AssociationForChurchRenewal.com

Editor’s Note: Those interested in supporting a new Pan-Lutheran seminary by donating relevant books may wish to explore this opportunity. Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt, ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America leads the institute.

Donate Theological Books
The Institute of Lutheran Theology is a new pan-Lutheran seminary grounded in the Scriptures and in classical Christianity of the Historic Christian Church..  The Institute is in need of donated books for its library. Begun last year, the Institute ministers to the theological and educational needs of those who are studying for the ministry, for pastors in congregations, and for laypeople who wish to grow in their theological understanding. While it is Lutheran in orientation, it seeks to be of benefit to the Christian Church at large.  This Fall the Institute began its first year of M.Div. classes. The Institute is seeking to build a library that can be used by both its students and its faculty. The school is asking clergy to consider donating a portion of their library, or, in cases of retired pastors, their entire library to the Institute. This is a great way to make sure that your books live on and minister to others long after you are gone. Those who are interested should contact the Rev. Douglas Morton, Library Director for the school. You may email him at dmorton@instituteoflutherantheology.org. For more information about the Institute of Lutheran Theology, please visit their web site at www.instituteoflutherantheology.org.

Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson tried to communicate confidence to the recent conference of ELCA Bishops saying, “I still remain convinced that we in the ELCA have a particularly unique moment to give an evangelical and missional witness together to the world.” The mood, however, was uneasy as financial crisis and schism looms large in the wake of this summer’s ELCA decision to follow the UCC and Episcopals in the embrace of homosexual clergy.

If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 13:1-3

A statement by 130 so-called “Teaching Theologians” in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America calling the church away from it’s Biblical foundations has drawn a pointed response by Lutheran Teaching Theologian Rev. Dr. Paul Hinlicky. The article Against the 130 “Teaching Theologians” takes the statement to task for it’s departures from Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the consensus fidelium of the historic Church.

It concludes that the irresponsible work of “teaching” theologians who seem more adept at rationalizing accomodations to the spirit of the age in producing this statement must be dismissed. “Were this teaching clear, pastoral flexibility and evangelical mercy could prevail as they ought in our churches in regard to sisters and brothers who bear the cross of same-sex desire. But since it is not clear, and since veiled threats are being issued to keep matters obscure, those true to Scripture and Confessions have no choice but publicly and officially to protest.”

Photo:Prayer Offered for the success of Detroit's new Hybrids. Other new religious hybrids are emerging around the mainline.

For those who thought the ‘Emergent’ movement came from beyond the seeker sensitive contemporary post-evangelical frontier welcome to the “Hybrid Emergents” who are donning the vestments and liturgies of the mainline church.

The Luthermergents feature such leaders as Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber who claims on the “Praxis Podcast” to be “unashamedly orthodox” and “devoutly Lutheran”. Nadia is pastor at the House for All Sinners and Saints; a Lutheran mission church in Denver Colorado, which advertises itself as, “liturgical, Christo-centric, social justice oriented, queer inclusive, incarnational, contemplative, irreverent, ancient - future church with a progressive but deeply rooted theological imagination.” The Luthermergent website also features a link to the Emerging Leaders Network which include links (as do some other emergent sites) to folks with the ’secret behind the secret’, namely channeling non-embodied spirits.

Luthermergent
http://luthermergent.ning.com/

The Presbymergents by comparison are a bit more subdued. Meeting for the first time in February, 2009, they reflect the urge to behave “decently and in order” by creating an organization and applying for a 501c3. In fact Bruce Reyes-Chow , PCUSA Moderator is listed as one of their bloggers. One key “mission statement” put forward by their coordinator, Drew Tatusko, a Princeton Seminary Grad (2000), reads, “Presbymergent are followers of Christ who seek continual reform of existing church structures through dynamic, open, and intentionally critical systems.”

http://presbymergent.org/

The Methomergents seem less intent on the radical and more concerned with how the methodist system does and doesn’t work, what is the role of the next generation, and what it means to be a missional methodist.

http://methomergent.blogspot.com

The Reformergent’s are a bit more skeptical about their own emergence, seeing theological deficiencies in the emergent movement in their approach to evangelism and orthodoxy. Their blog site sees four primary values in ‘emerging’, namely: missional living, social justice, authenticity and unstructured ecclesiology.

http://www.reformergent.org/about/

The Anglimergent group reflects much the same diversity as their parents, stating their intent to “agree to remain friends and remain in conversation that is honest in acknowledging the differing traditions and practices in different Anglican church bodies within our communion, without falling prey to paralysis that prevents us from engaging one another and God’s mission.”

Anglimergent

The anglimergents in the U.S. have their own Bishop Protector, The Right Reverend Gregory H. Rickel, Diocese of Olympia, WA. Liberal Episcopal figures such as Bishop Bruno and Phyllis Tickle are heavily involved in supporting this movement and several of the “Emergent” churches such as the “The Crossing” which meets at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Boston under the sponsorship of the Diocese of Massachusetts, are committed to “building a core of new leaders, young adults, people of color and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered people.”

Episcopal Life

On the other hand a major conference entitled “Ancient Traditions, Anglican Futures An Emerging Conversation” to be held at Evangelical, Trinity School of Ministry in Ambrose, Pa, June 4 - 6, is also promoted on the Anglimergent site.

The question “Ancient Traditions, Anglican Futures” will address in June is, ” How do Anglican “insiders” welcome young evangelicals, post-evangelicals, and emergents who are attracted to the “Great Tradition”? How do inquiring “outsiders” perceive or participate in the distinctive anamnesia (memory) of Anglican worship and mission? How can the exchange between insiders and outsiders bear fruit in Anglicanism today? How will this emerging conversation stir the mind and heart of an Anglicanism in renewal?”

Trinity School of Ministry

Photo: Lutheran booth at Gay Pride Parade, Lesbian wedding, L.A. 2007

Some 130 and counting Lutheran Theologians have signed on to a statement supporting the recommended changes proposed by the ELCA Study on Sexuality to the Churchwide assembly in 2009. They support recommendations which would offer church affirmation for same gender relationships, allow those in such relationships to be leaders in the church, to be ordained and to be rostered.

Their rational is that:

“We too affirm the authority of the Scriptures, but the seven biblical texts that are frequently cited on the issue of homosexuality are not directly pertinent to the 21st century discussion.”

“While not all Lutheran church bodies are of one mind on these issues, (Notably in the global south) Scandinavian and German Lutherans have already taken similar actions to those now being proposed in the ELCA.”

“We recognize that the unity of the church is based on one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, and that within this unity, faithful members may disagree on individual items of faith and practice.”

For the full list of participating theologians and scholars:
Lutheran Theologians Statement

Image: The Lutheran Study Bible LCMS

As a six year project to create “THE LUTHERAN STUDY BIBLE” by Concordia Press, (affiliated with the Missouri Synod Lutherans) nears publication in October, 2009, the ELCA has rushed into publication a rival Bible entitled “LUTHERAN STUDY BIBLE.” Despite requests by Concordia to use another title, Augsburg Fortress Press released their Bible this month, with not much more than a year of preparation.

The two Bibles, however, differ significantly in their approach. In one critical passage, the Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20 the ELCA Bible notes, “Jesus now sends the disciples to make disciples of all nations. That does not mean make everyone disciples. Most people who are helped by Jesus and believe in him never become disciples. Jesus includes in salvation people who do not believe in him or ever know about him (5:30; 25:31-45). Disciples are students, called for the sake of the world to learn from Jesus and to bear witness to the kingdom. They are salt and light (5:13-16). Jesus promises to be with them always as they carry out this mission. Previously, Jesus promised to be present in the exercise of forgiveness (18:18-20) and in the ‘least of these’ who suffer (25:31-45).”

The goals of Concordia’s THE LUTHERAN STUDY BIBLE are:

1. Present justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as the chief teaching of Scripture (Lk 24:44-;47; Jn 5:39; SA II I 1-4)
2. Properly distinguish and apply Law and Gospel (reading the Bible as a book about justification; Jn 1:17; Gal 3:21-22; Ap XIIA 53-54)
3. Emphasize God’s work through the means of grace (Mt 26:26-29; Jn 3:5; 20:22-23; Rm 10:17; SA III IV)
4. Function from a “Scripture alone” point of view and presents a “Scripture interprets Scripture” approach to using the Bible (Ps 119; 1Tm 6:3; 2Tm 3:16-17; FC Ep Sum)
5. Equip the laity for works of service, with a particular focus on evangelism in their various vocations/callings in life (Ps 145:4-13; Eph 2; Ap XV 41-42)
6. Present a uniquely Lutheran study Bible that features genuinely Lutheran notes and comments throughout, references to the Lutheran Confessions where appropriate, focus on the Small Catechism for helps and explanations, citations from Luther throughout, and materials to aid daily devotion and prayer

http://cyberbrethren.com

The Anglican and Lutheran Churches in Canada are planning a joint national meetings in 2013 and are actively engaged in plans to share space for their denominational offices. “If full communion is really going to have some sense of visibility across the Canadian church, there has to be some pretty bold steps we take together to help people realize that we are in fact churches in full communion, ” said Archbishop Fred Hiltz.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada upheld Biblical standard for marriage and ordination in 2007. The Anglican Church continues to struggle with growing division over these critical issues. Both churches are experiencing ongoing decline and financial crisis. Hiltz, however, denied that this was pushing them together, “I think we’re moving together in our relationship as churches in full communion, not out of fear but out of hope”, he said.

Epsicopal Life

Three leading Lutheran theologians have powerfully responded to the Task Force proposals that would allow those in same gender sexual relationships to serve as ordained ministers, diaconal ministers, deaconesses and associates in ministry.

Dr. Robert D. Benne said, “I believe it is incontestable that the scriptures and the moral teaching of the Christian church throughout the ages - and presently that of the ecumenical church-proscribe homosexual relations of any sort. I am not satisfied with appeals to sincerity and tolerance, especially since I think Christian teaching is clear. And I am certainly not satisfied with those appeals when the recommendations of the task force lead to no teachings at all on the subject, but yet lead to sharp changes in practice.”

Rev. Paul R. Hinlicky, Roanoke’s Tice Professor in Lutheran studies says he’s contemplating a divorce, “Not from my wife of 35 years, but from my denomination.” “In fact, the Church, including member churches of the Lutheran World Federation, especially the younger churches of Africa and Asia, Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestant Evangelicalism overwhelmingly dispute this unscriptural revision of the doctrine of marriage as also many do in the declining and dying liberal protestant churches of North America. The real voice of the people of God across the world and through the ages seems to matter not at all in this social statement draft any more than Holy Scripture.”

Rev. Carl Braaten, co-founder of the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology, professor emeritus of systematic theology, Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago, said, “The social statement professes not to know the difference between right and wrong on crucial matters of human sexuality.”

ELCA News Service