's comprehensive schools before studying modern languages at Bradford University.

He worked as a translator in Germany and for GCHQ as a Russian linguist before being ordained in 1987.

Consecrated as the Bishop of Croydon in 2003, he took up post as the Bishop of Bradford in 2011.

A keen blogger, under the title "Musings of a restless bishop," the bishop is a user of Twitter and regularly appears on BBC Radio 2's "Pause for thought" slot.

Bishop Baines, who is married with three adult children, he says he is "passionate about Christian engagement in the big wide world" meaning the church should "get stuck in" whenever it can.

Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, 65

The Bishop recently accompanied the Queen on the first event of her Diamond Jubilee tour

The leader of Church of England bishops in the House of Lords, Bishop Stevens recently criticised the government over the proposed benefits cap.

He said he feared it would discriminate against children from poorer families and wants to see Child Benefit removed from the calculation.

Raised in a rural Essex vicarage, he spent a year in Zambia with Voluntary Service Overseas after leaving Chigwell School.

After studying Classics and English at Selwyn College, Cambridge, he worked for the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the Foreign Office.

Married with two adult children, he was ordained as Curate in East Ham, East London, in 1976 and consecrated as Bishop of Leicester in 1999.

His says his particular interests include interfaith relations, as Leicester has the largest Hindu population in the UK, plus substantial Muslim, Sikh and other faith communities.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17400568

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to stand down

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams has announced he is to stand down in December.

He will take the position of Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge from January next year, his website says.

Dr. Williams, 61, was appointed the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002.

In a statement on his website, the head of the 85 million-strong Anglican Communion said serving as archbishop had been "an immense privilege".

He said stepping down had not been an easy decision and that during the time he had left there was "much to do".

Dr Williams thanked those in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion who had "brought vision, hope and excitement" during his ministry.

In a more in-depth interview, Dr Williams reflected on growing divisions within the Anglican Church, and said it seemed some conflicts would not go away "however long you struggle with them".

Rowan Williams did not want the job of archbishop of Canterbury, and has sometimes seemed not to enjoy it.

The noise and stress of Anglicans' bitter dispute about homosexuality - and to a lesser extent about women bishops - has largely wasted the opportunities offered by Dr. Williams' charisma, personality and intellect.

Instead they've been used to prevent the Communion from fracturing and minimise the rift in his own Church.

It is not surprising that Dr. Williams wants to shed the burden of his job to concentrate on academic work, but the timing does seem strange.

Dr. Williams managed to prevent a split in the Communion at the 2008 Lambeth Conference of Anglican Churches, and even to create a nascent two-tier structure, to preserve unity albeit in looser form.

But the agreement cementing this new order has yet to be accepted by the Church of England.

It is only a few months before the Church of England's ruling synod will conduct a critical vote on women bishops.

Dr. Williams is becoming a lame- duck archbishop, just when the success of each achievement seems to rely so heavily his personal prestige.

Under his leadership, the Church of England has come close to splitting over the ordination of gay clergy and women bishops. Dr. Williams has consistently supported the ordination of women, and previously showed no objection to the appointment of an openly-gay bishop in Reading.

Dr. Williams also reflected on his controversial remarks in 2008 that adoption of certain aspects of Sharia law in the UK seemed "unavoidable," saying he stood by his argument.

He will continue to carry out all the duties and responsibilities of the Archbishop of Canterbury, both for the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, until the end of the year, Lambeth Palace said.

The Queen, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, has been informed, it added.

The Crown Nominations Commission will consider "in due course" the selection of a successor.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said he had received the news "with great sadness" and described Dr Williams as a "remarkable and gifted leader".

Prime Minister David Cameron said Dr Williams had "guided the Church through times of challenge and change" and praised the work he had carried out around the world, including in Africa. Last October Dr Williams delivered a sermon in Zimbabwe as part of an African tour to try to heal divisions within the Anglican Church.

'Avoid schism'

His resignation marks the end of more than 20 years as a bishop and archbishop. His predecessor, Lord Carey, held the post for 11-and-a-half years and retired at the age of 66 in 2002.

Dr Williams has also been pivotal to national events, including the Royal Wedding at which he married the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

He has been the most able Archbishop of Canterbury for centuries and perhaps his true worth will only really be appreciated by the Church once he's gone”

His departure comes after tensions within the Anglican Communion over the issue of homosexuality and women bishops.

Dr Williams said: "The worst aspects of the job, I think, have been the sense that there are some conflicts that won't go away, however long you struggle with them, and that not everybody in the Anglican Communion or even in the Church of England is eager to avoid schism or separation.

"But I certainly regard it as a real priority to try and keep people in relationship with each other."

Responding to the announcement of his retirement, Church of England General Synod member Alison Ruoff said: "He's a kind, wise, warm, godly man, but had he actually stood up and been counted as a leader, I think we would be in a very different place in the Church of England from where we are now, and that is thoroughly regrettable."

'Dim-witted prejudice'

In an interview about his potential successor, Dr. Williams said: "I think that it is a job of immense demands and I would hope that my successor has the constitution of an ox and the skin of a rhinoceros, really.

"But he will, I think, have to look with positive, hopeful eyes on a Church which, for all its problems, is still for so many people, a place to which they resort in times of need and crisis, a place to which they look for inspiration."

Dr. Williams described serving as archbishop as an "enormous privilege".

"The privilege is that you are taken into the heart of the local church's life for a few days, you see what really matters to people in parishes, schools and prisons and hospices and so forth," he said.

"I think there must be very few jobs where you have quite that degree of open doors for you."

He said he did not believe that Christianity was losing the battle against secularisation in Britain.

"I think there is a great deal of interest still in the Christian faith," he said.

Dr. Williams becomes the 35th Master of Magdalene College from January next year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17399403

Priest Who Denied Lesbian Communion at Mother's Funeral Placed on Leave

A priest who denied communion to a gay woman at her mother's funeral mass has been put on leave by the Washington D.C. area archdiocese, but the archdiocese said the suspension is not related to the communion controversy.

In a statement, the archdiocese said Father Marcel Guarnizo was placed on administrative leave because of "credible allegation that Father Guarnizo had engaged in intimidating behavior toward parish staff and others."

The statement did not elaborate on what that behavior might have been.

Guarnizo, a suburban Maryland priest, had been criticized by Barbara Johnson and her family for his behavior at the funeral of Johnson's mother. Johnson, who is a lesbian, said Guarnizo denied her communion at her mother's funeral mass.

"He covered the bowl with the Eucharist with his hand and looked at me, and said I cannot give you communion because you live with a woman and that is a sin in the eyes of the church," Johnson told ABC News affiliate WLJA in Washington.

"She was clearly distraught,"  her older brother Larry Johnson told ABC News.

Both Barbara and Larry Johnson wrote letters to the Archdiocese of Washington, saying they believe that Guarnizo's actions then and during the rest of the funeral were unacceptable. The Johnsons say the priest walked out of the service while Barbara Johnson was delivering her eulogy.

Family member also say the priest failed to come to the grave site, and the burial was attended by a substitute priest found by the funeral director.

As for the decision to suspend Guarnizo, Larry Johnson told ABC News: "I think the actions of the diocese speak for themselves. Whatever the ultimate reasons were, as far as I'm concerned, this individual, for the time being, will not be in parish life.

"I think this is a pretty significant action that they took," he said. "I don't think they would have taken it lightly."

Johnson and his sister had wanted Guarnizo removed from dealings with parishioners.

"This isn't about gay rights and it isn't about Catholic bashing, it is simply about the conduct of a reprehensible priest," he said.

The Johnson family issued a statement today saying that they "pray for the Archdiocese of Washington, Father Guarnizo, and all Catholics during this time of upheaval."

"While we understand this letter does not pertain to the events that occurred at our mother's funeral, we are hopeful that Bishop Knestout's decision will ensure that no others will have to undergo the traumatic experiences brought upon our family," the statement said. "We urge all Catholics to put aside political points of view, and pray that our Church will remain in Christ's love.

But the head of DignityUSA, a group that focuses on gay and lesbian rights and the Catholic Church, said the incident as part of a wider problem.

"The reality is in some ways it is very emblematic of the hierarchy's approach to gay people, transgender people," Marianne Duddy-Burke said. "There are little messages of rejection that happen all the time."

Guarnizo did not return an email asking for a comment about the communion incident.

The Archdiocese of Washington issued a statement that indicated Guarnizo should have taken up the matter of whether Johnson could receive communion in private.

"When questions arise about whether or not an individual should present themselves for communion it is not the policy of the Archdiocese to Washington to publicly reprimand the person,"  the statement said.

Duddy-Burke said the archdiocese's response misses the point.

"I would hope that it provides a wake-up call to church leaders to make them see where the extremes of their policy are leading," she said. "My concern is they will just see this as an isolated incident and fail to see the context."

Larry and Barbara Johnson both received letters from the archdiocese apologizing "that what should have been a celebration of your mother's life … was overshadowed by a lack of pastoral sensitivity."

Guarnizo has been in the Washington area for a year, after serving as a priest in Russia. The Archdiocese of Washington has launched an inquiry into his alleged intimidating behavior toward staff and others. In its statement, the archdiocese said, Guarnizo will remain on leave "until all matters can be appropriately resolved with the hope that he might return to the priestly ministry.

Anglicans Must Turn Over Property and Assets to the Episcopal Diocese

Court Enters Final Order in Favor of Diocese

3/1/2012


Today, the Fairfax Circuit Court entered a final order in favor of the Diocese of Virginia in its effort to recover Episcopal property for the mission of the Episcopal Church. The Court also denied the CANA congregations' recent motion for partial reconsideration of the court's original ruling of January 10.

"We hope that this will mark the end of this lengthy litigation," said the Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia. "By closing this chapter, both the Diocese and the CANA congregations have the freedom to focus our energies on the mission and ministries of our respective congregations, and even what we might be able to do together for people and a world in need of the Gospel's work," Johnston added. "For the Diocese, we even now are undertaking an initiative known as Dayspring, an integrated effort to discern and implement a comprehensive vision for our congregations and properties affected by this litigation. We look forward to sharing more news as Dayspring continues to take shape."

Under the final order, the CANA congregations must convey to the Diocese of Virginia all real and personal property by April 30, 2012. The real property includes seven church buildings and a significant number of other parcels.  The personal property includes both tangible items, such as chalices, prayer books and crosses, and intangibles, including the funds on hand. The ruling allows the CANA congregations to retain some restricted funds over which they have no discretion and that do not benefit the local congregation, the Diocese or the Episcopal Church. The court has set March 30 as the deadline for the parties to determine the disposition of those funds. Where the parties do not agree, the court will make a judicial determination.

"Today marks a major milestone in this effort," said Henry D.W. Burt, secretary of the Diocese. "We respect fully the CANA congregations' right to pursue an appeal, and we are in discussions with them as they face significant issues of discernment and transition in their path forward."

Read the report here:  http://www.thediocese.net/Customer-Content/WWW/CMS/files/final_order.pdf 

Article source:  http://www.thediocese.net/news/newsView.asp?NewsId=40968220

Archdiocese Speaks Out on Mandatory Contraception Coverage

January 26, 2012

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people—the Catholic population—and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision.

With every good wish, I remain
Cordially yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Premier Lutheran Theologian to Lecture at Luther Seminary

Mark Granquist / February 25, 2012

In addition to stops in Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Chicago, the Twin Cities will be included on the spring American lecture tour of the distinguished German Lutheran theologian Dr. Oswald Bayer. Bayer will be delivering a lecture at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, on Friday, March 23, at 1 p.m., in Room 100, Northwestern Hall.


In this lecture, which is free and open to the public, Bayer will be addressing the subject of the nature of the word of God. For Bayer, this word, “which remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8), enters the public realm, apocalyptically, and yet it remains a mystery. The mystery is that of the divine name, which unlike all other mysteries, especially the agonizing mystery of evil and the hardness of heart, is not a riddle that once solved is put aside. It is the mystery of the eternally rich, living, and therefore inexhaustible God.

German theologian Oswald Bayer; photo provided by Lutheran Quarterly

Bayer champions a Lutheran theology that is creative and eager to engage philosophical thought.

Bayer is professor emeritus of systematic theology at the University of Tübingen in Germany. He is particularly engaged in research on Martin Luther and Johann Georg Hamann, and serves as the academic leader of the Luther Academy Sondershausen-Ratzeburg. He is also an ordained pastor of the Lutheran Church of Württemberg and was the editor of Neue Zeitschrift für Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie from 1986-2006.

Bayer champions a Lutheran theology that is creative and eager to engage philosophical thought. His life’s work has been the exploration of the often polemical engagement of Reformation theology with modern thought. (See, for example, “Theology the Lutheran Way” and “Freedom in Response: Lutheran Ethics: Sources and Controversies,” both published in 2007). He is particularly concerned to ascertain the place and task of Lutheran theology in our time.

This intention is paradigmatically apparent in his book, Johann Georg Hamann as a Radical Enlightener, recently published by Eerdmans. The volume is also available in a Japanese edition. His Martin Luther’s Theology: A Contemporary Interpretation has been published in German, English, Portuguese, and Chinese.

Professor Vitor Westhelle, of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, lauds Professor Bayer as “[o]ne of the most significant and original Lutheran voices of this generation, in both historical and systematic theology.”

Bayer will also be the keynote speaker on Friday night, March 23, for a private banquet at Augsburg College in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the periodical Lutheran Quarterly. The board and supporters of this journal, along with several Lutheran seminaries, are sponsoring Bayer’s lecture tour in the United States. Lutheran Quarterly is the premier English-language journal of Lutheran theology and history, and has recently published its 100th issue, a remarkable feat for an entirely self-supported academic journal.

For information about the public lecture at Luther Seminary, call 651/641-3456 or visit www.luthersem.edu.

http://metrolutheran.org/2012/02/premier-lutheran-theologian-to-lecture-at-luther-seminary/

Grace--Eau Claire has a New Strategy

UPDATE ON FEBRUARY 26, 2012, MEETING

 

As you should all be aware, on Sunday, Febuary 26, Grace Lutheran Church met in a special congregational meeting to determine a response to Synod Council demands resulting from an adjudication process brought against Grace by Amazing Grace ELCA, Inc. The motion that was unanimously passed (236-0) at that meeting was a successful first vote to disaffiliate from the ELCA. A second vote to disaffiliate is scheduled for May 30, 2012.

This week a letter was sent to Bishop Pederson and the Synod Council informing them of the meeting and the vote. Today an article was published in the Eau Claire Leader Telegram concerning that vote. I take this opportunity to challenge the claim that the vote was somehow "improper".

 

Each church has its own constitution which is its primary governance. The ELCA Constitution 9.52 states: "The governing documents of congregations recognized at the establishment of this church shall continue to govern such congregations." The ELCA also has a Model Constitution for Congregations that is updated periodically by the churchwide organization. When a church (such as Grace) updates its own constitution, it is required to include updates made to the Model Constitution. But a church is not required to update their constitution when and if any changes are made to that Model. That means that while the ELCA changed the rules regarding disaffiliation in the Model, we are not mandated to change our constitution to match the Model. We have rules regarding disaffiliation. Our rules do not require a 30-day notification to the bishop of our intent to vote to leave the ELCA. Our Constitution is our primary governance; and our vote is, therefore, valid and binding. Our Constitution requires notification to the Bishop of the results of the first vote, and a consultation with the Bishop within the 90-days before our second vote. The notice has been sent, and a consultation will be negotiated.

 

Within the court order, the congregation was instructed to review the recommendations of the Synod Council and discern a response. The "spirit" of the court order was met with a resounding vote to move away from the ELCA.

If anyone has any questions, please contact me.

Thank you.

 

Anne

Divisiveness Persists at Grace Lutheran of Eau Claire

Posted: Friday, March 2, 2012 11:00 pm

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram staff                                

Grace Lutheran Church again is attempting to break away from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to its senior pastor. 

During a special meeting Sunday, the congregation voted 236-0, with "a handful of abstentions," to rescind the large Eau Claire congregation's ELCA affiliation, the Rev. Rolf Nestingen said via email.

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However, Drew Ryberg, an Eau Claire attorney who is representing nearly 70 estranged members of Grace Lutheran Church in a civil lawsuit, questions the validity of the vote.

"What they did was improper, completely improper," said Ryberg, whose clients are asking a judge to intervene in the dispute over church affiliation.

Nestingen doesn't see it that way. The most recent vote - the historical church's second attempt at disaffiliating with the ELCA in less than a year - was prompted by "recommendations" from the Synod Council of the ELCA's Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, he said.

The Synod Council in January sent a letter to church officials detailing its final decision in an adjudication process resulting from the dispute - that Grace Lutheran Church immediately recognize its sole affiliation is with the ELCA, terminate affiliation with the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ or any church other than the ELCA, immediately restore full voting memberships to all members moved to associate member status since Jan. 1, 2011, and immediately recognize that anyone who meets the required criteria and who does not want to remain affiliated with the LCMC is a voting member.

"It occurred to us that there was a fifth option, to which the judge agreed, that we take another first vote to disaffiliate in order to clearly express the will of those members remaining at Grace," Nestingen said.

The congregation, prompted by a church member's petition to leave the ELCA because the denomination had been drifting theologically to join the more conservative Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, held its first disaffiliation vote at a special meeting on April 3.

Those voting in support of leaving the denomination outnumbered those opposed, 288-225. However, the total was more than 50 votes short of the two-thirds supermajority needed. Had that threshold been reached, a second vote would have been held a minimum of 90 days later to confirm the split.

Shortly after the first disaffiliation vote, Grace Lutheran's church council voted to dual affiliate with the LCMC, an action not permitted by the ELCA, according to its officials. However, others debate that, noting there are other dual affiliated ELCA congregations.

"Certainly congregations have the right to disaffiliate, but they must follow proper constitutional process," said Bishop Duane Pederson of the ELCA Northwest Synod of Wisconsin.

During the denomination's 2011 Churchwide Assembly in August in Orlando, Fla., the constitution for congregations was amended regarding the disaffiliation process. Before a vote can be taken at a special meeting, congregations must provide written notice to the bishop at least 30 days before and consult with the church leader.

"I did not receive that notification in advance, so any (recent) action regarding disaffiliation (Grace Lutheran Church) may have taken from the ELCA's standpoint is invalid," Pederson said this week.

In the congregation's latest attempt to leave, Nestingen said the second required disaffiliation vote is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 30, the night before Polk County Judge Molly GaleWyrick is scheduled to act on a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs in the suit - identified as Grace Lutheran Church-ELCA - are suing Grace Lutheran Church-LCMC, along with the church council. The defendants are asking that the suit be dismissed, claiming in part there aren't two Grace Lutheran entities and some of the plaintiffs have no standing to sue.

"The true heart of the dispute involves ecclesiastical matters in which civil courts should not become entangled," wrote Jay Heit, an Eau Claire attorney representing the defendants, in a brief in support of dismissal. "The superficial issue ... that this court is simply being asked to decide - whether the correct process and procedure (were) followed leading up to the Synod Council's decision - can be answered from the record with a resounding 'no.' "

Earlier this year, GaleWyrick granted an injunction - sought by the pro-ELCA plaintiffs - and ordered the church's annual meeting, scheduled for Feb. 5, be postponed until further order of the court. She also ordered the defendants to limit spending to ordinary and necessary expenses.

"They're acting contrary to the court order, in the spirit of the court order," Ryberg said of the latest disaffiliation vote.

O'Brien can be reached at 715-830-5838 or christena.obrien@ecpc.com.

http://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front_page/article_33a324e8-895a-5555-8a1f-ec04b4159167.html

NW MN Synod ELCA Treasurer Accused of Embezzeling

Members of the NW MN Synod Council (the synod’s board of directors) met on February 4^th at North Buffalo Lutheran Church, rural Moorhead. They spent considerable time learning about and discussing the situation involving embezzlement of synod funds by former synod bookkeeper Robert Larson, whose position on the synod staff was terminated on January 2, 2012. The disclosure letter regarding the embezzlement that was mailed to all congregations on January 6, 2012 is now posted on the synod website.

Bishop Wohlrabe introduced the discussion by reporting that the synod appears to have ended the 2011 fiscal year “in the black,” with mission support giving having exceeded the anticipated budgetary amount by nearly $50,000. These are “unofficial” figures at this point, though a final report will be available for the synod assembly, May 11-12, 2012.

Synod council members heard an update on the forensic audit from two staff persons, Brett Johnson and Alex Schroeder, both of Eide Bailly LLP, Fargo. Johnson gave some indication of the size and scope of the embezzlement, though specific dollar amounts cannot be released until the forensic audit is completed. Bishop Wohlrabe also updated the synod council members about the status of criminal charges against Mr. Larson and progress in making a claim for recovery of funds with the synod’s insurers. He stated that the new financial operation—involving a bookkeeper “out-sourced” with Fiebiger, Swanson, West & Co—is coming together very well.

Council members discussed several steps to help people of the synod understand the synod’s financial situation and enhance trust among synod and congregational leaders, including:

Setting aside up to 40 minutes of “committee of the whole” discussion time to discuss the embezzlement situation during synod assembly; Having the bishop and/or members of the synod pastoral staff visit all ten conferences prior to synod assembly; and Establishing a new synod Audit Committee to monitor the synod’s financial policies and procedures.

In other matters, members of the synod council

a. Appointed Dr. Paul Dovre to 3-year term on the Board of Directors of Lutheran

Social Service of Minnesota;

b. Voted to divide all worship offerings at synod assembly between the synod’s

seminarian scholarship fund and Lutheran World Relief;

c. Passed two continuing resolutions to the synod’s constitution, bylaws and continuing

resolutions pertaining to changes in the process for electing a synod bishop; and

d. Forwarded a resolution from the ELCA Malaria Campaign team to the synod’s

Committee on Reference and Counsel.

January 6, 2012

The Epiphany of Our Lord

To: Congregations and Rostered Leaders of the Northwestern Minnesota Synod

Dear Servants of Christ,

God’s grace and peace be with you as we walk in the Light of Christ.

Today it is my sad duty to inform you that, having confessed to financial misconduct last Monday, Mr. Robert Larson's employment by the NW MN Synod has been terminated by the synod executive committee effectiveJanuary 2, 2012. Larson had been the synod’s bookkeeper since September 1, 2004. 

Awareness of the possibility of embezzlement of Synod funds first came to light late last week, and synod leaders took immediate action to deal forthrightly with this situation—including making a report to the Moorhead Police Department.

In order to ascertain the scope of this financial misconduct, the synod has contracted with Eide Bailly LLP of Fargo to conduct a forensic audit of the synod's financial records during Larson’s tenure on the synod staff. Informed by this forensic audit, a claim will be filed with the synod's insurance carrier, Church Mutual. We will also pursue every avenue of legal recourse that is available to us, trusting that God works through the protective structures of the creation--including law enforcement and the courts.

Even as we deal with Mr. Larson's  misconduct and its effects on the life of our synod and its ministry partners, we are also taking specific steps to place our synod’s financial operation on a sound footing once again. These steps include:

Contracting with Fiebiger, Swanson, West & Company, PLLP of Moorhead to manage the bookkeeping functions of the synod office. Fiebiger et al is a trusted financial services firm that works with a number of small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Reviewing and, as needed, revising our financial management policies and procedures. It is vital that we learn from what has happened in order to minimize the possibility of such financial misconduct in the future.

Keeping the congregations and rostered leaders of the synod informed about what has happened and how we are responding. Please know that because of legal considerations, it may not be appropriate or possible to answer every question persons might have about Mr. Larson’s misconduct, until his case is adjudicated and until we have completed the claims process with our insurance carrier. I regret the fact that Mr. Larson’s serious breach of trust may, for some, tarnish the confidence that you have in all of us who lead our Northwestern Minnesota Synod. We pledge to you that we will do all that is within our power to seek justice for those who have been harmed by Mr. Larson’s misconduct and to rebuild trust across our synod.

This sad experience reminds us once again that “we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship p. 95). With the Apostle Paul each of us realizes that “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15) But, for St. Paul and for us, that is not the end of the story: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25).

Finally, I make two requests of you:

Please be patient with members of our synod staff as we deal with this unfortunate situation. As you might, Mr. Larson's misconduct has shaken us—personally, emotionally, even spiritually. We will do our best to continue serving you, the people of our synod.   But we ask for your patience, especially over the next month, if it takes us a little longer to fulfill some requests for information, assistance or the presence of a synod staff person in your congregation.

Please remember in prayer all those affected by this unfortunate situation: the officers of the synod, the synod council, the synod staff, our partners in ministry, and the Larson family. Please pray for God’s healing and restoring power in all of our lives.

I invite you to draw sustenance from the same wellspring of biblical wisdom that is feeding my soul in this difficult time.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words….We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”  (Romans 8:26, 28)

Your Brother in Christ,

Bishop Lawrence R. Wohlrabe

Northwestern Minnesota Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

God’s work. Our hands.

http://www.nwmnsynod.org/assets/documents/events/2012/Embezzlement%20article%20and%20letter.pdf?utm_source=February+15 2C+2012++NWMN+Synod+eNews&utm_campaign=Northern+Lights%3A+Feb+8%2C+2012&utm_medium=email