Grace Lutheran Church Austin Votes to Stay with ELCA

 

 

Published 11:44am Monday, April 23, 2012

Grace Lutheran Church will stay with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America after a vote to leave failed to garner a two-thirds majority Sunday.

The vote fell short at 64–78, according to Grace’s Council President Brad Johnson, deciding a dispute between members of the congregation over the administrative role the organization plays.
“We’re satisfied that it was fair,” said Bill Young, a member of the church’s council who supported the split. Members can try to leave the church body again after a year, he said.

“We are not done yet,” said longtime church member Lavona Johnson. “We are not totally defeated.”
Supporters of the split have not yet made plans to try again. “We haven’t talked about whether we want to do it or not,” Young added.

Young pointed out the minimum one-year delay last month as part of an in-depth description of the process he wrote for Grace Church’s newsletter. The article prepared congregation members for the scenarios, including which church body Grace Church would look to join in place of the ELCA.
The ELCA has been the presiding body for Grace Church since 1988.

“It was decided after much deliberation to have the vote,” said Grace Church Pastor Jeff Forbes on Friday.  Forbes remained neutral on the subject, saying Friday that anything he said about the issue would be misconstrued. He added that the congregation took the vote seriously. Forbes declined to comment for this story.

Part of the reason supporters of the split cited for leaving surrounds concerns that the ELCA believes itself to hold a higher authority than the Bible.  “In our nearly 500 years of the Lutheran church we have held the Bible — the word of God — to be the sole authority for what we believe,” said former church council members Gene and Jean White in a letter to members of the church. “In good conscience we cannot support or be part of a church which denies the Bible.”

Johnson, a member of the church for the last 51 years, agreed. She said there is a trend among churches across the nation of leaving the ELCA, as part of a “tremendous movement to get back to the Bible.”  “We truly believe in the preaching and teachings of Martin Luther,” she added.

In addition to the question of authority, supporters of Grace’s separation from the ELCA expressed concern about the presiding body’s allowance of non-celibate homosexual pastors, which the organization voted to allow in 2009. While Grace Church itself has not had a homosexual pastor between then and now, some of its members disapprove that the ELCA adopted that policy.

“We have long held that celibate homosexual persons can be pastors,” the Whites’ letter said. The controversy, it said, was over actively homosexual pastors. “How can a practicing homosexual hold to a higher standard and be an example to the men, women and children of the congregation?”

In order to vote at Sunday’s meeting, attendees had to be confirmed members of Grace Church and have both communed and given to the church in the previous 12 months, according to Young’s newsletter entry. Members also needed to ensure they met those requirements before the day of the vote. They did not have to be 18 years old.

http://www.austindailyherald.com/2012/04/23/grace-church-votes-to-stay-with-elca/

Uncle Roy Turns 90!

Happy 90th Birthday to Dr. Roy A. Harrisville, Jr., Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Luther Seminary of St. Paul, MN!  (Although the esteemed professor does not appear to be enjoying his birthday celebration at the moment.)  Dr. Harrisville is pictured wearing a Norwegian sweater (genser) and the the ruffled, fluted collar (prestekrage) typically worn by Norwegian Synod and United Church pastors a century ago.  The use of the prestekrage generally went out of fashion in this country in the language transition to English.

Dr. Roy and Norma Harrisville appeared to be enjoying the party as the celebration progressed.  This fun-loving countenance is more typical of Dr. Harrisville, who has been affectionally referred to as "the world's oldest teenager".  Dr. Harrisville can be heard at one moment to give an insightful commentary on the New Testament and then in the next moment giggle as he operates his remote-controlled flatulence machine. 

Dr. Harrisville's party at Bockman Hall at Luther Seminary was also attended by colleague, Dr. Walter (Skip) Sundberg, professor of Church History.  Drs. Harrisville and Sundberg recently co-authored their book, "The Bible in Modern Culture".

In Memory of Rev. Leah Cook McDowell

 March 22, 2012

Rev. Leah McDowell (right) and her mother, Sonja Cook, were 2011 Churchwide Assembly voting members from the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. Leah spoke of her own experience in respect to the proposed Social Statement on Genetics. Read Bishop Usgaard's comments and watch her statement at http://semnsynod.org/witnessing-both-diversity-and-familiarity-at-the-2011-churchwide-assembly/

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death yesterday, March 21, 2012, of the Reverend Leah Cook McDowell, 35, after a long illness. Leah was pastor of St. Paul’s UCC/ELCA in Lewiston. A memorial celebration is scheduled for Saturday, March 31 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s, Lewiston. Pastors who are attending are invited to robe and to wear blue stoles. There will be no processional, but special seating for clergy will be reserved. Enter as ready.
I want to share Leah’s obituary written by her good friend, Rev. Kimberly McSheehy, with Leah’s assistance.

PRESS RELEASE:

Rev. Leah Nicole Cook McDowell Accepts a New Call With the Heavenly Choir and Joyful Music Section

After a courageous 2 1/2 year long argument with cancer, Rev. McDowell reluctantly left her family and friends on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 to assume this new position. During a conversation in February after starting hospice she stated, “I don’t like what this puts Dave and my parents through, and I fear the pain…but I don’t fear death.”

Pastor Leah’s faith and trust in God and the resurrection promise began at an early age. She was born October 30, 1976, in Winona to Sonja and Duane Cook. She attended Rushford-Peterson Schools, spending her junior and senior years as a full-time PSEO (Post Secondary Enrollment Options) student at St. Mary’s University. Leah spent her teen-age summers with her special boys, Robby and Bradley Ebner and also worked at Luther Social Service Camp Knutson during two college summer breaks.

She graduated from St. Olaf College in 1998 with majors in political science and religion. She began utilizing this degree to serve the greater good by serving a year as a public policy advocate as a member of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, in Baltimore, Maryland. In Baltimore, she lived the command in Micah 6: 12, “…to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”

When her year in LVC concluded, Pastor Leah began her studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. At LTSP, Pastor Leah specialized in Urban Ministry and began to fully embrace her playful nature: first as the tight end on the LTSP flag football team, and culminating by becoming the first LTSP student to scale the Martin Luther statue at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, the rival seminary, and decorate it. She interned at Resurrection Church in New Haven, Connecticut with Pastor Ruth Drews, and beyond normal ministry, worked tirelessly on social justice issues, especially around the city government using eminent domain to take private property.

It was during this internship time period that she met Dave. Their first contact via telephone was two young adults talking about the terrorist attacks on September 11th, and later they met in person. Those who talked to her in the coming months will always remember the bubbling joy in her voice when she said, “I’ve got a boyfriend.”

She married David McDowell in Philadelphia on May 17, 2003, and graduated from seminary the next day. During their marriage, she and Dave shared travel adventures in England, Mexico, France, and Italy and throughout the United States. They enjoyed kayaking, biking, hiking, and snow-shoeing. They shared their beautiful country home with their precious four-legged kids: Sydney, Speck, Thor, and Gonzo.

She was ordained an ELCA Lutheran pastor on November 16, 2003, here in her home synod. She was pastor and director of the day school at Zion Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, remaining there until 2008 when she was called to St. Paul’s UCC/ELCA Church in Lewiston. She was overwhelmed by the love and support of the people of St. Paul’s during her illness.

Throughout her life music was important, whether it was singing, playing clarinet, or playing piano. Pastor Leah honed her skills and shared her musical talents by playing with the Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestra and St. Mary’s concert band. She sang with the Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir, St. Mary’s concert choir, St. Olaf Manitou Singers, Yale Camerata, Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, and Rochester Choral Arts Ensemble.

In addition to her beloved congregation and treasured friends, Leah is mourned by her husband, Dave; parents, Sonja and Duane Cook; three brothers and their spouses, nieces, a nephew, her grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  May Martin Luther’s words from “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” remind us, death does not have the last word, God does and it is good news.

Though hordes of devils fill the land all threatening to devour us, we tremble not, unmoved we stand; they cannot overpower us. If they take our house, goods, fame, child, or spouse, wrench our life away, they cannot win the day. The kingdom’s ours forever!

Thanks be to God! Enjoy your new call Pastor Leah. We will miss you.

Sincerely,

Harold Usgaard
Bishop

Condolences can be addressed to the family at 19618 Maland Dr, Peterson, MN 55962

Covenant Church Says ECO Presbyterian Name is too Close to Its Own; ECO Keeps Acronym but Changes Name

 

What’s in a Name?

It was December, December 6th to be precise, in Chicago, where those of us who had been wrestling for months to come up with a name for the baby we affectionately referred to as the “new Reformed body” returned to the table, committed to its Christening. We had come up with all kinds of names, but nothing had really stuck. To that point we had assembled collections of words, accurate in meaning but uninspired. We wanted a name that caused us to think and live differently, embrace a larger mission and higher calling with more creativity. We wanted a name that was God-inspired.

As we talked and prayed that morning, three descriptive words emerged – evangelical, covenant and order. Evangelical directs us to be witnesses to the hope of the gospel, engaged in our culture and planting missional communities. Order is a word rich in heritage but not typically used in American denominational circles these days. It conveys commitment to live life together around a common theological core. Covenant reminds us that God initiated a relationship with us that then connects us to each other. We added Presbyterian. Presbyterian certainly describes our style of government, but even more it describes our continuity with a larger, global family of faith.

As we continued our discussion, these words took hold of us. We began to see the beauty of the message they conveyed. We left Chicago in agreement on Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians, ECO for short to bring to mind our desire to create an ecosystem for flourishing congregations. We announced the name at the January conference in Orlando. John Ortberg outlined the vision for ECO in his opening presentation. Since then ECO has taken hold of the imagination of many individuals and congregations.

Shortly after the Orlando conference, we were contacted by the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), a denomination of 800 congregations based in Chicago, expressing a concern that that our new name is too close to the ECC and has the potential to cause confusion. Our subsequent conversations with the ECC have been nothing but beautiful and respectful. We have looked at our core values and tried to live into our relationships as Christian brothers and sisters with mutual respect and affirmation of ministry.

Because we value this relationship and want to honor their concerns, we have agreed to modify our name slightly. We will keep the acronym ECO, but we will change the descriptors. Beginning today, April 9, 2012, we will be known as ECO: a Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. It is a small change for us but has major significance for our partners in ministry in the ECC.
What’s in a name? A good name communicates identity. We are and want to be an accountable community of Resurrection people. ECO: a Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.

http://www.fellowship-pres.org/

New LCMC congregation in Detroit Lakes

Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church

Greetings!

We are a new mission congregation that gathers together at the Holiday Inn in Detroit Lakes each Sunday morning. Come for coffee fellowship and then stay and join us as we worship the Lord. We are dedicated to what God has spoken as it is perfectly revealed and recorded in scripture. We believe the Bible is the authoritive source and norm of our proclamation, faith and life. We believe God not only saves us by grace through faith, but He also transforms, empowers and equips us to live new lives in humble obedience to His good will.

Come and be refreshed by the Good News we celebrate in Jesus Christ! There's always room in the Inn!!!

Pastor Jim Osvold

http://www.shepherdofthelakesdl.org/index.html

Shepherd of the Lakes has the benefit of sharing a pastor with Lund Lutheran Church, a rural congregation outside of Detroit Lakes also in LCMC.  Pastor Osvold is originally a graduate of the Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls and was previously a pastor at Triumph LB Church in Moorhead.

More Embezzeled Than Previously Thought

Audits show bookkeeper transferred over $714,000 from Northwestern Minnesota ELCA Synod

Moorhead, Minn. (WDAY TV) - More details are coming out about a bookkeeper who's accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Moorhead church synod.

By: WDAY Staff Reports, WDAY

Moorhead, Minn. (WDAY TV) - More details are coming out about a bookkeeper who's accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Moorhead church synod.

Preliminary audits now show 60-year-old Robert Larson transferred more than $714-thousand dollars in unauthorized funds from the Northwestern Minnesota ELCA Synod. Larson has not been criminally charged in this case.

Back in January, police believe he took $250-thousand dollars by transferring it into a nonprofit program for which he served as a volunteer bookkeeper. A final audit report could come out this week, but the $714-thousand dollar amount isn't expected to change much.

Police think Larson used the money to pay off a car loan and a home loan and toward a $150-thousand dollar renovation of his home, and also for his living expenses.

http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/60521/

Former AFLC President to Give Commentary on Tour of Norway

Brekke Tours of Grand Forks, ND will be leading a tour titled, "Roots of Faith", July 6-17, 2012 in Norway.  Through this excursion, one will gain a deeper understanding of the evangelical influences in the Lutheran faith on this tour.  Enjoy daily commentaries from the Pastor Robert Lee, past President of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.  Pastor Lee is presently a professor of Church History at the Free Lutheran Seminary.

www.BrekkeTours.com