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
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5 comments:
Am I misunderstanding this letter?
As I read it you have been told by an ELCA bishop, after announcing that you have left the ELCA Ministerium that you are no longer a pastor, period, anywhere.
Did he mean to say that? Or did he just goober up his words to that effect?
Nice, considering that "this church" has now passed a resolution to be in dialogue with the NALC. I wonder if they are going to keep that attitude during discussions? ~shrug~
Yes, the bishop meant to say that. In fact, I think this is text from a form letter prepared by the ELCA Secretary.
Interestingly the ELCA has decided to determine the ordination status and titles of those who disagree with them. Ironic that the ELCA recognizes and respects "Pastor" and "Reverend" for Pastors of the LCMS, WELS, Roman Catholic Church, etc. The power that the ELCA has bestowed on itelf is stagering and arrogant.
What was all that we learned in seminary: we are rostered in the ELCA but ordained in the Christian Church?
Once again the theology of the ELCA has nothing to do with the practice of the ELCA.
The thing is, that is not truly "the perspective of this church," but a fundamental misunderstanding of the ELCA's perspective of the Holy Ministry and a gross misapplication of ELCA practice and policy.
I suppose we ought not be surprised by something like this in a church where the leadership of Churchmen has been replaced by enthusiasts who have confused knowing the names of tools for their proper use. :-(
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