Lutheran CORE Report - November 2006

Dear Christian Friends,

The Lutheran CORE steering committee continues hard at work, as we seek to advocate for Biblical faithfulness and confessional loyalty in our church.

We intend to remain in the "calling to which (we) have been called" (Ephesians 4:1) as members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA is our church. With the help of God's Word and Spirit, it is also God's church.

Our intention, as Lutheran CORE, with the help of God's Word and Spirit, is to be a voice for the Word of God within our church. We are neither of the left nor of the right. We are for the center, where Christ is Lord, and where his Word redeems us and calls us to newness of life.

At our November steering committee meeting we took a number of positive steps in furthering our mission and ministry. We approved the printing of a brochure about our work. We authorized the expansion of our web site, reachable through our new web address: www.lutherancore.org . We considered how we might cooperate more effectively with the other reform movements in our church. In a spirit of mutual endeavor, we shared among ourselves how Lutheran CORE and the WordAlone Network can work together. This latter conversation will continue in January, when we meet with the WordAlone board of directors.

The bulk of our meeting time was spent on reviewing and projecting ways for us to implement the four basic themes for our work and ministry.

HUMAN SEXUALITY. We are anxiously awaiting the study guide in December, the run-up to a proposed social statement on sexuality in 2009. We are considering how we will respond to this study guide. We are watching carefully how the synods are implementing the decisions of the 2005 churchwide assembly on blessings and ordinations. We are also exploring how to respond, should attempts be made to overturn the decisions of the
2005 churchwide assembly.

LEADERSHIP in the ELCA. Among the most important actions of the 2007 churchwide assembly will be the calling of a presiding bishop and secretary and elections for the Church Council. Lutheran CORE is seeking to work in cooperation with WordAlone and others, so that our church may be led by persons who are committed to the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions. We plan to be in communication with the voting members of the churchwide assembly regarding our hopes and concerns.

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION. The 2005 churchwide assembly called for a churchwide study of the Bible and its interpretation. The plans for this study are still in process. We applaud the intention of this study. A number of regional conferences on Biblical interpretation are being planned. As Lutheran CORE, we want to be supportive of this study process. But we also want to be careful how this study deals with classic Lutheran norms and principles.

The NAMING of GOD as FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT. The imminent arrival of Evangelical Lutheran Worship (the "new hymnal") will cause considerable distress among many Lutheran CORE supporters. As Lutheran CORE, our concern is not so much about the liturgical elements, about which we have different opinions. Our chief concern is how the Trinitarian formula for God is used in the liturgy and hymnody. It is very worrisome to us that at so many points the classic Biblical name for the Holy Trinity is placed in parallel with other titles of address for God. It is as if the Holy Trinity were an option for right worship! Lutheran CORE is analyzing this matter. We are not against the new hymnal as such. But we are considering how we can give guidance, so that pastors and congregations who choose to use it will use this book responsibly.

We are grateful beyond words for the faithful and prayerful support we receive from throughout our church. We are thankful for the partnership we have with the WordAlone Network. We appreciate the financial support that we receive from individuals, congregations, and other reform movements.

We ask that you continue to pray for us. We encourage you to speak on our behalf to others. We invite you to support our work financially. We know that we are in this for the long haul, and we sense very keenly that ours is not an easy task. But we are sustained, as you are, by Christ himself, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Head of the church and the Lord of all creation.

Lutheran CORE Steering Committee:

Paull Spring, State College, PA, chair, pastorspring@pennswoods.net
Erma Wolf, Brandon, SD, vice chair, easwolf@mac.com
W. Stevens Shipman, Watsontown, PA, secr., prshipman@alltel.net
Mark Chavez, Landisville, PA, director, wordalone@popp.net
Mark Graham, Roanoke, VA, mark@stjohnlutheran.org
Scott Grorud, Hutchinson, MN, scottg@faithlc.com
Ken Kimball, Waterville, IA, pastrken@acegroup.cc
Ryan Schwarz, Washington, DC, Ryan.Schwarz@carlyle.com
Paul Ulring, Columbus, OH, pulring@ualc.org

Expansion of the Website

If you have gone to the LC3 website lately, you may have noticed a number of recent changes and additions.

Most significant of these is an expansion of the site to provide access to both LC3 and CORE, which can now be reached off the same home page: www.commonconfession.net . The new main page allows visitors to choose between similarly formatted pages, on two “sides” of the website. The ‘LC3 side’ preserves the original dark-blue color scheme; the new ‘CORE side’ has been created in a dark red color scheme; button links allow visitors to move between the two.

The CORE side is still under construction, but from the menu items you can get a sense for what is being developed. In addition to basic information about CORE and it’s Steering Committee, visitors can read CORE’s action platform (found under the “Assemblies” link). Additional resources are planned to provide information on issues facing the ELCA, as well as to describe the recent history of reforming movements within American Lutheranism.

On the LC3 side of the website, there have also been some changes. A new link, entitled “Education Resources” has been added to provide pastors and laity with free downloadable materials for use in their churches. So far, we have posted just a sample of the kind of things we hope to make available, including: Bible studies, adult education resources, youth dramas, confirmation materials, and Sunday School curriculum. Over the next couple months, we will be adding to these materials. Check back for more.

Speaking of free materials, dozens of congregations (and several WordAlone chapters) have already made use of the free LC3 Bible Study on the articles of the Common Confession. We have had very good feedback. Looking ahead to 2007, we are hoping to put together another similar study – this time, on the topic of the Authority of Scripture. ( If there are pastors who are interested in being involved in this project, let me know. Write to: LC3@charter.net .)

I encourage you to take a look at the LC3/CORE website: www.commonconfession.net. Publish the web address in your newsletters and bulletins. Let others know that there is a place to go to be connected with other “traditional Lutherans” and to be supported in ministry that is faithful to the Word of God.

Thanks for your partnership!

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Steven King
Maple Lake, Minnesota
LC3 National Coordinator

Convention Report for LC3

A number of members from LC3 churches were in attendance at the WordAlone Network theological conference this past week in Fridley, Minnesota. It was a good event. The keynote presentations by doctors Bielfeldt, Mattes, and Sundberg provided an insightful analysis of our culture’s theological assumptions, and helped to demonstrate the way in which the message of the gospel is heard by modern ears.

LC3 members who were in attendance at the conference came together for a lunch meeting to discuss some of the new things being introduced in LC3 this year. These you’ll all be hearing more about soon, including: an expansion to the website, free downloadable education resources, additional mission opportunities, and the designation of regional LC3 ‘chaplains’. In terms of direct evangelism work, some of us are checking out the possibilities for the development of an LC3 mission congregation.

I led two introductory workshops on behalf of LC3 for those who were interested in hearing about the ministry of the association or are considering joining. A number of pastors and lay-people attended, and many more signed up for the ‘LC3-announce’ email list.

It was good to get people together face-to-face and make some new contacts. Thanks to all who were there!

Pastor Steven King
LC3 National Coordinator