Another Lindenhurst Reflection

Pr. Paul Gaussman of St. Paul's, York PA published his reflections and reactions to our Lindenhurst meeting. This is shared with his permission and with my apologies that it took so long to get posted.

I am sure the folks at CORE can give you a much better one than I can but I can give a few impressions, others in attendance might want to add details and thoughts of their own.

First of all the attendance was great, around 250 showed up from every region in the country, which is quite excellent considering that many traveled at their own expense for this 6 hour meeting. The speakers were both inspirational and realistic (not that the two have to be mutually exclusive certainly), both diagnosing the problem of the ELCA’s continuing drift towards mainline Protestantism while hopeful that the confessional movement within the ELCA can more actively engage and counter this trend. There was a clear call to not give up the ship, but also a recognition that the revisionist side has money and resources and much support among many of the Bishops. There was some concern that in their opposition to revisionism the Confessionalist side not become too uncharitable in dealing with the other side, who were referred to by Rev. Erma Wolff as “our worthy opponents.”

It was noted that there needs to be much more concern for electing members to Synod Council and the next Church-wide Assembly, and to having a confessional presence in each synod, conference, and congregation. This will necessitate much more organization among the confessional groups and their expansion into dormant and or hostile areas.

Networking was one part of the event, during lunch we met with other confessional folks in our region including folks form ELCF, and from Maryland, we hope to hold a regional meeting as a result of making these contacts.

Upon Leaving Lindenhurst I felt very thankfully that we were well represented among those in attendance and thank John Douglas, Bob Kitchen, and Paddy Rooney for being there from Lutherans Reform! I believe that as we get more organized and get the word out about the challenges facing the ELCA that we will encounter considerable opposition but also find considerable support as we have recently from new folks who have come aboard. I am not personally convinced that the ELCA has much of a future or that it can be changed around but I am willing for now to put up the good fight and promote the reform of the ELCA. In the course of networking with others, and working to create a strong bond between congregations which think confessionaly it is inevitable that a church within a church will be created to some extent.

Whether or not this movement will stay in the ELCA in part or in whole is I think still an open question. The call of Lindenhurst was clearly to persevere even in the midst of suffering and a very good case was made for that. I am not convinced the mission of The Church (the one holy catholic and Apostolic Church) will be promoted by endless internal battles in this church (The ELCA), but Lindenhurst certainly gave momentum for rallying the troops together for the long haul.

Blessings, Paul Gausmann

Newsletter 1.5

Lutheran CORE News 1.5
November 8, 2007
(Please copy and distribute as widely as possible.)

Boundaries and discipline
by Mr. Gary Diers

[Note: Gary Diers is an active Lutheran from Waverly, Minnesota, who was a lay voting member to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly in Chicago this year. He spoke these powerful words as part of the debate.]

First I would like to say that listening to the debate on this [homosexuality] issue this week just breaks my heart, but having said that, Mr. Chairman:

In this post-modern world in which we now live, which says everyone defines what is right or wrong for himself or herself, the idea of discipline by someone else for violating boundaries is viewed as an injustice. We however cannot, whether young or adult, live our lives without boundaries.

I'm a farmer and work daily around large animals and, especially today, large equipment. My wife and I raised five children in that environment, and those children always wanted to be with Dad. But because I loved them and was concerned for their safety, I built a fence in the front yard and they had to stay within the boundaries of that fence even if they begged, cried, threw a tantrum, etc. They could, however, with some effort climb out. When that happened they were disciplined and returned to the fenced-in yard. It did not matter how much they wanted to be with me, nor in fact did it matter how much I wanted them to be with me.

Our Creator has given us boundaries within which to live our lives and if we could just live our lives within those boundaries, most if not all evil and need for discipline would not exist.

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Lutheran CORE steering committee update
by Pr. Paull E. Spring, steering committee chair

The Steering Committee of Lutheran CORE met September 28 and 29, immediately following the Lindenhurst gathering. We were all very encouraged by the attendance at Lindenhurst and the spirit of commitment to our concerns that was so evident.

Our most important work at the steering committee meeting was to complete a strategy for the 2009 churchwide assembly in Minneapolis. Our chief goals are to focus on the social statement on human sexuality and the elections for the churchwide assembly and the Church Council.

Our most urgent need now is to identify synod coordinators in all sixty-five synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Effective synod coordinators are key contacts within the synods. The coordinator's job, for now, is to work for the election to the churchwide assembly of voting members who share our perspectives on marriage and the Bible.

If you are willing to serve as a synod coordinator or as a part of a synodical team within your synod, please contact me at pastorspring@pennswoods.net or Pastor Mark Chavez, Lutheran CORE director at wordalone@popp.net. All the members of the steering committee have agreed to provide guidance and support for synod coordinators. A job description is available from Pr. Chavez or me if it will help you make your decision.

Right now, the most important work is to elect voting members for the churchwide assembly. In some synods this process has already begun. We need your help. Now is the time to pray without ceasing for our church and for our cause. Now is the time for all of us to work hard and do our part for the sake of our church's fidelity to the Word of God.

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Will your congregation support Lutheran CORE?
by Mr. Ryan Schwarz, steering committee member and fundraising coordinator

In many congregations, it is now budget season. Council, finance teams and staff are hard at work preparing financial plans for 2008. Could Lutheran CORE become one of your benevolence initiatives in 2008? We have a most ambitious action plan for the next two years, a critical time for the future of the ELCA. We must assist synod organizers across the country, pay our staff, prepare newsletters, produce teaching materials, organize local events, and do all the things that are necessary to have an impact. All this costs money, and our opponents are raising literally millions of dollars for their efforts.

Lutheran CORE needs your congregation's support. Even a relatively modest contribution is quite meaningful to us. Beyond financial support, we are also seeking to grow the number of congregations that formally join Lutheran CORE. Can you help us? Are you willing to advocate for Lutheran CORE in your congregation?

We can assist you with explanatory materials and procedural advice. Contact me at rschwarz@mba1994.hbs.edu, or any member of the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee. Informational resources are also available on our website www.lutherancore.org.

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Consider forming a Lutheran CORE chapter
by Pr. Mark Chavez, director

If there is not an organized group in your area, you might consider following the example of the Ebenezer Conference Committee on Sexuality in Georgia. Pastor Don Rieder, the Southeastern synod coordinator for Lutheran CORE, reported that the committee was formed in 2004 to consider all the groups that were opposed to the trend in the ELCA to move away from our biblical foundations. Pastor Rieder has chaired the group since it began and it had met 15 times in the past few years. At their meeting in October, when they reviewed their group's history and the present situation in their area and in the ELCA, the members of the committee decided to form an Ebenezer Chapter of Lutheran CORE. If you would like suggestions for how you might start a chapter in your area, contact me at wordalone@popp.net.

New groups of Lutheran CORE supporters have begun meeting in two synods, Rocky Mountain and Indiana-Kentucky. Pastor Tom Renquist in Aurora, CO, has helped convene two meetings in the Denver area this fall and Pastor Blair Fields in Florence, KY, helped convene a meeting in the Indianapolis area last month. These are encouraging developments in areas where there have not been many public meetings in the past. If you know of other new groups being formed or meeting, please report the news to the Lutheran CORE steering committee.

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How can you make a difference in 2009?

It is urgent that you contact your synod office NOW to learn what the election procedures are for 2009 CWA voting members, and then getting yourself or other confessional folk who fit the criteria in a position to be elected. Do the same for conference and synod positions. Until we get a significant number of our people in places of influence, nothing much is going to change.

An anonymous saying (often wrongly attributed to Edmund Burke) reminds us, "All that is needed for the triumph of evil is for enough good people to do nothing." Now is the time for you to do something. Decisions are made by the people who show up for meetings. Be there in your congregation, your conference or district, your synod, and if possible at churchwide assembly. Take the profound yet kind and simple speech by Gary Diers (reported above) as your example. Speak the truth in love. And pray constantly for this Church and all its leaders.

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We are most thankful for your prayers and welcome your financial contributions. We are grateful that the WordAlone Network, a member group of Lutheran CORE, provides administrative support. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to:

Lutheran CORE
c/o WordAlone Network
2299 Palmer Drive, Suite 220
New Brighton, MN 55112

Please make checks payable to WordAlone Network, and write "Lutheran CORE" on the memo line.

Pastor W. Stevens Shipman,
steering committee member and communications committee
prsteveshipman@gmail.com