A synod in California has approved eight practicing LGBT individuals as ELCA pastors, the ELCA announced in a May 25 news release.
Two of the pastors had been removed from the ELCA’s clergy roster for violating the ELCA’s former standards regarding same-sex sexual behavior.
The other six persons were ordained in controversial unauthorized ordinations held in defiance of the ELCA’s previous teaching and standards.
ELCA synods are moving quickly to credential LGBT pastors who were removed from the ELCA clergy roster for violating the ELCA’s previous standards or who were ordained in defiance of the denomination’s former teaching and policy.
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted in August to allow pastors to be in committed same-sex relationships. But the official changes reversing the ELCA standards for pastors weren’t formally approved until April.
April 10, the ELCA Church Council deleted a sentence 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.”
The ELCA Church Council also deleted a sentence which read: “Practicing homosexual persons are precluded from the ordained ministry of this church” from the ELCA’s “Definition and Guidelines for Discipline.”
A sentence which read: “Ordained ministers who are homosexual in their self-understanding are expected to abstain from homosexual sexual relationships” was deleted from its “Vision and Expectations” for pastors.
Steven Sabin of Christ Church Lutheran in San Francisco and Ross Merkel of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland, Calif., were approved for reinstatement.
“In 1998 Sabin was removed from the ELCA clergy roster for being in a same-sex relationship while serving as pastor at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Ames, Iowa. His removal by an ELCA discipline committee drew national attention,” the ELCA release states.
Six of those approved by the synod come from Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM), an organization that “credentials and rosters qualified candidates of all sexual orientations and gender identities for ministry” and authorized ordinations in defiance of the ELCA’s former policies.
Among them are Jeff Johnson, one of three people ordained in 1990 in defiance of church teaching two years after the formation of the ELCA. This well-publicized service was the first “extraordinary ordination” conducted by those advocating change in ELCA teaching on homosexual behavior.
Johnson was elected to the Sierra Pacific Synod Council by this year’s assembly even though he was not yet an ELCA pastor. He is pastor of University Lutheran Chapel of Berkeley, Calif.
Also approved were Dawn Roginski and Paul Brenner of St. Francis Lutheran Church in San Francisco, a former ELCA congregation. The congregation called two women who were in a same-sex relationship and who were ordained with Johnson in 1990. The congregation was expelled from the ELCA in 1996.
The Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly approved a resolution in May inviting St. Francis and First United Lutheran Church, the congregation that called Johnson in 1990, back into the ELCA.
Also approved was Megan Rohrer, who serves the Welcome Ministry, a ministry to homeless in San Francisco. Rohrer describes herself as “the first openly transgender Lutheran pastor ordained in the United States,” on her website.
Rohrer was ordained in 2006 at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco where she serves as an associate pastor. Ebenezer Lutheran is also known as “Herchurch.” The ELCA congregation and its pastors have drawn a lot of attention and notoriety through their worship of the “Divine Feminine” and their use of a “Goddess Rosary.” More information on the congregation is available at www.herchurch.org.
Also approved by the synod were Craig Minich of the Oakland-Berkeley Lutheran Youth Program and Sharon Stalkfleet of the Lutheran Ministry to Nursing Homes in Oakland.
Leaders of the Sierra Pacific Synod noted that the approval process was more of celebration than an examination process for reception as pastors of the denomination, the ELCA news release reported.
“This was by no means an examination. It was a sharing about ministry and a celebration of ministry,” the Rev. Nancy Feniuk Nelson, bishop’s associate, told the ELCA news service.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Proposed amendments to Lutheran CORE's Constitution
Proposed amendments to the constitution of Lutheran CORE are now available online.
The proposed amendments, which come from Lutheran CORE's Steering Committee, will be considered at the Lutheran CORE Convocation August 26-27 in suburban Columbus, Ohio.
The proposed amendments, which come from Lutheran CORE's Steering Committee, will be considered at the Lutheran CORE Convocation August 26-27 in suburban Columbus, Ohio.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Plans for Lutheran CORE, NALC future taking shape
Plans for the future ministry of both Lutheran CORE and the proposed North American Lutheran Church are moving forward very well, the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee learned at its May 5-6 meeting at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio.
Working Groups have been busy shaping the life and work of the NALC and Lutheran CORE. They reported significant progress. Here are some reports and actions from the meeting:
✙ Quarterly meetings will continue with WordAlone Ministries and LCMC to further cooperative ministry.
✙ Augsburg Lutheran Churches and Lutheran CORE—Illinois were received as members of Lutheran CORE.
✙ Plans for NALC communications, logo, and website were discussed.
✙ Ministry Processes Working Group reported that they have been developing policies and procedures to receive pastors into the NALC. A process will be in place this summer.
✙ NALC proposal will separate the role of bishop from administrative functions following the pattern of some African churches.
✙ NALC Director will be a different person than Lutheran CORE Director.
✙ Among the members of the Ministry Processes Working Group are six former ELCA bishops.
✙ Congregational Life and Support Working Group presented a proposal for discipleship networking.
✙ Theological Education Working Group is in conversations about options and directions for theological education, especially for the training of pastors. They are exploring many options and working relationships including the Institute for Lutheran Theology and Wittenberg Institute, two ELCA seminaries, and some non-Lutheran seminaries. The intent is to support seminarians, not institutions.
✙ Noted that a well-educated laity will also be crucial to the renewal of Lutheranism.
✙ They are working to strengthen working relationships with supportive younger Lutheran theologians.
✙ Noted the importance of funding resources for theological education.
✙ Theological Conference: The number of registrations is very encouraging.
✙ A book will be published that will include presentations from the theological conference. Proceeds from the book will benefit Lutheran CORE.
✙ Seminary students may attend theological conference or Convocation for free and may apply for a $250 stipend to help with travel and related costs of attending.
✙ Ecumenical and Inter-Lutheran Relationships Working Group noted that ecumenical partners from around the world are very interested in working with L-CORE and the NALC.
✙ Reaffirmed that Lutheran CORE does not intend to be a church body. Lutheran CORE will continue as a community of confessing Lutherans regardless of church body affiliation.
✙ Lutheran CORE will seek to serve traditional voting members at future ELCA Churchwide Assemblies by connecting them with each other.
✙ Mission and Benevolence Working Group offered “five bold steps” for mission and benevolence built around the key conviction that “the mission of the Church is the Great Commission.” Their proposal will be featured in the June CORE Connection.
✙ Missions Coordinator: A Missions Coordinator will work with immigrant ministries and other mission congregations. The Steering Committee authorized moving forward with this position as funding is available.
✙ 2010 Convocation: Plans for the Convocation were discussed.
✙ The Convocation will be moved to Grove City Church of the Nazarene which will seat 3,000 people.
✙ Reports for the Convocation will be distributed electronically prior to the Convocation.
✙ Christians worldwide will be invited to join in 40 Days of Prayer prior to the Convocation.
✙ Those who wish to vote at the Convocation must be members of Lutheran CORE. Individuals can join Lutheran CORE online.
✙ Congregations may indicate their desire to join NALC by approving a resolution to do so. A model resolution has been prepared.
✙ Constitution Task Force will be publishing recommended amendments to Lutheran CORE’s Constitution online later this month.
Reprinted from May "CORE Connection" newsletter.
Working Groups have been busy shaping the life and work of the NALC and Lutheran CORE. They reported significant progress. Here are some reports and actions from the meeting:
✙ Quarterly meetings will continue with WordAlone Ministries and LCMC to further cooperative ministry.
✙ Augsburg Lutheran Churches and Lutheran CORE—Illinois were received as members of Lutheran CORE.
✙ Plans for NALC communications, logo, and website were discussed.
✙ Ministry Processes Working Group reported that they have been developing policies and procedures to receive pastors into the NALC. A process will be in place this summer.
✙ NALC proposal will separate the role of bishop from administrative functions following the pattern of some African churches.
✙ NALC Director will be a different person than Lutheran CORE Director.
✙ Among the members of the Ministry Processes Working Group are six former ELCA bishops.
✙ Congregational Life and Support Working Group presented a proposal for discipleship networking.
✙ Theological Education Working Group is in conversations about options and directions for theological education, especially for the training of pastors. They are exploring many options and working relationships including the Institute for Lutheran Theology and Wittenberg Institute, two ELCA seminaries, and some non-Lutheran seminaries. The intent is to support seminarians, not institutions.
✙ Noted that a well-educated laity will also be crucial to the renewal of Lutheranism.
✙ They are working to strengthen working relationships with supportive younger Lutheran theologians.
✙ Noted the importance of funding resources for theological education.
✙ Theological Conference: The number of registrations is very encouraging.
✙ A book will be published that will include presentations from the theological conference. Proceeds from the book will benefit Lutheran CORE.
✙ Seminary students may attend theological conference or Convocation for free and may apply for a $250 stipend to help with travel and related costs of attending.
✙ Ecumenical and Inter-Lutheran Relationships Working Group noted that ecumenical partners from around the world are very interested in working with L-CORE and the NALC.
✙ Reaffirmed that Lutheran CORE does not intend to be a church body. Lutheran CORE will continue as a community of confessing Lutherans regardless of church body affiliation.
✙ Lutheran CORE will seek to serve traditional voting members at future ELCA Churchwide Assemblies by connecting them with each other.
✙ Mission and Benevolence Working Group offered “five bold steps” for mission and benevolence built around the key conviction that “the mission of the Church is the Great Commission.” Their proposal will be featured in the June CORE Connection.
✙ Missions Coordinator: A Missions Coordinator will work with immigrant ministries and other mission congregations. The Steering Committee authorized moving forward with this position as funding is available.
✙ 2010 Convocation: Plans for the Convocation were discussed.
✙ The Convocation will be moved to Grove City Church of the Nazarene which will seat 3,000 people.
✙ Reports for the Convocation will be distributed electronically prior to the Convocation.
✙ Christians worldwide will be invited to join in 40 Days of Prayer prior to the Convocation.
✙ Those who wish to vote at the Convocation must be members of Lutheran CORE. Individuals can join Lutheran CORE online.
✙ Congregations may indicate their desire to join NALC by approving a resolution to do so. A model resolution has been prepared.
✙ Constitution Task Force will be publishing recommended amendments to Lutheran CORE’s Constitution online later this month.
Reprinted from May "CORE Connection" newsletter.
Thursday, May 13, 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.
Why I am joining the North American Lutheran Church
By Bishop Paull Spring
Lutheran CORE Steering Committee
I honor and respect our supporters who feel called to carry out their ministry through Lutheran CORE, a community of confessing Lutherans. There is a need for an orthodox voice and witness within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA still needs reform and renewal! There are countless faithful Lutherans in the ELCA who, while deeply disturbed with the ELCA, still feel called to work within that church body.
We need Lutheran CORE as a coalition or community of confessing Lutherans. I am confident that their participation in Lutheran CORE will strengthen their own faith and will enliven their worship and witness for Christ.
In the 18th and 19th centuries there were numerous “awakening move-ments” among the Lutheran churches of Europe, and the influence of these movements continues into the present. I believe that Lutheran CORE has the potential to be such an awakening movement for the ELCA.
It is in this spirit that I truly honor those who will continue to carry out their ministry through Lutheran CORE. Those of us who feel called to form the North American Lutheran Church will surely support Lutheran CORE in every way we can. Over these past several months we have rather consistently said that we will support, in a equal manner, those who belong to Lutheran CORE and those who will join the North American Lutheran Church.
I am among those who plan to join the North American Lutheran Church. I can no longer participate in the institutional life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The decisions at last August’s Churchwide Assembly — to approve same-sex blessings and to permit the ordination and ministry of actively gay and lesbian pastors — are so contrary to Biblical norms and constitute such a serious break with 2,000 years of ethical standards in the Church.
Until last August, I had serious disagreements with some of the policies and procedures of the ELCA. But these disagreements never reached the level of doctrine, creed, or Scripture. Up until then, I still hoped that Lutheran CORE could remain as a reforming movement within the ELCA, and that I could be a part of that movement.
The decisions of last August, however, were of such a doctrinal and Biblical nature — touching upon the doctrine of creation — that I now feel called to withdraw from the ELCA and to become a member of the North American Lutheran Church.
The North American Lutheran Church intends, with God’s help, to have a strong commitment for evangelism, growth, and discipleship. It will be a church that will be grounded in the Scriptures as God’s Word of Law and Gospel, according to the witness of the Lutheran Confessions. It will be a church that will focus ministry and mission on the congregation, the community where worship and mission principally takes place.
At the same time, it will be a structured church, a connectional community for faith and life, where congregations are related to one another and where decisions can be made on behalf of the whole community.
The North American Lutheran Church will have a ministry of oversight, a bishop and regional deans. I fervently hope that this ministry will be primarily pastoral in nature — Word and Sacrament ministry and visitations among pastors and congregations, that will reflect Article 28 of the Augsburg Confession. I also hope that we will find means for communal decision- making processes that we have not experienced in the ELCA.
The North American Lutheran Church will be a church that will be ecumenically engaged. It will seek membership in the Lutheran World Federation, so that, among other things, partnerships with African, Asian and eastern European churches can be nurtured. Ecumenical relationships will also be fostered with other churches and communities in North America which have sought to remain orthodox in their faith.
In short, the North American Lutheran Church is the kind of church whose time has come! A church that is orthodox in doctrine, alive in worship, and zealous for mission and evangelism. This is what the North American Lutheran Church promises to be. It may or may not be a large church, but size is not what matters these days. What matters is a church that seeks to be orthodox in its teaching; a connectional church that takes seriously its participation in the Church of the ages; and that seeks to follow vigorously the Great Commission.
The Rev. Paull Spring of State College, Pa., is the chair of the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee. He served 14 years as bishop of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA before “retiring” in 2001.
Reprinted from the May "CORE Connection" newsletter.
Lutheran CORE Steering Committee
I honor and respect our supporters who feel called to carry out their ministry through Lutheran CORE, a community of confessing Lutherans. There is a need for an orthodox voice and witness within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA still needs reform and renewal! There are countless faithful Lutherans in the ELCA who, while deeply disturbed with the ELCA, still feel called to work within that church body.
We need Lutheran CORE as a coalition or community of confessing Lutherans. I am confident that their participation in Lutheran CORE will strengthen their own faith and will enliven their worship and witness for Christ.
In the 18th and 19th centuries there were numerous “awakening move-ments” among the Lutheran churches of Europe, and the influence of these movements continues into the present. I believe that Lutheran CORE has the potential to be such an awakening movement for the ELCA.
It is in this spirit that I truly honor those who will continue to carry out their ministry through Lutheran CORE. Those of us who feel called to form the North American Lutheran Church will surely support Lutheran CORE in every way we can. Over these past several months we have rather consistently said that we will support, in a equal manner, those who belong to Lutheran CORE and those who will join the North American Lutheran Church.
I am among those who plan to join the North American Lutheran Church. I can no longer participate in the institutional life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The decisions at last August’s Churchwide Assembly — to approve same-sex blessings and to permit the ordination and ministry of actively gay and lesbian pastors — are so contrary to Biblical norms and constitute such a serious break with 2,000 years of ethical standards in the Church.
Until last August, I had serious disagreements with some of the policies and procedures of the ELCA. But these disagreements never reached the level of doctrine, creed, or Scripture. Up until then, I still hoped that Lutheran CORE could remain as a reforming movement within the ELCA, and that I could be a part of that movement.
The decisions of last August, however, were of such a doctrinal and Biblical nature — touching upon the doctrine of creation — that I now feel called to withdraw from the ELCA and to become a member of the North American Lutheran Church.
The North American Lutheran Church intends, with God’s help, to have a strong commitment for evangelism, growth, and discipleship. It will be a church that will be grounded in the Scriptures as God’s Word of Law and Gospel, according to the witness of the Lutheran Confessions. It will be a church that will focus ministry and mission on the congregation, the community where worship and mission principally takes place.
At the same time, it will be a structured church, a connectional community for faith and life, where congregations are related to one another and where decisions can be made on behalf of the whole community.
The North American Lutheran Church will have a ministry of oversight, a bishop and regional deans. I fervently hope that this ministry will be primarily pastoral in nature — Word and Sacrament ministry and visitations among pastors and congregations, that will reflect Article 28 of the Augsburg Confession. I also hope that we will find means for communal decision- making processes that we have not experienced in the ELCA.
The North American Lutheran Church will be a church that will be ecumenically engaged. It will seek membership in the Lutheran World Federation, so that, among other things, partnerships with African, Asian and eastern European churches can be nurtured. Ecumenical relationships will also be fostered with other churches and communities in North America which have sought to remain orthodox in their faith.
In short, the North American Lutheran Church is the kind of church whose time has come! A church that is orthodox in doctrine, alive in worship, and zealous for mission and evangelism. This is what the North American Lutheran Church promises to be. It may or may not be a large church, but size is not what matters these days. What matters is a church that seeks to be orthodox in its teaching; a connectional church that takes seriously its participation in the Church of the ages; and that seeks to follow vigorously the Great Commission.
The Rev. Paull Spring of State College, Pa., is the chair of the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee. He served 14 years as bishop of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA before “retiring” in 2001.
Reprinted from the May "CORE Connection" newsletter.
Saturday, May 08, 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.
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.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
ELCA reinstating pastors removed for misconduct
ELCA synods are moving quickly to reinstate pastors who were removed from the denomination’s clergy roster for violating the ELCA’s previous standards for pastors.
The ELCA announced in a May 4 press release that Bradley Schmeling and his same-sex partner Darin Easler have been approved for reinstatement as ELCA pastors.
Schmeling became a prominent leader in efforts to change ELCA teaching and policy after he was removed from the ELCA’s clergy roster in 2007 for entering into a same-sex sexual relationship with Easler.
At that time, the ELCA did not allow pastors to be in same-sex sexual relationships. The ELCA reversed its teaching and policy on homosexual behavior in 2009.
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted in August to allow pastors to be in committed same-sex relationships. But the official changes reversing the ELCA standards for pastors regarding same-sex sexual behavior weren’t formally approved until April.
April 10, the ELCA Church Council deleted a sentence 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.”
The ELCA Church Council also deleted a sentence which read: “Practicing homosexual persons are precluded from the ordained ministry of this church” from the ELCA’s “Definition and Guidelines for Discipline.”
A sentence which read: “Ordained ministers who are homosexual in their self-understanding are expected to abstain from homosexual sexual relationships” was deleted from the ELCA’s “Vision and Expectations” for pastors.
Schmeling gained significant attention across the ELCA and in the news media. He became the face of the battle for changes in Christian teaching on homosexual behavior. He was featured at rallies and worship services led by groups working to overturn ELCA teaching and policy.
Schmeling was featured in a DVD advocating change in ELCA teaching and policy sent to all of voting members of the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. He preached at a worship service hosted by those seeking the reversal of ELCA teaching and policy at the 2007 assembly. Bishop Margaret Payne of the ELCA’s New England Synod presided at the controversial service.
Schmeling became a hero/martyr of sorts for the LGBT community. He was even grand marshal of a gay pride parade in Atlanta in 2007. LGBT groups rallied to support him and efforts to overturn ELCA teaching and policy.
The Human Rights Campaign — which describes itself as “the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization — celebrated the ELCA actions and noted the organization’s involvement in a May 4 posting on their website. “We provided Pastor Brad and the lay leadership of St. John’s Church with media training that helped them set the rhetorical frames for all communications that related to the trial . . . (and) helped the congregation maximize media opportunities that educated the nation about what was happening in the ELCA and kept pressure for change on the denomination.”
“We supported the work of Lutherans Concerned / North America as they advocated tirelessly for policy change in the ELCA by co-sponsoring conferences in which their members were trained for advocacy using language and approaches that were uniquely Lutheran. HRC is proud to have helped with the end game that culminated years of work on the part of Lutherans Concerned and the Goodsoil coalition,” the release said.
Organizations working for change in church teaching on homosexual behavior provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in support for efforts to overturn ELCA teaching policy. The Arcus Foundation and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund each provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of the successful efforts to change ELCA teaching and policy.
“The candidacy committee of the ELCA Southeastern Synod, Atlanta, met April 24-25 and approved Schmeling’s request for reinstatement,” the ELCA news release said. Schmeling serves as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta.
“The candidacy committee of the ELCA Southeastern Minnesota Synod, Rochester, approved Easler’s request for reinstatement April 30,” the release says. Easler left his call as pastor of United Redeemer Lutheran Church in Zumbrota, Minn., in 2003. He transferred to the United Church of Christ, a denomination that allows pastors to be in same-sex relationships. He has been working as a hospice chaplain in Atlanta.
The ELCA announced in a May 4 press release that Bradley Schmeling and his same-sex partner Darin Easler have been approved for reinstatement as ELCA pastors.
Schmeling became a prominent leader in efforts to change ELCA teaching and policy after he was removed from the ELCA’s clergy roster in 2007 for entering into a same-sex sexual relationship with Easler.
At that time, the ELCA did not allow pastors to be in same-sex sexual relationships. The ELCA reversed its teaching and policy on homosexual behavior in 2009.
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted in August to allow pastors to be in committed same-sex relationships. But the official changes reversing the ELCA standards for pastors regarding same-sex sexual behavior weren’t formally approved until April.
April 10, the ELCA Church Council deleted a sentence 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.”
The ELCA Church Council also deleted a sentence which read: “Practicing homosexual persons are precluded from the ordained ministry of this church” from the ELCA’s “Definition and Guidelines for Discipline.”
A sentence which read: “Ordained ministers who are homosexual in their self-understanding are expected to abstain from homosexual sexual relationships” was deleted from the ELCA’s “Vision and Expectations” for pastors.
Schmeling gained significant attention across the ELCA and in the news media. He became the face of the battle for changes in Christian teaching on homosexual behavior. He was featured at rallies and worship services led by groups working to overturn ELCA teaching and policy.
Schmeling was featured in a DVD advocating change in ELCA teaching and policy sent to all of voting members of the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. He preached at a worship service hosted by those seeking the reversal of ELCA teaching and policy at the 2007 assembly. Bishop Margaret Payne of the ELCA’s New England Synod presided at the controversial service.
Schmeling became a hero/martyr of sorts for the LGBT community. He was even grand marshal of a gay pride parade in Atlanta in 2007. LGBT groups rallied to support him and efforts to overturn ELCA teaching and policy.
The Human Rights Campaign — which describes itself as “the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization — celebrated the ELCA actions and noted the organization’s involvement in a May 4 posting on their website. “We provided Pastor Brad and the lay leadership of St. John’s Church with media training that helped them set the rhetorical frames for all communications that related to the trial . . . (and) helped the congregation maximize media opportunities that educated the nation about what was happening in the ELCA and kept pressure for change on the denomination.”
“We supported the work of Lutherans Concerned / North America as they advocated tirelessly for policy change in the ELCA by co-sponsoring conferences in which their members were trained for advocacy using language and approaches that were uniquely Lutheran. HRC is proud to have helped with the end game that culminated years of work on the part of Lutherans Concerned and the Goodsoil coalition,” the release said.
Organizations working for change in church teaching on homosexual behavior provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in support for efforts to overturn ELCA teaching policy. The Arcus Foundation and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund each provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of the successful efforts to change ELCA teaching and policy.
“The candidacy committee of the ELCA Southeastern Synod, Atlanta, met April 24-25 and approved Schmeling’s request for reinstatement,” the ELCA news release said. Schmeling serves as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta.
“The candidacy committee of the ELCA Southeastern Minnesota Synod, Rochester, approved Easler’s request for reinstatement April 30,” the release says. Easler left his call as pastor of United Redeemer Lutheran Church in Zumbrota, Minn., in 2003. He transferred to the United Church of Christ, a denomination that allows pastors to be in same-sex relationships. He has been working as a hospice chaplain in Atlanta.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Lutheran Church in Tanzania affirms Biblical teaching on homosexual behavior and rejects changes in ELCA teaching and practice
Following is an announcement from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania regarding the church's affirmation of Biblical teaching on homosexual behavior and its opposition to changes in church teaching and practice approved by the ELCA.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania is the largest Lutheran church in Africa with 5.3 million members -- and the second largest church in the Lutheran World Federation. There are more than 18 million Lutherans in Africa. The ELCA has 4.6 million members.
Church rejects homosexuality
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) has reiterated her opposition to same-sex marriage and stated that those who are in such unions are not welcome to work in the ELCT because such practice is incompatible with Biblical teaching.
The ELCT Executive Council meeting, held in Moshi on April 27 to 28 this year, received and approved "The Dodoma Statement" prepared in January this year by the ELCT Bishops' Council. The bishops met in Dodoma to discuss in details steps to take after the decision of some European and American churches to recognize same-sex marriages.
The Statement says: "Those in same sex marriages, and those who support the legitimacy of such marriage, shall not be invited to work in the ELCT. We further reject their influence in any form, as well as their money and their support."
"This church affirms that love is the essence of a relationship between two people who live, or who want to live, together in marriage. But, with regard to married spouses, this is the love between two people of the opposite sex.
"This church does not accept reasons offered by advocates of same-sex marriage and its legitimacy unless it is based on the Word of God and Biblical teaching; therefore, we reject inappropriate and false interpretations of scripture produced to justify the marriage of people of the same gender.
"This church encourages and supports all those around the world who oppose churches that have taken the decision to legalize same-sex marriage.
"We appeal to those of like-mind with us to continue to be salt and light in our relationships. We should direct our energy into maintaining the unity and cooperation between us. Such unity will help us avoid falling into a state which would further injure the body of Christ, that is, the Church.
"We urge every believer in the ELCT to be very careful, alert and discerning lest they loose their faith in the face of this strange doctrine that could easily seduce people in this age of globalization.
"Those supporting same-sex marriages have started to do all they can to destroy one Biblical passage after another in order to legalize homosexuality and affirm that marriage is not necessarily between a man and a woman. They do so by putting forward their new and wrong interpretation - one which displays an attitude and understanding which differs from that which has existed for many years in the Church regarding the meaning of marriage in accordance with the teachings of the Word of God."
Some Bible passages that have been misused and given another interpretation to defend same-sex marriage are the following: Genesis 1:27-28, 2:24, Matt. 19: 5-7, Rom. 1:26-27, Gal. 3:28, etc.
The statement goes on to say: "The ELCT and other people worldwide who support our stand on the issue of opposing same-sex marriage believe that the Bible cannot be interpreted according to people's wishes or according to other authorities or to culture. Rather, the Bible is self explanatory and is merely translated into various languages without altering the meaning.
"The ELCT accepts that moral values may change among people as their situations change; however, ELCT believers know and believe that there are some things that cannot change, such as people having noses, ears and mouths.
"This church believes that, based on the teaching of the Word of God, there are values that cannot be adjusted even under the pressure of changing conditions and locations. One of these unwavering values concerns the issue of marriage and its meaning."
Issued by:
Office of the Secretary-General, ELCT
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania is the largest Lutheran church in Africa with 5.3 million members -- and the second largest church in the Lutheran World Federation. There are more than 18 million Lutherans in Africa. The ELCA has 4.6 million members.
Church rejects homosexuality
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) has reiterated her opposition to same-sex marriage and stated that those who are in such unions are not welcome to work in the ELCT because such practice is incompatible with Biblical teaching.
The ELCT Executive Council meeting, held in Moshi on April 27 to 28 this year, received and approved "The Dodoma Statement" prepared in January this year by the ELCT Bishops' Council. The bishops met in Dodoma to discuss in details steps to take after the decision of some European and American churches to recognize same-sex marriages.
The Statement says: "Those in same sex marriages, and those who support the legitimacy of such marriage, shall not be invited to work in the ELCT. We further reject their influence in any form, as well as their money and their support."
"This church affirms that love is the essence of a relationship between two people who live, or who want to live, together in marriage. But, with regard to married spouses, this is the love between two people of the opposite sex.
"This church does not accept reasons offered by advocates of same-sex marriage and its legitimacy unless it is based on the Word of God and Biblical teaching; therefore, we reject inappropriate and false interpretations of scripture produced to justify the marriage of people of the same gender.
"This church encourages and supports all those around the world who oppose churches that have taken the decision to legalize same-sex marriage.
"We appeal to those of like-mind with us to continue to be salt and light in our relationships. We should direct our energy into maintaining the unity and cooperation between us. Such unity will help us avoid falling into a state which would further injure the body of Christ, that is, the Church.
"We urge every believer in the ELCT to be very careful, alert and discerning lest they loose their faith in the face of this strange doctrine that could easily seduce people in this age of globalization.
"Those supporting same-sex marriages have started to do all they can to destroy one Biblical passage after another in order to legalize homosexuality and affirm that marriage is not necessarily between a man and a woman. They do so by putting forward their new and wrong interpretation - one which displays an attitude and understanding which differs from that which has existed for many years in the Church regarding the meaning of marriage in accordance with the teachings of the Word of God."
Some Bible passages that have been misused and given another interpretation to defend same-sex marriage are the following: Genesis 1:27-28, 2:24, Matt. 19: 5-7, Rom. 1:26-27, Gal. 3:28, etc.
The statement goes on to say: "The ELCT and other people worldwide who support our stand on the issue of opposing same-sex marriage believe that the Bible cannot be interpreted according to people's wishes or according to other authorities or to culture. Rather, the Bible is self explanatory and is merely translated into various languages without altering the meaning.
"The ELCT accepts that moral values may change among people as their situations change; however, ELCT believers know and believe that there are some things that cannot change, such as people having noses, ears and mouths.
"This church believes that, based on the teaching of the Word of God, there are values that cannot be adjusted even under the pressure of changing conditions and locations. One of these unwavering values concerns the issue of marriage and its meaning."
Issued by:
Office of the Secretary-General, ELCT
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