The Rev. Mark Chavez, General Secretary of the North American Lutheran Church, will be leading a workshop in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Dec. 10, for individuals and congregations who are interested in learning more about the new church body.
Pastor Chavez will be speaking at 1 p.m. at Sioux Falls Seminary. His presentation will include information on the crisis of teaching in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and an explanation of why the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) was created as an alternative for Lutheran congregations.
Following Pastor Chavez’s presentation, there will be an panel discussion including Pastor Chavez; the Rev. Rich Merkouris of King of Glory Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls; the Rev. Tom Walker of Heritage Lutheran Church in Brandon; the Rev. Sandra Soye of Heritage Lutheran Church in Brandon; and the Rev. Randy Eisenbeisz of Hayti, S.D., who is the NALC’s dean for its Eastern South Dakota Mission District.
Pastor Chavez, who lives in Landisville, Pa., became the General Secretary of the NALC in September. He has a long history in efforts to reform the ELCA. He served as the director of Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Renewal) six years and as vice president and director of the WordAlone Network for 10 years.
Lutheran CORE is a coalition of renewal movements. It began in November 2005 as a “coalition for reform” in efforts to maintain Biblical teaching in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The WordAlone Network was one of the reform movements that founded and made up Lutheran CORE. As the ELCA continued to move away from traditional Christian teaching, Lutheran CORE’s focus moved to a “coalition for renewal,” seeking to unite confessional Lutherans regardless of their church body affiliation. The NALC is one of three church bodies that are members of Lutheran CORE.
Pastor Chavez is in the area to speak to a local ELCA congregation that is exploring its options concerning the changing theological Lutheran landscape.
The North American Lutheran Church was constituted Aug. 26-27, 2010, in Grove City,
Ohio. The NALC has been growing rapidly since then. Nearly 300 congregations, representing more than 100,000 Lutherans, have joined the NALC in its first year.
The NALC embodies the theological center of Lutheranism in North America. It is a church body committed to the authority of the Bible as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life. The NALC believes all doctrines should and must be judged by the teaching of Scripture.
The NALC is committed to shaping its life around four core values: Christ-Centered, Mission-Driven, Traditionally-Grounded, and Congregationally-Focused.”
The NALC is a church body committed to shaping its life by the teaching of the Bible and to carry out Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
Most NALC congregations and members left the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America because they believe the ELCA no longer uses the Bible as the sole basis of its faith and life.
The ELCA lost hundreds of congregations and more than 300,000 members in 2009 and
2010, according to statistics released by the ELCA in August. Many more congregations have left the ELCA in 2011 and even more congregations are expected to leave.
All individuals and congregations who are interested in learning more about the crisis in the ELCA or about the NALC are welcome. Information about the NALC is available online at www.thenalc.org.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Midwest Mission Districts Conference
Members of NALC congregations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming are coming together in Watertown, S.D., October 28-29 to celebrate the life we have in the NALC. During this conference we will organize three Mission Districts. Each Mission District will consider a Mission District Constitution and elect a Mission District Dean and Council.
Members and guests who attend this conference can expect to hear from Bishop John Bradosky how the NALC is continually growing and living in the Great Commission.
Download the conference brochure & registration info.
Members and guests who attend this conference can expect to hear from Bishop John Bradosky how the NALC is continually growing and living in the Great Commission.
Download the conference brochure & registration info.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Bishop responds to pastor's resignation letter resigning from ELCA
Bishop David Zellmer of the South Dakota Synod finally has responded to my letter resigning from the ELCA clergy roster because I had been received as a pastor of the North American Lutheran Church. You can read my letter here.
Here are some excerpts from the bishop's letter dated August 17 (please note parts in bold):
"I write to acknowledge your letter of resignation from the roster of ordained ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, effective April 12, 2011. . . .
"Please bear in mind that, from the perspective of this church, you are now to function as a layperson in a congregation. While you are not on this church's roster of ordained ministers, your ordained status is in suspension.
"As someone who is not on the roster of this church, you must no longer perform any duties or acts associated with ordained ministry. You are not to use the title "Pastor" or "the Rev." Neither are you to baptize, preside for Holy Communion, perform marriages, or wear vestments normally associated with an ordained minister such as a stole or clerical collar.
"If under some circumstances, you were asked to substitute due to the absence of a pastor, you could do so not as a supply pastor but as a layperson serving without clerical vestments in leading a Service of the Word. Only in the most unusual circumstance and then only with the explicit permission of the synodical bishop could you preside for Holy Communion, in keeping with the policy of this church, as defined in "The Use of the Means of Grace--A Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament."
Thank you for your years of service as an ordained minister. Be assured that this church remains grateful to you for your pastoral ministry. God bless you in your new arena of endeavor.
Sincerely,
Bishop David B. Zellmer
Here are some excerpts from the bishop's letter dated August 17 (please note parts in bold):
"I write to acknowledge your letter of resignation from the roster of ordained ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, effective April 12, 2011. . . .
"Please bear in mind that, from the perspective of this church, you are now to function as a layperson in a congregation. While you are not on this church's roster of ordained ministers, your ordained status is in suspension.
"As someone who is not on the roster of this church, you must no longer perform any duties or acts associated with ordained ministry. You are not to use the title "Pastor" or "the Rev." Neither are you to baptize, preside for Holy Communion, perform marriages, or wear vestments normally associated with an ordained minister such as a stole or clerical collar.
"If under some circumstances, you were asked to substitute due to the absence of a pastor, you could do so not as a supply pastor but as a layperson serving without clerical vestments in leading a Service of the Word. Only in the most unusual circumstance and then only with the explicit permission of the synodical bishop could you preside for Holy Communion, in keeping with the policy of this church, as defined in "The Use of the Means of Grace--A Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament."
Thank you for your years of service as an ordained minister. Be assured that this church remains grateful to you for your pastoral ministry. God bless you in your new arena of endeavor.
Sincerely,
Bishop David B. Zellmer
Friday, July 1, 2011
NALC News for July
Here's what you can read in the NALC News for July.
+ Convocation to elect new bishop and other leaders to guide NALC.
+ NALC Convocation is Aug. 11-12.
+ Lutheran CORE Convocation is Aug. 9.
+ Lutheran CORE - NALC Theological Conference is Aug. 10-11.
+ "Joy in the midst of sorrow and faithfulness in the midst of division" by Pastor John Bradosky, NALC General Secretary.
+ World Mission Prayer League: A Lutheran community in the mission of God.
+ Meet other NALC Congregations featuring Peace Lutheran Church of Split Rock, Wisconsin, and Zion Lutheran Church of Caroline, Wisconsin.
+ “Personal Evangelism: In Pursuit of the Great Commission" by Pastor Don Brandt.
+ NALC reaches 100,000-member milestone. NALC is now among largest third of Lutheran church bodies worldwide.
+ Convocation to elect new bishop and other leaders to guide NALC.
+ NALC Convocation is Aug. 11-12.
+ Lutheran CORE Convocation is Aug. 9.
+ Lutheran CORE - NALC Theological Conference is Aug. 10-11.
+ "Joy in the midst of sorrow and faithfulness in the midst of division" by Pastor John Bradosky, NALC General Secretary.
+ World Mission Prayer League: A Lutheran community in the mission of God.
+ Meet other NALC Congregations featuring Peace Lutheran Church of Split Rock, Wisconsin, and Zion Lutheran Church of Caroline, Wisconsin.
+ “Personal Evangelism: In Pursuit of the Great Commission" by Pastor Don Brandt.
+ NALC reaches 100,000-member milestone. NALC is now among largest third of Lutheran church bodies worldwide.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
NALC News for May
Here is what you can read in the May NALC News:
* Four pastors nominated for NALC Bishop.
* NALC Convocation is August 11-12.
* Lutheran CORE Convocation is August 9.
* Amendments to NALC constitution to be considered by Convocation.
* "Salvation Today" is theme of NALC-Lutheran CORE Theological Conference August 10-11.
* Nominations requested for Executive Council.
* Leaders of NALC and LCMC meet.
* NALC reaches 200-congregation milestone.
* Profile of American Lutheran Church, Rantoul, Illinois.
* "Vision for Mission" by Gemechis Desta Buba, NALC Missions Director.
* "Addressing Five Ministry Challenges" by Don Brandt.
* Four pastors nominated for NALC Bishop.
* NALC Convocation is August 11-12.
* Lutheran CORE Convocation is August 9.
* Amendments to NALC constitution to be considered by Convocation.
* "Salvation Today" is theme of NALC-Lutheran CORE Theological Conference August 10-11.
* Nominations requested for Executive Council.
* Leaders of NALC and LCMC meet.
* NALC reaches 200-congregation milestone.
* Profile of American Lutheran Church, Rantoul, Illinois.
* "Vision for Mission" by Gemechis Desta Buba, NALC Missions Director.
* "Addressing Five Ministry Challenges" by Don Brandt.
CORE Connection for May
Here is what you can read in the May 2011 issue of CORE Connection:
* A New Mission Statement: Reflections from the Lutheran CORE Chair.
* Benne recounts Lutheran history.
* Tithe to benefit ethnic/immigrant ministries.
* Sample resolutions for assemblies available.
* Lutheran CORE Convocation features, August 9, 2011.
* Five Challenges to Church Growth, Part II.
* Lutheran CORE enrolled in Thrivent Choice.
* 2011 Lutheran CORE Constitution Amendments.
* "Salvation Today" - The Lutheran CORE and North American Lutheran Church Theological Conference, August 10-11, 2011.
* "Impact" national youth event is July 7-12.
* Frequently Asked Questions.
* A New Mission Statement: Reflections from the Lutheran CORE Chair.
* Benne recounts Lutheran history.
* Tithe to benefit ethnic/immigrant ministries.
* Sample resolutions for assemblies available.
* Lutheran CORE Convocation features, August 9, 2011.
* Five Challenges to Church Growth, Part II.
* Lutheran CORE enrolled in Thrivent Choice.
* 2011 Lutheran CORE Constitution Amendments.
* "Salvation Today" - The Lutheran CORE and North American Lutheran Church Theological Conference, August 10-11, 2011.
* "Impact" national youth event is July 7-12.
* Frequently Asked Questions.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
A pastor's letter resigning from ELCA clergy roster
April 12, 2011
Bishop David Zellmer
South Dakota Synod ELCA
Augustana College
Sioux Falls, SD 57197
Bishop Dave:
Thank you for the action of the South Dakota Synod Council in releasing Immanuel Lutheran Church of Whitewood from its affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Immanuel’s affiliation with the North American Lutheran Church better reflects the Biblical and theological commitments of the congregation.
I believe that both God and the congregation have called me to serve Immanuel as its pastor and to continue to do so. I believe that God has called me to serve within the North American Lutheran Church. I have been received as a pastor of the North American Lutheran Church. I thus ask that my name be removed from the roster of ordained ministers of the ELCA.
As Lutherans, we believe that the Christian Church is defined by the assembly of believers among whom the Gospel is preached in its purity and the Sacraments are administered according to the Gospel — not by any particular earthly institution (Augsburg Confession, Article 7). Christians throughout the world are a part of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church regardless of their particular church body affiliation. Christians unite in church bodies based on a shared understanding of the Christian faith. A church body affiliation is an acknowledgment that one shares its confession of the Christian faith.
I do not take the decision to leave the ELCA lightly. I have been a part of the South Dakota Synod for nearly 22 years as a pastor. I deeply grieve the loss of relationships this will mean with many people in the synod. As you know, I have been very involved in and have cared about the life and ministry of the synod and of the ELCA churchwide organization. I served on the synod’s Communications Committee for almost the entire history of the synod. I have served on other synod committees. I have served as a voting member at three churchwide assemblies and have attended or watched additional churchwide assemblies. I have presented resolutions at the South Dakota Synod Assembly to address areas of the life and mission of our synod and of the ELCA churchwide organization. I have worked with Lutheran CORE and others to try to help the ELCA to maintain the teaching and practice of its predecessor churches and of the Christian Church throughout history regarding marriage and sexual ethics. It is because I care about the ELCA that I worked with others to keep it from going down the path toward heterodoxy. It is because I care about the wider church and believe that the teaching and practice of the wider church matters that I cannot continue as a pastor of the ELCA.
I cannot in good conscience meet the expectation (from “Vision and Expectations”) that an “ordained minister supports not only the work of the congregation, but also the synodical and churchwide ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.” I also cannot meet the ELCA’s expectation that a pastor respect the beliefs of those who persist in error regarding the teaching of the Bible and of the Christian Church rather than call them to repentance and faithfulness. I believe that the expectations “to confess and teach the authoritative and normative character of the Scriptures ‘as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life’” and to “teach nothing ‘that departs from the Scriptures or the catholic Church’” stand in opposition to the ELCA’s new teaching and practice on marriage and sexual ethics. The promises that I made at ordination to preach and teach in accordance with the Holy Scriptures, the ecumenical creeds, and the Lutheran Confessions require that I stand against the decisions of the ELCA to reject these foundations as normative for its teaching and practice. I have not changed. The Confession of Faith in the ELCA constitution has not changed, but it no longer functions as normative for the ELCA’s teaching and practice.
I did my Doctor of Ministry thesis on “norms for preaching.” I believe that the preaching and teaching of the church must be based on ultimate norms such as Scripture, the creeds, and the Lutheran Confessions for it to be faithful. By its actions, the ELCA has chosen to base its teaching and practice on the preferences of its members and on changes in secular society rather than to seek to discern God’s will based on the teaching of Scripture. The ELCA has accepted the ideas that contradictory teachings are of equal value and that there is no such thing as absolute truth and thus no reason to seek the truth. The ELCA’s new teaching and practice on marriage and sexual ethics are built upon a foundation other than the “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).
The idea of an individual’s personal perspective as the ultimate norm for teaching and practice finally leaves the ELCA in the same place as the judgment against the people in the book of Judges: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” There is no basis for sound teaching and practice. Changes in teaching on marriage and sexual ethics are a symptom of the move to relativize the teaching of Scripture. The ELCA’s actions on sexuality violate the First, Second and Sixth Commandments. The ELCA has rejected God as the one who determines right and wrong and has used God’s name to bless what God has not blessed. Most clearly in the actions of our synod’s own companion synod, the ELCA has both tolerated and promoted teachings that contradict God’s revelation of Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this tolerance and promotion of heretical teaching and practice, the ELCA no longer “contends for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”
The South Dakota Synod and ELCA have many members and pastors who are faithful Christians — who confess Jesus as both Savior and Lord and who uphold the Bible, the creeds, and the Lutheran Confessions as normative for their faith and practice. Many of them believe that God has called them to remain in the ELCA and to struggle for reform from within. I respect them and the decision they have made. I will continue to uphold them in prayer as they remain in the struggle for faithfulness from within the ELCA. I will continue to pray that God will raise up leaders who will call the ELCA to live in faithfulness to the Confession of Faith in its constitution and to repent of any actions which contradict that Confession of Faith. I believe that God has called me to move on for the sake of the congregation I serve, for my own sake, and for the sake of the South Dakota Synod. There comes a time when the only remaining witness is to shake the dust from one’s feet. That is the place at which I find myself. It is because I care about those who remain in the ELCA that I must both bear this witness and take leave of them. It is because I care about you and the people of the South Dakota Synod that I must name the significance of the departure from “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” that has taken place in the ELCA. God will ultimately judge both of our decisions and actions.
You remain in my prayers as you seek to provide leadership for the South Dakota Synod and the ELCA. This is certainly a difficult time for many as they struggle to discern God’s will and God’s call to discipleship and faithfulness. Let us all pray that God will draw the one holy catholic and apostolic Church together in faithfulness and mission.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor David J. Baer
Bishop David Zellmer
South Dakota Synod ELCA
Augustana College
Sioux Falls, SD 57197
Bishop Dave:
Thank you for the action of the South Dakota Synod Council in releasing Immanuel Lutheran Church of Whitewood from its affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Immanuel’s affiliation with the North American Lutheran Church better reflects the Biblical and theological commitments of the congregation.
I believe that both God and the congregation have called me to serve Immanuel as its pastor and to continue to do so. I believe that God has called me to serve within the North American Lutheran Church. I have been received as a pastor of the North American Lutheran Church. I thus ask that my name be removed from the roster of ordained ministers of the ELCA.
As Lutherans, we believe that the Christian Church is defined by the assembly of believers among whom the Gospel is preached in its purity and the Sacraments are administered according to the Gospel — not by any particular earthly institution (Augsburg Confession, Article 7). Christians throughout the world are a part of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church regardless of their particular church body affiliation. Christians unite in church bodies based on a shared understanding of the Christian faith. A church body affiliation is an acknowledgment that one shares its confession of the Christian faith.
I do not take the decision to leave the ELCA lightly. I have been a part of the South Dakota Synod for nearly 22 years as a pastor. I deeply grieve the loss of relationships this will mean with many people in the synod. As you know, I have been very involved in and have cared about the life and ministry of the synod and of the ELCA churchwide organization. I served on the synod’s Communications Committee for almost the entire history of the synod. I have served on other synod committees. I have served as a voting member at three churchwide assemblies and have attended or watched additional churchwide assemblies. I have presented resolutions at the South Dakota Synod Assembly to address areas of the life and mission of our synod and of the ELCA churchwide organization. I have worked with Lutheran CORE and others to try to help the ELCA to maintain the teaching and practice of its predecessor churches and of the Christian Church throughout history regarding marriage and sexual ethics. It is because I care about the ELCA that I worked with others to keep it from going down the path toward heterodoxy. It is because I care about the wider church and believe that the teaching and practice of the wider church matters that I cannot continue as a pastor of the ELCA.
I cannot in good conscience meet the expectation (from “Vision and Expectations”) that an “ordained minister supports not only the work of the congregation, but also the synodical and churchwide ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.” I also cannot meet the ELCA’s expectation that a pastor respect the beliefs of those who persist in error regarding the teaching of the Bible and of the Christian Church rather than call them to repentance and faithfulness. I believe that the expectations “to confess and teach the authoritative and normative character of the Scriptures ‘as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life’” and to “teach nothing ‘that departs from the Scriptures or the catholic Church’” stand in opposition to the ELCA’s new teaching and practice on marriage and sexual ethics. The promises that I made at ordination to preach and teach in accordance with the Holy Scriptures, the ecumenical creeds, and the Lutheran Confessions require that I stand against the decisions of the ELCA to reject these foundations as normative for its teaching and practice. I have not changed. The Confession of Faith in the ELCA constitution has not changed, but it no longer functions as normative for the ELCA’s teaching and practice.
I did my Doctor of Ministry thesis on “norms for preaching.” I believe that the preaching and teaching of the church must be based on ultimate norms such as Scripture, the creeds, and the Lutheran Confessions for it to be faithful. By its actions, the ELCA has chosen to base its teaching and practice on the preferences of its members and on changes in secular society rather than to seek to discern God’s will based on the teaching of Scripture. The ELCA has accepted the ideas that contradictory teachings are of equal value and that there is no such thing as absolute truth and thus no reason to seek the truth. The ELCA’s new teaching and practice on marriage and sexual ethics are built upon a foundation other than the “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).
The idea of an individual’s personal perspective as the ultimate norm for teaching and practice finally leaves the ELCA in the same place as the judgment against the people in the book of Judges: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” There is no basis for sound teaching and practice. Changes in teaching on marriage and sexual ethics are a symptom of the move to relativize the teaching of Scripture. The ELCA’s actions on sexuality violate the First, Second and Sixth Commandments. The ELCA has rejected God as the one who determines right and wrong and has used God’s name to bless what God has not blessed. Most clearly in the actions of our synod’s own companion synod, the ELCA has both tolerated and promoted teachings that contradict God’s revelation of Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this tolerance and promotion of heretical teaching and practice, the ELCA no longer “contends for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”
The South Dakota Synod and ELCA have many members and pastors who are faithful Christians — who confess Jesus as both Savior and Lord and who uphold the Bible, the creeds, and the Lutheran Confessions as normative for their faith and practice. Many of them believe that God has called them to remain in the ELCA and to struggle for reform from within. I respect them and the decision they have made. I will continue to uphold them in prayer as they remain in the struggle for faithfulness from within the ELCA. I will continue to pray that God will raise up leaders who will call the ELCA to live in faithfulness to the Confession of Faith in its constitution and to repent of any actions which contradict that Confession of Faith. I believe that God has called me to move on for the sake of the congregation I serve, for my own sake, and for the sake of the South Dakota Synod. There comes a time when the only remaining witness is to shake the dust from one’s feet. That is the place at which I find myself. It is because I care about those who remain in the ELCA that I must both bear this witness and take leave of them. It is because I care about you and the people of the South Dakota Synod that I must name the significance of the departure from “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” that has taken place in the ELCA. God will ultimately judge both of our decisions and actions.
You remain in my prayers as you seek to provide leadership for the South Dakota Synod and the ELCA. This is certainly a difficult time for many as they struggle to discern God’s will and God’s call to discipleship and faithfulness. Let us all pray that God will draw the one holy catholic and apostolic Church together in faithfulness and mission.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor David J. Baer
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