Lutherans from throughout South Dakota will gather Friday and Saturday (June 11-12) in Rapid City to consider formal responses from the South Dakota Synod to changes in the teaching of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) affirming same-sex sexual relationships and allowing pastors to be in those relationships.
The South Dakota Synod Assembly, the annual meeting of the synod, will meet June 11-12 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid City. This is the first gathering of the South Dakota Synod following the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly which voted in August to allow pastors to be in committed same-sex relationships.
As a result of the national assembly’s actions, the ELCA deleted sentences from its rules for pastors which stated that “the biblical understanding which this church affirms is that the normative setting for sexual intercourse is marriage” and that “practicing homosexual persons are precluded from the ordained ministry of this church.”
This reversal of ELCA teaching and policy has caused controversy throughout the ELCA and in many congregations in South Dakota. Some ELCA members support the changes in teaching and policy while others believe the changes violate the teaching of the Bible. Those divisions will be on full display this week at the South Dakota Synod Assembly.
The South Dakota Synod Assembly will consider three resolutions expressing opposition to the actions of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly last August. On the other hand, the assembly will also consider a proposal to increase the synod’s support of the national church body.
Two resolutions (Resolutions 7-8) ask the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to rescind the changes in ELCA policies allowing pastors to be in same-sex relationships. In one of the resolutions, the synod assembly would “express its conviction that the decisions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly in adopting the 4 Resolutions on Ministry Policies violate of the Confession of Faith, Chapter 2 of the ELCA Constitution” because they go against the teaching of the Bible.
Another resolution asks the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to “reconsider and remove” the document adopted in 2009 which changed ELCA teaching on sexuality. In this resolution, the synod assembly will “expresses its conviction that the decisions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly in adopting the social statement ‘Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust’ violate the Confession of Faith of the ELCA” which says that the Bible is “the authoritative source and norm of (the church’s) proclamation, faith and life.”
The South Dakota Synod Assembly will also consider a resolution (Resolution 10) which will “express its grief that the actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly on sexuality have led to division among individuals and congregations in the South Dakota Synod;” and will “express its desire to maintain whatever unity and shared ministry might be possible with individuals and congregations that choose to end their affiliation with the ELCA.”
Many individuals and congregations are evaluating their relationship with the ELCA as a result of the changes in ELCA teaching and policy. They believe that the Bible no longer functions as the sole authority for the teaching of the ELCA and see the denomination’s changes in teaching on homosexuality as an example of how far the ELCA has moved from traditional Christian teaching.
Seven South Dakota congregations have left the ELCA since the assembly. Seven additional congregations of the synod have taken first votes to leave the ELCA and are in a time of discernment prior to their second votes. (See list below.) Other South Dakota congregations are expected to take votes in coming weeks and months. Many have been waiting to see what actions the synod assembly might take.
To leave the ELCA, a congregation must approve a resolution to do so by a two-thirds majority in two separate votes at least 90 days apart. Congregations are considering two church bodies Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), a church body that was formed in 2001 by congregations that were concerned about changes in ELCA teaching) and the North American Lutheran Church (NALC), a church body that will be constituted in August).
Lutheran CORE is aiding in the formation of the NALC. The new Lutheran denomination will be constituted Aug. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio. NALC will provide a more traditional denominational organization for those leaving the ELCA. LCMC and NALC are committed to working together. Lutheran CORE will continue as “a community of confessing Lutherans” regardless of church body affiliation. It will be a way for those who remain in the ELCA but desire to relate to more traditional Lutherans to do so and for those who leave the ELCA to relate to traditional congregations that remain in the ELCA.
LCMC has received 219 new congregations since the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. NALC is not officially organized, but congregations can express their desire to be charter members when the denomination comes into existence through Lutheran CORE.
South Dakota Synod Bishop David Zellmer became one of the first ELCA bishops to discipline a congregation for expressing its opposition to the changes in ELCA standards by joining LCMC. He “censured” four congregations in western South Dakota May 5. Since then, the four congregations have each voted to leave the ELCA.
The South Dakota Synod has nearly 123,000 members in 249 congregations, making it the largest Protestant denomination in South Dakota.
In other actions, the South Dakota Synod Assembly will consider increasing its financial support of the ELCA churchwide organization. The synod’s leadership is proposing increasing the synod’s support of the ELCA churchwide organization from 43 percent of the synod’s undesignated support from congregations to 44 percent. Some South Dakota congregations have chosen to designate their giving to the synod for South Dakota use only so that their funds are not sent to the ELCA.
NOTES:
Seven South Dakota congregations have left the ELCA since the assembly:
+ East Lake Andes Lutheran Church of Armour
+ American Lutheran Church of Castlewood
+ Lands Lutheran Church of Hudson
+ Trinity Lutheran Church of Hudson
+ Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Pierpont
+ Trinity Lutheran Church of Platte
+ First American Lutheran Church of Tripp
Seven additional congregations have taken first votes to leave the ELCA and are in a time of discernment prior to their second votes:
+ Hope Lutheran Church of Delmont
+ Ladner Lutheran Church of Ladner
+ Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Long Valley
+ Deep Creek Lutheran Church of Midland
+ Trinity Lutheran Church of Midland
+ First Lutheran Church of Philip
+ Little Missouri Lutheran Church of Capitol, Montana
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
May "CORE Connection" newsletter
CORE Connection - News from Lutheran CORE - May 2010 is now online.
Here is what you can read in this month’s newsletter:
+ Discipleship to be DNA of Lutheran CORE, NALC.
Working Group recommends Discipleship Networking plan for reconfigured Lutheranism.
+ Plans for Lutheran CORE, NALC future taking shape.
+ Congregations can now join the NALC.
+ "Why I am joining the North American Lutheran Church" by Bishop Paull Spring.
+ Lutheran CORE Convocation to move to 3,000-seat church.
+ Seven Marks Society to hold constituting convention.
+ Synod assemblies react to ELCA sexuality decisions.
+ Lutheran Church in Tanzania affirms Biblical teaching on homosexual behavior and rejects ELCA changes.
+ LCMS addresses implications of ELCA decisions.
+ WordAlone changes its name and ministry emphasis.
+ ELCA reinstating pastors removed for misconduct.
+ S.D. Synod bishop censures four congregations.
Here is what you can read in this month’s newsletter:
+ Discipleship to be DNA of Lutheran CORE, NALC.
Working Group recommends Discipleship Networking plan for reconfigured Lutheranism.
+ Plans for Lutheran CORE, NALC future taking shape.
+ Congregations can now join the NALC.
+ "Why I am joining the North American Lutheran Church" by Bishop Paull Spring.
+ Lutheran CORE Convocation to move to 3,000-seat church.
+ Seven Marks Society to hold constituting convention.
+ Synod assemblies react to ELCA sexuality decisions.
+ Lutheran Church in Tanzania affirms Biblical teaching on homosexual behavior and rejects ELCA changes.
+ LCMS addresses implications of ELCA decisions.
+ WordAlone changes its name and ministry emphasis.
+ ELCA reinstating pastors removed for misconduct.
+ S.D. Synod bishop censures four congregations.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Bishop censures pastor and 4 congregations in South Dakota for expressing opposition to new ELCA teaching and policy on homosexual behavior
Four congregations and a pastor in western South Dakota have been censured by their bishop for expressing their belief that changes in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s teaching and policy on homosexual behavior violate the teaching of the Bible by joining Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC).
The Rev. David Zellmer, bishop of the South Dakota Synod, “censured” the Rev. Frezil Westerlund of Philip, S.D., and the four congregations she serves for joining LCMC, an association of traditional Lutheran congregations.
Pastor Westerlund was notified of the censure Wednesday, May 5, by an assistant to the bishop. The congregations were notified by mail.
The congregations — First Lutheran Church, Philip; Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Long Valley; Trinity Lutheran Church, Midland; and Deep Creek Lutheran Church, rural Midland — each voted to join LCMC and to redirect their mission giving at congregational meetings in October. Pastor Westerlund has not joined LCMC. The congregations work together as Western New Hope Lutheran Parish.
“This act of censure belies the promise that orthodox Christians will have a place within the ELCA,” Pastor Westerlund said. “We did not withdraw from the ELCA because we believed that the course of the church could still be righted. Now who knows what will happen.”
“This is not an issue about human partnerships. Our issue is Biblical authority. We can’t just take scissors and cut out the parts of the Bible we don’t like. That lacks integrity,” she said.
Pastor Westerlund comes from a long line of Lutheran pastors willing to take a stand for their faith. “My family has been pastors for 500 years. My great, great, great, etc. grandfather, the Rev. Johann Von Heyl, signed the Augsburg Confession. At my ordination, I promised to teach and preach in accordance with Scripture and that confession. We have a duty to stand for what is right and faithful.” she said.
The Augsburg Confession is the primary Lutheran confession of faith and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran Reformation. It was presented at the Diet of Augsburg in 1530 as the first Lutherans took their stand and confessed their faith before religious and civil authorities.
At age 63, Pastor Westerlund is a petite, white-haired woman who stands all of 5-foot-2 in high heels. She has been undergoing treatment for colon cancer and is on medical leave. She recently returned to Philip from Rochester, Minn., where she had surgery at the Mayo Clinic.
“It was quite a surprise to come back from Mayo to find out that I am an outlaw,” she said.
“I question why we as a small rural congregation, a member of Western New Hope Parish, and also our Pastor Frezil Westerlund — who is recovering from major cancer surgery at this time — have been singled out by being censured because of the fact that we have joined LCMC,” said Karen Pinney, a member of First Lutheran Church in Philip, and also Associate Coordinator of the Bear Butte Conference Women of the ELCA.
“We studied and sent a response from our parish in regard to the Social Statement on Human Sexuality prior to the vote by Churchwide August 2009 in Minneapolis. We have been prayerfully discussing and considering what is best for our parish and congregation. We have taken time to consider the possibilities of either staying or leaving the ELCA,” she said.
“I truly believe the decision of ELCA to put practicing homosexuals in the pulpit totally goes against the teaching of God’s Holy Word,” Pinney said. “If Bishop Zellmer wants to draw a line in the sand, I join with Martin Luther by saying ‘Here I stand!’ I am proud to say I stand firmly with Scripture.”
As a means of protest and a more faithful means of stewardship, the congregations have chosen to directly support ministries rather then to send undesignated support to the South Dakota Synod.
“The people of Western New Hope Lutheran Parish are people of faith and kindness. Like other South Dakotans, we are a self-reliant, caring community When someone is hungry we feed them. We continue to support our statewide Lutheran ministries,” Pastor Westerlund said.
“Instead of sending our funds to the South Dakota Synod for them to distribute the funds to our various church agencies, we send directly to these agencies. With benevolence money sent to the South Dakota Synod main office, 43 percent is sent to the national ELCA.” explained John Kangas, a member of First Lutheran in Philip. “Our local congregation not only gives support to our Lutheran statewide mission groups, we also started funding local food banks and help for people’s prescription drugs.”
Shirley Kangas noted that this designated giving by individuals and congregations is resulting in more funds for actual ministry rather than for staff salaries at church headquarters. “At the Bear Butte Conference meeting in Rapid City on April 10, Bishop Zellmer spoke of the deficit of monies coming into the synod because congregations were sending their money to specific mission projects. Both the national ELCA and the South Dakota Synod are short in their budgets and had to lay off staff. The monies going directly from the congregations to the mission projects have increased more than they would have received from the synod,” she said.
ELCA national leaders have been encouraging synod leaders to take a hard line against congregations that seek to add an additional church affiliation.
In a January memo to synod bishops and vice presidents, ELCA Secretary David Swartling announced that the ELCA will not allow congregations to be members of more than one church body. He said that bishops could choose to discipline a congregation for affiliating with an additional church body.
Swartling’s announcement marked a change in the ELCA’s posture toward congregations that have more than one church body membership.
Some ELCA congregations have had dual affiliations with LCMC since 2001 with no conflict or threats of discipline from their synods. It is believed that Zellmer’s actions mark the first time a congregation has been disciplined for having dual affiliations, but a California synod announced April 1 that it is considering the possibility.
Zellmer announced April 10 at the Bear Butte Conference Assembly in Rapid City that he would seek to discipline any congregation that joins LCMC. He said that he made the decision based on conversations with other bishops at recent meetings of the ELCA Conference of Bishops.
Nearly 200 ELCA congregations — 11 in South Dakota — have joined LCMC since the ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted in August 2009 to change ELCA teaching and policy to permit pastors to be in same-sex sexual relationships. The significant number of congregations joining LCMC may explain the ELCA’s new tough stance against dual church body affiliations.
Most of those congregations voted to leave the ELCA at the same time. The four congregations that were censured by the bishop are the ones that didn’t vote to leave the ELCA. Some wonder if the bishop is trying to force the congregations to make a decision about whether or not to stay in the ELCA.
The actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly have caused conflict in many congregations in South Dakota. Many individuals and congregations are discerning whether they can in good conscience continue to be a part of the ELCA. Many are waiting to see what actions the South Dakota Synod Assembly will take in opposition to the ELCA’s reversal of its teaching and policies on same-sex relationships. Many are also waiting for the North American Lutheran Church to be constituted in August.
Lutheran CORE, an association of traditional Lutherans is aiding in the formation a new church body, the North American Lutheran Church, which is to be constituted Aug. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio. Lutheran CORE will continue as “a community of confessing Lutherans, a way for traditional Lutherans to work together regardless of their church body affiliation.
The South Dakota Synod Assembly, the annual meeting of the synod, will consider resolutions expressing the synod’s opposition to the ELCA’s new teaching and policy when it meets June 11-12 in Rapid City. The assembly will also consider a resolution asking that the synod express its willingness to continue in shared ministry work with congregations in South Dakota that leave the ELCA because they believe the ELCA’s new policies violate the teaching of the Bible.
Susan Marone, assistant to the bishop, told Pastor Westerlund that Bishop Zellmer will be asking the South Dakota Synod Council about pursuing further disciplinary actions against her and the congregations. Censure is the least severe of the disciplinary actions that can be taken by the synod. The most severe would be expelling the congregations and pastor from the ELCA.
Bishop Zellmer is traveling in Africa May 2-14.
The Rev. David Zellmer, bishop of the South Dakota Synod, “censured” the Rev. Frezil Westerlund of Philip, S.D., and the four congregations she serves for joining LCMC, an association of traditional Lutheran congregations.
Pastor Westerlund was notified of the censure Wednesday, May 5, by an assistant to the bishop. The congregations were notified by mail.
The congregations — First Lutheran Church, Philip; Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Long Valley; Trinity Lutheran Church, Midland; and Deep Creek Lutheran Church, rural Midland — each voted to join LCMC and to redirect their mission giving at congregational meetings in October. Pastor Westerlund has not joined LCMC. The congregations work together as Western New Hope Lutheran Parish.
“This act of censure belies the promise that orthodox Christians will have a place within the ELCA,” Pastor Westerlund said. “We did not withdraw from the ELCA because we believed that the course of the church could still be righted. Now who knows what will happen.”
“This is not an issue about human partnerships. Our issue is Biblical authority. We can’t just take scissors and cut out the parts of the Bible we don’t like. That lacks integrity,” she said.
Pastor Westerlund comes from a long line of Lutheran pastors willing to take a stand for their faith. “My family has been pastors for 500 years. My great, great, great, etc. grandfather, the Rev. Johann Von Heyl, signed the Augsburg Confession. At my ordination, I promised to teach and preach in accordance with Scripture and that confession. We have a duty to stand for what is right and faithful.” she said.
The Augsburg Confession is the primary Lutheran confession of faith and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran Reformation. It was presented at the Diet of Augsburg in 1530 as the first Lutherans took their stand and confessed their faith before religious and civil authorities.
At age 63, Pastor Westerlund is a petite, white-haired woman who stands all of 5-foot-2 in high heels. She has been undergoing treatment for colon cancer and is on medical leave. She recently returned to Philip from Rochester, Minn., where she had surgery at the Mayo Clinic.
“It was quite a surprise to come back from Mayo to find out that I am an outlaw,” she said.
“I question why we as a small rural congregation, a member of Western New Hope Parish, and also our Pastor Frezil Westerlund — who is recovering from major cancer surgery at this time — have been singled out by being censured because of the fact that we have joined LCMC,” said Karen Pinney, a member of First Lutheran Church in Philip, and also Associate Coordinator of the Bear Butte Conference Women of the ELCA.
“We studied and sent a response from our parish in regard to the Social Statement on Human Sexuality prior to the vote by Churchwide August 2009 in Minneapolis. We have been prayerfully discussing and considering what is best for our parish and congregation. We have taken time to consider the possibilities of either staying or leaving the ELCA,” she said.
“I truly believe the decision of ELCA to put practicing homosexuals in the pulpit totally goes against the teaching of God’s Holy Word,” Pinney said. “If Bishop Zellmer wants to draw a line in the sand, I join with Martin Luther by saying ‘Here I stand!’ I am proud to say I stand firmly with Scripture.”
As a means of protest and a more faithful means of stewardship, the congregations have chosen to directly support ministries rather then to send undesignated support to the South Dakota Synod.
“The people of Western New Hope Lutheran Parish are people of faith and kindness. Like other South Dakotans, we are a self-reliant, caring community When someone is hungry we feed them. We continue to support our statewide Lutheran ministries,” Pastor Westerlund said.
“Instead of sending our funds to the South Dakota Synod for them to distribute the funds to our various church agencies, we send directly to these agencies. With benevolence money sent to the South Dakota Synod main office, 43 percent is sent to the national ELCA.” explained John Kangas, a member of First Lutheran in Philip. “Our local congregation not only gives support to our Lutheran statewide mission groups, we also started funding local food banks and help for people’s prescription drugs.”
Shirley Kangas noted that this designated giving by individuals and congregations is resulting in more funds for actual ministry rather than for staff salaries at church headquarters. “At the Bear Butte Conference meeting in Rapid City on April 10, Bishop Zellmer spoke of the deficit of monies coming into the synod because congregations were sending their money to specific mission projects. Both the national ELCA and the South Dakota Synod are short in their budgets and had to lay off staff. The monies going directly from the congregations to the mission projects have increased more than they would have received from the synod,” she said.
ELCA national leaders have been encouraging synod leaders to take a hard line against congregations that seek to add an additional church affiliation.
In a January memo to synod bishops and vice presidents, ELCA Secretary David Swartling announced that the ELCA will not allow congregations to be members of more than one church body. He said that bishops could choose to discipline a congregation for affiliating with an additional church body.
Swartling’s announcement marked a change in the ELCA’s posture toward congregations that have more than one church body membership.
Some ELCA congregations have had dual affiliations with LCMC since 2001 with no conflict or threats of discipline from their synods. It is believed that Zellmer’s actions mark the first time a congregation has been disciplined for having dual affiliations, but a California synod announced April 1 that it is considering the possibility.
Zellmer announced April 10 at the Bear Butte Conference Assembly in Rapid City that he would seek to discipline any congregation that joins LCMC. He said that he made the decision based on conversations with other bishops at recent meetings of the ELCA Conference of Bishops.
Nearly 200 ELCA congregations — 11 in South Dakota — have joined LCMC since the ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted in August 2009 to change ELCA teaching and policy to permit pastors to be in same-sex sexual relationships. The significant number of congregations joining LCMC may explain the ELCA’s new tough stance against dual church body affiliations.
Most of those congregations voted to leave the ELCA at the same time. The four congregations that were censured by the bishop are the ones that didn’t vote to leave the ELCA. Some wonder if the bishop is trying to force the congregations to make a decision about whether or not to stay in the ELCA.
The actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly have caused conflict in many congregations in South Dakota. Many individuals and congregations are discerning whether they can in good conscience continue to be a part of the ELCA. Many are waiting to see what actions the South Dakota Synod Assembly will take in opposition to the ELCA’s reversal of its teaching and policies on same-sex relationships. Many are also waiting for the North American Lutheran Church to be constituted in August.
Lutheran CORE, an association of traditional Lutherans is aiding in the formation a new church body, the North American Lutheran Church, which is to be constituted Aug. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio. Lutheran CORE will continue as “a community of confessing Lutherans, a way for traditional Lutherans to work together regardless of their church body affiliation.
The South Dakota Synod Assembly, the annual meeting of the synod, will consider resolutions expressing the synod’s opposition to the ELCA’s new teaching and policy when it meets June 11-12 in Rapid City. The assembly will also consider a resolution asking that the synod express its willingness to continue in shared ministry work with congregations in South Dakota that leave the ELCA because they believe the ELCA’s new policies violate the teaching of the Bible.
Susan Marone, assistant to the bishop, told Pastor Westerlund that Bishop Zellmer will be asking the South Dakota Synod Council about pursuing further disciplinary actions against her and the congregations. Censure is the least severe of the disciplinary actions that can be taken by the synod. The most severe would be expelling the congregations and pastor from the ELCA.
Bishop Zellmer is traveling in Africa May 2-14.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
April "CORE Connection" newsletter
CORE Connection - News from Lutheran CORE - April 2010 is now online.
Here is what you can read in this month’s newsletter:
+ Lutheran CORE Convocation to move to larger facility.
+ Ecumenical representatives to attend historic Convocation.
+ ELCA finalizes changes in standards to allow pastors to be in same-sex sexual relationships.
+ “The View from the Upper Room” by Erma Wolf.
+ ELCA threatening discipline against congregations.
+ Lutherans in Africa are “extremely disturbed” by ELCA, Swedish actions on homosexual behavior.
+ Groups shaping NALC, Lutheran CORE.
+ Tonya Rike is new Lutheran CORE staff.
+ Gravity of situation created by ELCA sexuality votes by Dr. J. Larry Yoder.
Do the ELCA sexuality decisions rise to the level of error or heresy or apostasy?
Here is what you can read in this month’s newsletter:
+ Lutheran CORE Convocation to move to larger facility.
+ Ecumenical representatives to attend historic Convocation.
+ ELCA finalizes changes in standards to allow pastors to be in same-sex sexual relationships.
+ “The View from the Upper Room” by Erma Wolf.
+ ELCA threatening discipline against congregations.
+ Lutherans in Africa are “extremely disturbed” by ELCA, Swedish actions on homosexual behavior.
+ Groups shaping NALC, Lutheran CORE.
+ Tonya Rike is new Lutheran CORE staff.
+ Gravity of situation created by ELCA sexuality votes by Dr. J. Larry Yoder.
Do the ELCA sexuality decisions rise to the level of error or heresy or apostasy?
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Steadfast in the Word - Toward a Renewed Lutheran Church
Mark Your Calendars:
"Steadfast in the Word: Toward a Renewed Lutheran Church."
Saturday, May 15 - 10 a.m. to noon
Crossroads Hotel and Convention Center in Huron, SD
Speakers: Pastors Erma Wolf and Scott Grorud.
Contact Cliff Hadley at 605-350-6210 for more information.
"Steadfast in the Word: Toward a Renewed Lutheran Church."
Saturday, May 15 - 10 a.m. to noon
Crossroads Hotel and Convention Center in Huron, SD
Speakers: Pastors Erma Wolf and Scott Grorud.
Contact Cliff Hadley at 605-350-6210 for more information.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Bear Butte Conference Assembly
Here's the news from the Bear Butte Conference Assembly which was held Saturday in Rapid City:
+ Three resolutions were approved asking for rescinding ELCA decisions on sexuality. Two of those were the same as the ones approved by Prairie Coteau (similar to the original from NE Iowa Synod). The third was the first of ELCA Secretary Swartling's model resolutions (as shared by the synod) asking for rescinding ministry policies actions. The resolutions were approved by a very solid majority vote (it was a ballot vote and the total was roughly two thirds).
+ A resolution asking for the synod to find ways to maintain whatever unity might be possible with those congregations that leave the ELCA was also approved.
+ The big news was the Bishop Zellmer announced that he plans to discipline any congregation (or individual?) that joins LCMC. This is truly big news because I think it's the first time an ELCA bishop has said this publicly. He did say that the hard-line approach is the result of conversations with the Conference of Bishops.
+ Three resolutions were approved asking for rescinding ELCA decisions on sexuality. Two of those were the same as the ones approved by Prairie Coteau (similar to the original from NE Iowa Synod). The third was the first of ELCA Secretary Swartling's model resolutions (as shared by the synod) asking for rescinding ministry policies actions. The resolutions were approved by a very solid majority vote (it was a ballot vote and the total was roughly two thirds).
+ A resolution asking for the synod to find ways to maintain whatever unity might be possible with those congregations that leave the ELCA was also approved.
+ The big news was the Bishop Zellmer announced that he plans to discipline any congregation (or individual?) that joins LCMC. This is truly big news because I think it's the first time an ELCA bishop has said this publicly. He did say that the hard-line approach is the result of conversations with the Conference of Bishops.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
March "CORE Connection"
CORE Connection - News from Lutheran CORE – March 2010 is now available.
Here is what you can read in this month’s newsletter:
+ Reconfiguration proposal receiving positive responses.
Proposal recommends new Lutheran church and continuation of Lutheran CORE.
+ Synod won’t let Florida congregation leave ELCA
In spite of two unanimous votes to leave ELCA, Synod Council refuses to let them go.
+ “Charitable Behavior” by Pastor Mark C. Chavez.
+ “Seeking New Directions for Lutheranism” is the theme of Lutheran CORE theological conference.
+ “I Think I Finally Get It” by By Pastor Erma Wolf.
+ LCMC, WordAlone Network to host events in April.
+ ELCA churchwide funding reaches “historic low.”
+ Conference asks that Lutheran CORE members be prohibited from holding offices in NE Iowa Synod.
+ ELCA releases draft of revised standards for pastors.
+ Bishops moving quickly to receive persons in same-sex relationships ordained in defiance of ELCA standards; Synod has already approved prominent proponent of changing ELCA teaching.
+ ELCA Board of Pensions approves benefits for same-sex couples; ELCA council to act in April.
Here is what you can read in this month’s newsletter:
+ Reconfiguration proposal receiving positive responses.
Proposal recommends new Lutheran church and continuation of Lutheran CORE.
+ Synod won’t let Florida congregation leave ELCA
In spite of two unanimous votes to leave ELCA, Synod Council refuses to let them go.
+ “Charitable Behavior” by Pastor Mark C. Chavez.
+ “Seeking New Directions for Lutheranism” is the theme of Lutheran CORE theological conference.
+ “I Think I Finally Get It” by By Pastor Erma Wolf.
+ LCMC, WordAlone Network to host events in April.
+ ELCA churchwide funding reaches “historic low.”
+ Conference asks that Lutheran CORE members be prohibited from holding offices in NE Iowa Synod.
+ ELCA releases draft of revised standards for pastors.
+ Bishops moving quickly to receive persons in same-sex relationships ordained in defiance of ELCA standards; Synod has already approved prominent proponent of changing ELCA teaching.
+ ELCA Board of Pensions approves benefits for same-sex couples; ELCA council to act in April.
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