Among Lutheran CORE’s greatest concerns have been the
following –
How can we help raise up a whole new generation of
Lutheran pastors who will be Biblical and confessional in their theology and
who will be committed to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples for
Jesus Christ?
What can we do to reach young people for Jesus? How can we present the Gospel of Jesus to
them in a clear, compelling, and engaging way?
How can we help them feel and be connected to the church?
Because of these concerns, we are very grateful for
the opportunity to sponsor a week of NEXUS for high schoolers at Grand View
University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Originally funded by a substantial Lilly Endowment
Grant, NEXUS is designed to give high school students a chance to engage in the
study of the Bible and Lutheran theology, be involved in service, and discern
whether God has gifted them and is calling them to full-time Christian ministry
and/or leadership in the church. In the
past three years, over one hundred high schoolers have gone through NEXUS. Grand View has found that after a week of
NEXUS, students grow significantly in their understanding of Scripture,
Lutheran theology, faith practices, and the doctrine of vocation. In addition, many college-aged mentors who
have participated in the program have gone on to seminary and/or full-time
church work.
There is no charge for high schoolers to attend NEXUS,
and Grand View wants to keep it that way.
The original grant from Lilly Endowment will have been spent by the end
of this coming summer, so Grand View has approached Lutheran CORE and other
ministries about sponsoring a week of NEXUS.
The board of Lutheran CORE has long recognized that many of the Lutheran
ministries that used to engage young people with a high view of the authority
of the Bible and the challenge to consider a career in Christian ministry no
longer exist or no longer function in that way, so the board immediately
responded positively to the invitation and request.
The cost to host one week of NEXUS for twenty-four
high school students, which includes college-aged mentors, teachers,
activities, room and board, and materials, is $30,000. Lutheran CORE has committed half of the
amount for one week – $15,000. The funds
from Lutheran CORE will be matched by Lilly Endowment to cover a full week’s
cost of $30,000.
Because the original grant from Lilly Endowment will
cover the costs for the two weeks of NEXUS during the summer of 2020, the funds
from Lutheran CORE will be used for a week during the summer of 2021. However, we do not want to wait until next
year to be involved. My plan is to
attend at least a significant part of the week of NEXUS this year that will be
sponsored by the NALC (North American Lutheran Church) – July 12-17 – to
further observe the program and to get to know, listen to, learn from, and
share with the young people who are there about such things as these –
What
are they thinking about, running into, and dealing with in their lives?
What
are the questions that they are asking and facing?
What
hopes do they have for the church and for their own lives?
What
is stirring them?
Sharing
in that interaction and experiencing a week of NEXUS will help us know how best
to put a “Lutheran CORE imprint” upon a week of NEXUS in 2021.
My
purpose for writing is to let you know about this additional ministry that we
are pursuing. In his first letter to his
young friend Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote, “The Spirit expressly says that
in later times some will renounce the faith.”
(1 Timothy 4: 1) Part of our work
as Lutheran CORE is to alert people to ways in which the orthodox Christian
faith is being renounced by many – unfortunately even in the church. We also want to be there for people and
congregations when they do become aware of this great tragedy. In his second letter Paul wrote, “What you
have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will
be able to teach others as well.” (2
Timothy 2: 2) It is absolutely
imperative that the Christian faith be passed on from one generation to the
next. We do not want to be the
generation that drops the ball.
Please consider giving a gift to Lutheran CORE – over and above your current giving – to help fund the commitment that we have made to provide $15,000 for one week of high school NEXUS. You may donate online or use the response form that you will find below and/or you may designate NEXUS on the memo line on your check. We are very grateful for the faithful generosity of our friends, which will enable us to help support this fine ministry, in addition to all of the other ways in which we seek to be a Voice for Biblical Truth and a Network for Confessing Lutherans.
2 Timothy 2: 2 – “What you have heard from me through
many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as
well.”
1
Timothy 4: 12 – “Let no one think less of you because you are young; rather set
the believers an example.”
Letter From the Director – February 2020
written by Dennis Nelson | February 27, 2020
“MUCH LAND STILL REMAINS TO BE CONQUERED”
Joshua 13: 1 says, “Now Joshua was old and advanced in years; and the Lord said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years.’” I can imagine Joshua saying, “Thank you, Lord. I really did not need to be reminded of that.” Then the Lord added, “Much land still remains to be conquered.”
Joshua, it’s not all over. There is still much important work for you to do.
I can imagine the Lord saying the same thing to all of us who are retired or who are approaching retirement. “Much land still remains to be conquered. It’s not all over. There is still much important work for you to do.”
I have heard it referred to as both the second chapter and the third chapter of life – that time in life (usually during retirement) when time is more abundant because the kids are grown and we do not have to work full-time in order to earn a living.
I retired a little over five and a half years ago. For me a major question since then has been –
What does God want me to do with what He gave me the opportunity to learn and with the skills He gave me the opportunity to develop during my full-time working years now during this next chapter in life?
I think of Moses. Moses did not begin his major life work until the age of eighty. I am eight years short of the age of eighty. Moses spent the first forty years of his life as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter – pampered and spoiled and unable to control his temper. There was no way that at the age of forty he would have been ready to lead several hundred thousand stiff-necked, stubborn, and complaining people through the wilderness. It was only after another forty years of herding the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro in the desert that Moses knew how to survive in the desert and that Moses was ready to lead God’s people through the desert. It was only at the age of eighty that he was ready.
What has God been getting you ready for? What does God have in mind for you? God is the one who sent the plagues, parted the waters, and provided manna in the wilderness. But Moses was the man whom God had prepared to lead His people.
What has God been preparing you for? I know that for me the opportunities I have had in retirement to do supply preaching and teach adult Bible studies have been a blessing, and the opportunity to serve as executive director of Lutheran CORE is the perfect thing for me at this time in life.
I asked three retired persons if they would write about what they are doing now in ministry to use their accumulated insight, wisdom, gifts, knowledge, skills, and experience in their current chapter of life. They are Robert Benne, professor at the Institute of Lutheran Theology and former professor of religion and director of the Center for Religion and Society at Roanoke College; Carol Peters, retired LCMC pastor in Arizona and one of the CiT (Congregations in Transition) coaches; and Steve Shipman, former executive director of Lutheran CORE, currently serving as an interim pastor of an NALC congregation in Pennsylvania.
Here is what they wrote:
Dr. Robert Benne wrote –
In 1999 I went to the Roanoke College President’s office to tell him I wanted to relinquish my endowed chair and my tenured position on the faculty. I was only 62. I was weary from doing too many things and I wanted a new chapter in my life. Graciously, he told me to think about it for a week or so since it was a pretty drastic move. I came back in two weeks to reaffirm my decision, with the proviso that I continue to run the Center for Religion and Society which I had founded in 1982, as well as teach a few electives as an adjunct senior lecturer.
I simply did not want to give up the activities I had done with some skill and satisfaction for nearly 35 years. I relinquished the directorship of the Center in 2012. A new online seminary — the Institute of Lutheran Theology — came calling so I returned to teaching Christian ethics at a seminary after having been a college teacher for 30 years. At the same time I gave up teaching at Roanoke College.
I now teach one course in Christian ethics per term at the ILT. Another great teaching opportunity came up as we moved in 2015 to a large and thriving NALC congregation, St. John Lutheran. There I offer courses that draw from 30-60 adults. Right now I am teaching a course on Bonhoeffer’s Cost of Discipleship to 50.
Meanwhile, I am busily doing another activity I love—writing. Since 2010 I have written three books: Good and Bad Ways to Think about Religion and Politics; Keeping the Soul in Christian Higher Education: a History of Roanoke College, and my memoirs, Thanks be to God: Memoirs of a Practical Theologian. I have also written a number of chapters in other books.
I recount all this to illustrate what I think is true for most people who have taken up a vocation that brings deep satisfaction and usefulness to church and society. In my case, I have been a Christian teacher and writer for 55 years. Those activities have brought intrinsic meaning and joy over the years, and I hope they have been useful to the church. But the point is that we should not stop doing those sorts of vocational pursuits if we continue to find satisfaction in them and others (church and seminary in my case) find them valuable.
When I advise friends who are wondering what they should do in their retirement I recommend that they continue to exercise their talents and training in something continuous with what they did in their full-time employment. For example, I advised an exhausted emergency room doctor to exercise his talents on a charity hospital ship — something he had always wanted to do — rather than devote his time to other sorts of voluntary activities. I advised a retiring pastor to find some diminished role in another church so he could continue preaching, teaching, and offering pastoral care. Perhaps this sounds like semi-retirement, but if so, I commend it. One lives a more manageable life with more leisure, freedom, and ample naps. And one continues one’s calling in a more customized way.
I am willing to admit that some folks need to stop what they are doing and do something very different, or do nothing at all for a time, but that would not work for me. On the worrisome side, what will happen when I cannot teach or write? At 82 that may come sooner than later. Then I will be tested whether I have been tempted to justify myself by my works. I dearly hope that I will then discover the depth of the meaning of being justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
* * * * * * *
Pastor Carol Peters wrote –
After being retired for two years, I discovered what was for me a liberating testimony by J. Vernon McGee, a pastor in Los Angeles many years ago as well as a radio preacher. I had been feeling guilty for not missing full-time ministry more than I did. In his commentary on the Psalms, Pastor McGee wrote: “…the happiest time of my ministry began when I retired from the pastorate; the most spiritually profitable time of my life began at that moment…. Do you know why? I have whittled my life down to the one thing I want to do—teach the Bible.”
Indeed, the now four years I have been retired have been very “spiritually profitable.” I now have time to spend in sessions of intercessory prayer for individuals, for the spread of the Gospel, for nations, for persecuted believers, for the health of the Church, etc. I prayed, of course, while I was a pastor, but I never had a lot of time to devote to the ministry of intercession. There is also much more time each week to spend alone with Jesus. And like Pastor McGee, I am enjoying teaching the Bible in various settings. I have always loved teaching, only now I have more time to spend digging into the Scripture and developing various courses than my schedule allowed when I was overseeing numerous programs at the large church I served as associate pastor.
My situation as a retired pastor is rather unique in that I am still a worshipping member of the church I served as a pastor as is the now-retired senior pastor with whom I worked. Our congregation left the ELCA some years ago, and with the new senior pastor’s approval – and I should mention that he served as an associate pastor with us for about ten years before becoming the senior pastor – we made the decision that after retiring, we would stay away for six months or so, allowing a “new normal” to develop, and then we would return. We do keep an intentionally low profile but are pleased to assist in any way when requested by the current senior pastor.
And that has worked out beautifully in our situation! I have maintained my friendships made over the years. I have taught in our adult education program. I was asked to continue writing devotional studies for the congregation for Lent which I had done for many years while a pastor. Now I have much more time to research and develop those studies! And then, of course, there is occasional preaching and presiding at memorial services – not frequent, but occasional.
Those activities, as well as occasional opportunities to serve other congregations by supply preaching or teaching a short-term class, have made for a happy time of ministry! No longer the demanding schedule of the pastorate yet the continued service to the Lord and His Church.
* * * * * * *
Pastor Steve Shipman wrote –
Recently a person trying to do some work around my house who wanted me there when he did it, was trying to coordinate schedules with me. Finally in frustration he turned to his wife and said, “That guy flunked retirement.” I confess that I cannot argue with that claim.
Since I work half a day each week in a program designed to keep people who qualify for institutional care out of nursing homes, I realize how undeservedly blessed I am. I used to tell people I “take care of a bunch of old people,” then one day I looked at the computer and discovered a third of the folks were younger than I was. Several years have passed, and it may be closer to half. Yet they are all dealing with serious health issues, mostly through no fault of their own, and need assistance with the activities of daily living.
This year I am both serving as District Governor for the Lions club in my three-county area and also as half-time interim pastor of an NALC congregation as it searches for a full-time pastor. That in addition to my chaplaincy. I didn’t plan it that way, but I was committed to the Lions and was the most logical person to do the interim. Yes, it has been a crazy year and I am looking forward to re-retiring when the congregation issues its call. But I’m not aware my ordination had a termination date. God didn’t call Moses until he was 80, and God retired him (in much better health than I am today according to Deuteronomy) at 120. So who am I to complain?
We all know people who retired in good health and within a brief period became seriously ill. I’m not ready to sit in a lounge chair watching those dumb Hallmark movies with my wife. She and I would like to do more traveling and I’d like to get back into biking on the many local rail trails. But in the end, I am being selfish if God gives me opportunities to serve people and I refuse His call.
Science has proven that being active and using one’s brain power can put off many of the medical issues associated with aging. And since we old people are especially subject to depression, it is good to get involved in meaningful activities where we can see other people being blessed instead of whining about the inevitable changes in our own bodies or in the world around us.
And I have found that supply preaching and interim work carry a different dynamic than a long-term pastorate, as does my part-time chaplaincy. I have never felt so appreciated in my life, and I have to admit that my ego enjoys the compliments I receive. But I also know my track record, and there is a long list of people from parishes I served who would disagree, usually with valid reasons. I would urge retiring pastors and church workers that, after a period of time sitting in the pews to unwind, you be open to any opportunities God gives you to use your gifts to help congregations in transition or in a chaplaincy setting.
I’m having more fun than I have had for years, and I also feel that I am in many ways doing more good than I may have done in my called ministries. Some of that is having learned from my mistakes, but most is due to the different context. I’m hoping that the Almighty lets me slow down a bit, and I don’t want to keep at this as long as Moses, but I trust that God’s purpose is more important than what I think my desires might be.
* * * * * * *
If you were to write about what God is calling you to do at this point or time in your life, what would you say?
Blessings in Christ, Dennis D. Nelson Executive Director of Lutheran CORE dennisdnelsonaz@yahoo.com 909-274-8591
March for Life 2020
written by Cathy Ammlung | February 27, 2020
Editor’s Note: Pastor Cathy Ammlung is a pastor in the North American Lutheran Church and serves as Secretary of the Board of Lutheran CORE. She has earned a master’s degree in Chemistry and two master’s degrees in Theology.
I normally don’t share stuff about my political or religious views, aside from occasionally posting one of my sermons. That’s because I don’t usually like reading other people’s stuff on those topics. I confess, I generally click “hide this post.” Keeps my relationships with many folks more cordial because I’m not tempted to get in a war of words that would probably not change anyone’s mind but undoubtedly would harden someone’s heart.
I don’t want to inflict my views on other people, and would rather talk one on one about such topics. But I’m breaking my own rules today. I promise to not get judgy. Still, if you want to unfriend me because I was at the March for Life, go ahead. I get it.
This was the first time I’ve ever been in any march. I hate crowds! But this was a remarkably peaceful, polite, joyous crowd. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Mideastern. Many religious groups. Bikers in badass leather. Guys in dreadlocks. A fellow dressed in a weird Uncle Sam outfit, riding a sort of skateboard with a big center wheel, waving a “Shred for Life” banner. Don’t ask!! Knights of Columbus with thunderous drummers, and a group of Evangelicals with bagpipes, trumpets, and fifes. An astonishing number of young people, and scads of young nuns, young priests, young monks. Folks in wheelchairs, on crutches, with canes, in casts. Me, I was part of the North American Lutheran Church contingent. It was an uplifting and thought provoking experience.
What really got to me, and I suppose why I decided to post something, were a few of the very personal posters and comments. A young man with a photo of himself as a very premature baby in a NICU, with the words, “This is what ‘late term’ looks like.” Someone who said, “The doctor urged an abortion when my mom was pregnant, saying I wouldn’t live 24 hours. She chose life.” Women who deeply regretted having an abortion, standing quietly in front of the Supreme Court – next to women quietly holding up “keep abortion legal” posters. Men mourning the death of children they would have loved, but whose partners aborted the child. One of those men openly weeping when some prayers for the sanctity of life that I’d written were read in his church, grateful that someone offered a word of compassion for him and his girlfriend.
And it struck me: if I’d been conceived in 1973 instead of 1953, I might have been a statistic instead of a participant. My birth parents were married when I was born. Can you imagine the gossip if a *married* couple back then, obviously expecting a child, gave up that child – and not to a sympathetic relative but to an agency? How much less awkward, inconvenient, even shameful, if they’d surreptitiously had an abortion and claimed a miscarriage. Seeing those profoundly personal signs, hearing multitudes of personal stories, thinking about my own existence, drove home a point.
This isn’t an agenda or slogan. It’s not a political stunt or legal diktat. This is about real human beings, yes maybe even including me, who would not have even existed except they were not aborted. It’s about real people in the midst of scary, difficult, even tragic circumstances, heroically or maybe even inadvertently being truly “pro-choice.” They chose an innocent child’s right to life above their right to assert their own legitimate desires, hopes, and fears. It’s about committing our lives, time, and efforts into supporting, encouraging, and aiding women and men to make that brave, hard choice even when the culture shouts and celebrates the opposite.
Enough. Here is the prayer that I wrote.
Gracious Father, through you all parenthood is blessed. You were pleased to incarnate your Son through the consent and the flesh of a woman, the Virgin Mary. You entrusted the care of the holy Child to his foster father, St. Joseph. Bless, protect, guide, and strengthen all parents – biological, adoptive, and foster. Especially when parenting is difficult, give them joy and satisfaction in their holy task. Grant them a double portion of your Spirit, so that their children may flourish in faith toward you, in honor toward their parents, and in love for all your children.
We pray for those who struggle to have children and cannot. We pray for those who have lost a child they deeply loved.
We pray for those who struggle to love their children even when that is desperately difficult. We pray for those who do not want the child they have conceived or borne. Have mercy on them all. They face such terrible demons of grief, shame, regret, fear, and anger. Often, we can only stand and weep with them, and pray for them. Help us to do those things, and to walk with them through their dark valleys. Help us to share our confidence that you will lead them safely through.
Have mercy on women who seek, or who have endured, an abortion – and upon the father of their unborn child. As you visited Joseph in a dream, touch their spirits with your presence. Help them understand your love for them, and their unborn child. Where forgiveness is needed, grant it freely and lavishly. Help them to turn to you. Give them the strength to choose life, not death, if they are pregnant. Give them the grace to repent, to forgive themselves and each other, and to be healed in body and soul, if they have already had an abortion.
There are so many “disposable people,” dear Lord! They range from the unborn, to the handicapped, to refugees and immigrants, to the frail elderly, to our personal and corporate foes, to people whose lives seem so “out of bounds” that we can’t really comprehend, much less respond to them helpfully or graciously. Loving, respecting, and caring for “disposable people” is so hard! We can feel overwhelmed, angry, frustrated, cheated, or hopeless. And we’re ashamed even to admit that sometimes even we wish they’d just go away. Forgive us, dear Lord. Give us grace to see them through Jesus’ eyes: as people he loves so much that he gave his life for them. Give us grace to see his presence in them. Give us grace to share even a cup of cold water with them, for Christ has claimed them as his sisters and brothers.
We pray for everyone who cares for the most vulnerable people in our midst. Their work is often hard and usually under-appreciated. Thank you for their goodness and dedication. Deepen their compassion, integrity, and wisdom. Protect and strengthen them when others want them to act against their faith, their principles, and their dedication to cherish life and promote genuine well-being.
Father, there are many who think that humanity is a matter of achievement. If someone isn’t smart enough, healthy enough, independent enough, or even wanted enough, they don’t “deserve” to be treated as fully human persons. Don’t let us fall into that horrible mindset. Give us the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and fear of the Lord, and joy in your presence – not just for our own good, but so that we are equipped to combat those sinful and death-filled notions. Help us to share, in word and by example, what you have always revealed: that we are persons because you have made us in your divine image. No matter how distorted or disabled or debased that image has become through accident, malice or the cussedness of the universe, help us all to see, acknowledge, and pray for that image to be perfectly restored in Christ Jesus our Savior.
March for Life 2020
March for Life 2020
March for Life 2020
L-R, Cathy Ammlung, Melinda Jones, Steve Shipman, Bp. Dan Selbo, Dennis DiMauro, Dave Wendel and Al Towberman at the March for Life in Washington, DC, January 24, 2020
March for Life, January 24, 2020, in Washington, DC
Joseph
must have been a wonderful man. I would
like to have known Joseph and to have had him as a friend. Matthew 1: 18-25 – the Gospel reading for
December 22, the fourth Sunday in Advent this year – has this to say about
Joseph. “Joseph, being a righteous man
and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her
quietly.” (verse 19)
But
then, after the angel appeared to him, it says, “When Joseph awoke from sleep,
he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.” (verse 24)
If
Joseph were with us today to tell his story, I could imagine his saying
something like this –
“I
am a righteous man. I try to live
according to the Holy Scriptures. I had
a reputation to maintain in our community.
As soon as people found out that Mary was pregnant, they would assume
that I was the father. My reputation
would be ruined. I was furious. I was going to make it public. I was going to go before the elders at the
town gate and sever this relationship, after explaining to them that I was not responsible.
“But
as I thought about it I realized that I could not do that, because I loved
Mary. Even though she had broken my
heart and had shattered my trust, and I knew I could not marry her, still I did
not want to expose her to public shame.
So I decided that I would just call the whole thing off quietly and make
up some sort of a story.”
After
the angel appeared to him, I can imagine his saying something like this –
“I
was elated. I had received a message
from heaven. I knew for sure that Mary
had told me the truth. I was filled with
joy. I apologized to Mary for doubting
her.”
Regarding
the circumstances of the birth of Jesus, I can imagine his saying something
like this –
“I
lit a fire to keep us warm. When the
baby came, I did the best I could to be a midwife. But remember, I am a carpenter. I severed the cord, cleaned the child as best
I could, and then wrapped him in strips of cloth. I laid him in a manger, because that was the
only place where I could put him where he would be off of the filth of the
floor.
“I
had all kinds of questions, like: If Mary is supposed to be highly favored of
God (as the angel had told her), and if this is something that God had been
planning on doing for a long time, then how do you explain the cave? How do you explain the dirt and the
cattle? How do you explain the
loneliness? For no one came to celebrate
the birth of our son except some lowly shepherds. They came smelling like sheep. They said they had heard an angel choir. They came looking for our baby boy. Except for them, we were totally alone.”
Looking
back on the whole Christmas experience, I can imagine Joseph saying something
like this –
“When
I was young, I figured that if even once in my life I were to see an angel, I
would never doubt. I would always
believe. Well, I saw an angel. But still there have been times when I have
doubted.
“Maybe
you have a strong faith like Mary’s. If you
do, then you are a special person, chosen by God. But maybe you are more like me – a more
practical person. You like things you
can touch, feel, and measure. You find
it hard to believe.
“After
I met the angel, there were times I thought I would never doubt again. But there were also times when the whole
thing did not make sense to me. It all
seemed like such a strange way to save the world.
“Well,
God used me. I, Joseph, put my thumbprint
on Jesus. I taught him how to be a
carpenter. And he was such a good
carpenter. He could make oxen yoke that
were so easy. They would fit just
perfectly. In fact, the folks in our
village called him ‘the carpenter.’ I
felt so proud whenever I heard him being called that, because I was the one who
had taught him how to be a carpenter. I
put my thumbprint on him.
“But
then he also put his thumbprint on me, for he is the Savior of the world. It was not easy. But still – every time whenever I thought
that I knew what God wanted me to do – I would do it. I had faith enough to do it.
“When
God sent his Son to earth, he put him in my care. A carpenter, who sometimes believed his
doubts and sometimes doubted his beliefs.
But who tried with all his heart to remain faithful throughout.”
Joseph
is not the main character of the story.
But the Gospel reading for December 22, the fourth Sunday in Advent this
year, is primarily about Joseph. As we once
again celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us also remember Joseph. When God wanted someone to take care of his
Son, he chose Joseph. May we strive to
be like Joseph, who was both righteous and compassionate. Who believed, obeyed, and did the best that
he could.
Wishing you a blessed Advent and a joyous Christmas,
Dennis D. Nelson Executive Director of Lutheran CORE dennisdnelsonaz@yahoo.com
The past couple months I have had the privilege of representing Lutheran CORE at four most inspiring events – the NALC theology conference, missions festival, and convocation (August 6-9 in Indianapolis); Lutheran CORE’s annual Encuentro bi-lingual ministries festival (September 14 at an ELCA congregation in Chicago); the STS (Society of the Holy Trinity) general retreat (September 24-26 at a Roman Catholic retreat center north of Chicago); and the LCMC gathering (September 29-October 2 in Omaha).
Space
does not allow for a thorough report on all of them, so what I would like to do
is to share one or two highlights from each of them.
INDOOR VS. OUTDOOR CHRISTIANITY
On
behalf of Lutheran CORE I would like to extend our congratulations to Pastor
Dan Selbo on his election as the next bishop of the North American Lutheran
Church. Our prayers and best wishes are
with him as he steps into this position of leadership, care, and
oversight. The answers that he gave to
such questions as “What Should Be the NALC’S Most Important Ministry
Priorities?” and “What Challenges Do You See Facing the NALC?” make me
confident that he is going to give wise, powerful, and effective leadership for
the church. I believe that the Holy
Spirit was present and guiding the process for the election of a new
bishop.
The
address from Gemechis Buba, Assistant to the Bishop for Missions, at the close
of the missions festival was most inspiring.
He based his presentation on the account in John 20 of what took place
on that first Easter Sunday evening.
John tells us that as “the doors of the house where the disciples had
met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
‘Peace be with you. . . . As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive
the Holy Spirit” (verses 19-22).
Dr.
Buba commented, “When the Holy Spirit is blown on us, there are no more closed
doors.” Many are accustomed to indoors
Christianity. They see everything as
diminishing and closing. But the Holy
Spirit is moving us from indoor Christianity – where there are closed doors –
to outdoor Christianity – where there are open doors. He spoke of several Oromo churches, who at
first were concerned because they were being kicked out of buildings. They were wondering, “Where will we go
now?” They are no longer renting
buildings. Rather they are buying
buildings.
Dr.
Buba also shared how the church of Jesus Christ is always under pressure. The persecution and pressure may be different
in different parts of the world, but we are all under pressure. Satan is seeking to destroy the church. But when the Holy Spirit is leading the
church, the church becomes unstoppable.
Receiving the Holy Spirit, the early disciples moved from being in one
room behind closed doors to being out in the world, speaking in many different
languages.
Dr.
Buba reminded us that some say that there is no future for the church in
present-day America. But we follow an
unstoppable Holy Spirit. With the early
disciples we move from one room with closed doors in Jerusalem through open
doors to all over the world.
May
we follow our crucified and risen Lord Jesus, who has given us the Holy Spirit
and who now leads us to follow him from behind closed doors into the outside,
waiting world.
* * * * * * *
NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH
Fellowship meal at the Sept 14th Encuentro
I believe that our annual bi-lingual ministries Encuentro is our strongest connecting point with the ELCA. The Encuentro is an annual gathering of inspiration, fellowship, support, and resources for pastors, lay leaders, and congregations who either are currently involved in or are considering becoming involved in Spanish and/or bilingual (Spanish-English) ministries. It is held at an ELCA congregation in northwest Chicago (St. Timothy Lutheran Church). It is co-sponsored by Lutheran CORE and the Bilingual Ministries Resource Center out of First and Santa Cruz Lutheran Church in Joliet, Illinois (another ELCA congregation). The majority of those who attend are ELCA, and the majority of the presenters are ELCA – including pastors, theologians, and national church staff. We were especially delighted this year to receive an email greeting from Bishop Jeffrey Clements of the ELCA’s Northern Illinois Synod, and we were deeply honored that Bishop-Elect Yehiel Curry of the ELCA’s Metro Chicago Synod stopped by. Bishop-Elect Curry said during his greeting, “I represent the entire synod.” How delighted we were that the bishop would include in his definition of “the entire synod” a congregation that would host an event planned and sponsored by Lutheran CORE.
When
so much of our work is a critical review of much of what is done and valued by
the ELCA, it is refreshing to have this annual event, which is a source of
support and encouragement for many in the ELCA.
Lutheran CORE and the ELCA disagree on many, very basic things, but we do
agree on the importance of reaching out to and receiving the gifts of Spanish-speaking
people.
I
would also want to mention the intentional inter-Lutheran outreach of this
annual event. We were very happy to
welcome several LCMS pastors and lay people.
Dr Maxwell Johnson
Main
presenter was Dr. Maxwell Johnson, ELCA theologian and professor at Notre Dame
University in South Bend, Indiana. Dr.
Johnson is incredibly knowledgeable, dynamic, energetic, and even funny. He really engages with his audience and is
very clear in his teaching of the orthodox Christian faith. Much of his second presentation was on the
Virgin of Guadalupe and her appearance to a native Mexican peasant farmer by
the name of Juan Diego. Much of what he
said reminded me of the Magnificat in Luke 1, where Mary praised God for
lifting up the lowly (verse 52). Dr.
Maxwell shared how her appearance gave the hope of the Gospel to people who had
no Good News from what was coming from Spain.
Juan Diego was one of the low and despised indigenous persons who became
a messenger of God to the powerful, both in government as well as in the
church. Dr. Maxwell sees her appearing
as an example of God’s care for and identification with the poor. He said, “For people who have been told that
they are inferior – for the Juan Diegos of this world – there is
vindication.” He added, “The Virgin of
Guadalupe is not necessary for salvation, but she is an expression of God’s
love.”
Mariachi Juvenil Tamasula prepare to lead song before the Misa Panamerica
It was exciting to see the extent to which St. Timothy is reaching out to its neighborhood. There were several from the community present during part of the event, and both the beginning of a mariachi-led Misa Panamericana as well as a prayer vigil for peace in the city of Chicago were held outside – as a witness to the community. One woman who came with her family to the Encuentro invited everyone to her home on the evening of Wednesday, December 11, the day before the annual commemoration of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12. This will be one of several Wednesday evening Advent prayer gatherings for the St. Timothy congregation. The text for these evening home Bible studies and Vespers will be Mary’s Magnificat from Luke’s Gospel.
Pr Dennis Nelson, Pr Myrta Robles, behind Pr Robles is Professor Klaus Peter Adam, Bishop Yehiel Curry, Pr Eardly Mendis, Pr Keith Forni & First Lutheran parishioners, Jerry Wraas and Bob Wraas, after rededication of St. Timothy’s baptismal font.
Part of the festival was a re-dedication of a more-than-a-century-old baptismal font, which had not been used in worship for several years. That rededication seemed like a recommitment on the part of the congregation to reach out to its community.
* * * * * * *
NOT ASHAMED OR AFRAID TO CALL GOD FATHER
The
second time I had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Maxwell Johnson was at the
Society of the Holy Trinity (STS) general retreat. At that event he spoke on “Ecclesia Semper
Reformanda” (the church must always be reformed) as it relates to baptism and
the eucharist. I deeply appreciated the
powerful case he built against the radical hospitality movement, which would
invite all people to receive the Lord’s Supper whether or not they have been
baptized. Here are some of the
statements Dr. Johnson made which I thought were particularly helpful and
insightful. “In baptism the eucharist
begins; in the eucharist baptism is sustained.”
“No one deserves baptism; the eucharist is the birthright of the
baptized.” “The exclusion of the
unbaptized from the eucharist is not to protect the eucharist, but out of
pastoral care and concern for the unbaptized.”
They might not be ready to make a confession of faith in Christ and to
commit to the costly discipleship of the life of following Christ. I also appreciated his comment, “The purpose
of liturgy is not to permeate our lives with ritual, but to permeate our lives
with Christ.”
It
was refreshing being with people who are not hesitant to affirm the Trinity and
the Trinitarian nature of our faith. It
was also refreshing being with people who are not afraid and ashamed to call
God Father. The Society of the Holy
Trinity is an inter-Lutheran ministerium which regularly gathers pastors for
mutual encouragement, prayer, and study, fortifying continued faithfulness to
ordination vows.
The
campus of the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, where the
retreat was held, is beautiful, and the singing at the worship services was
awesome. Very often I did not join in
the singing because I just wanted to be surrounded by the beauty of voices
lifted up in praise to God.
The
Rev. Dr. Ryan Mills, STS, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven,
Connecticut, and dean of the New England Chapter of the Society, gave the
message at the closing worship service.
The Scripture passages were the account of the Last Supper in Mark 14
and Luke’s description of the shipwreck on the way to Rome in Acts 27. As I listened to those passages being read, I
was wondering how they were going to be related to each other. The way Pastor Mills did it was brilliant.
In
Mark 14 Jesus sends a couple of his disciples into Jerusalem, where they are to
follow a man carrying a jar of water.
Men usually did not carry water in those days, so this man was sure to
catch their attention. They were to
follow him to a house where a large upstairs room would be furnished and ready
for them to eat the Passover. Mark tells
us, “So the disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he
had told them” (verse 16). All that we
need for our faith to be nourished and sustained Jesus has furnished. It is ready in the Lord’s Supper. The grace that he has promised and that we
need is available there – just as he has told us.
In
his description of the storm in Acts 27 Luke uses phrases like these. “We were being pounded by the storm so
violently” (verse 18). “All hope of our
being saved was at last abandoned” (verse 20).
“We were drifting across the sea” (verse 27). “Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they
. . . prayed for day to come” (verse 29).
What did Paul do in a situation like that? He urged them all to take some food – to help
them survive. Verses 35 and 36 – “He
took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and
began to eat. Then all of them were
encouraged and took food for themselves.”
Often
we feel like we have been caught in a powerful storm of unfavorable
circumstances. We feel pounded
violently. We can lose all hope of being
saved. We feel like we are
drifting. Fearful, we pray that day will
come. In circumstances such as these
what do we need? The body and blood of
our Lord Jesus Christ, to give us courage, strength, and spiritual
sustenance. Having heard that message,
and having attended that retreat, I felt ready to return to the challenges of
life – knowing that Jesus has already prepared all I will need, and that with
his presence and grace I can weather the storms.
* * * * * * *
INTENTIONAL INTERIM MINISTRY
Attending
the LCMC annual gathering, I was blessed and encouraged by the resources that
that association provides for congregations that are between pastors, in the
call process, and/or in transition. I
attended breakout sessions for Call Committee Coaches, on Intentional Interim
Ministry (with a focus on the interim pastor), and on Pastoral Succession. I had a hard time choosing between a second
breakout session on Intentional Interim Ministry (with a focus on the
congregation) and the session on Pastoral Succession. I found myself wishing they were not being
offered at the same time.
The
session for Call Committee Coaches was led by Perry Fruhling, LCMC Coordinator
for Pastoral Ministry. I commend Perry
for all the resources he has for congregations that are in the call
process. I also deeply appreciate the strong
endorsement he has given to Lutheran CORE’s Congregations in Transition
ministry initiative.
I
was very interested in attending the breakout sessions on Intentional Interim
Ministry and Pastoral Succession because I have seen the tragedies that can
happen when pastoral succession does not go well. I have seen a strong, orthodox ELCA
congregation where orthodoxy did not survive a change in pastors. I have seen the massive disruption and great
damage that can happen when the largest congregation in a synod trusts the
synod to supply them with their next pastor.
I have seen a congregation “settle” for a pastor in order to relieve
their own anxiety rather than doing the hard work of continuing in the search
process. This congregation is now paying
a high price. I have seen what can
happen when one person manipulates and controls the call process rather than
allows it to be a unique opportunity for the congregation to learn from its
past, identify its strengths, and prepare itself for a new future. Having seen what can happen, I was very
grateful to learn about the Intentional Interim Ministry that the LCMC has to
offer its congregations.
I
was intrigued with the comparison that was given between repairing a parking
lot and interim ministry. One option is just
to fill the potholes. That would be like
simply having pulpit supply. A second
option would be to apply a thin coat of sealant that would get you through
another winter. That would be like
having an interim pastor who has not been trained to be an intentional
interim. The third option would be to
take the time and put forth the effort to take off a few layers and get down to
the foundation. That would be like
having an intentional interim.
Three
kinds of situations were described where having an intentional interim would be
particularly recommended – after a long-term pastor, where there have been
several different pastors in a short period of time, and when a pastor leaves
suddenly or unexpectedly. The comment
was made that a congregation should have an intentional interim for one month
for every year of the former pastor’s call – but no less than a year.
We
learned that intentional interims can and need to be “truth speakers.” Using all the capital and credits that they
have, they can deal with issues that the next called pastor will then not have
to deal with. A big difference between
an intentional interim and the next called pastor is that the intentional interim
will be leaving. That factor alone might
enable the intentional interim to do what needs to be done.
People
attending the breakout session were encouraged to consider whether they might
have the gifts and calling to be an intentional interim. We were told that intentional interims have
got to be able to love all people – even very difficult people – as they draw
from the well of God’s great love for us.
They have got to be able to remain calm and be a non-anxious
presence. And they have got to be engaged
in doing self-care.
I
am very grateful to Dawn Spies, Steve Abend, and Steve Lien (former LCMC
coordinator of pastoral ministry) for leading the workshop. The next day I was talking with a friend who
is serving his second term as an intentional interim. I thanked him for what he is doing, and I
committed myself to pray and ask God to bless those who serve in this way and
to raise up more intentional interims.
*
* * * * * *
Thank
you to the organizers of and the presenters at these four events. I am very grateful for the opportunity to
attend, I value the ministry partnerships, and I enjoy the relational
connections.
Blessings in Christ, Dennis D. Nelson Executive Director of Lutheran CORE dennisdnelsonaz@yahoo.com
For
me one of the most challenging parts of writing an article or a letter is
knowing where and how to start. I know
what I want to say. I know what I want
to include. But where and how do I
begin?
That
is the challenge I was facing with my August letter from the director, where I
wanted to write about and review two church gatherings that took place during
the same week – the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Milwaukee and the NALC Theology
Conference, Mission Festival, and Convocation in Indianapolis. I attended the NALC events. Many thanks to ELCA pastor Steve Gjerde, vice
president of our board, who attended the ELCA event and gave us on Facebook an
account of the proceedings as they occurred.
I
wanted to write about those two gatherings and I knew what I wanted to include,
but for several days I could not answer the question, “Where and how do I
begin?” But then, one week after both
events, during a telephone conversation with a pastor colleague, I was reminded
of the Gospel reading for August 18, the second Sunday after both assemblies –
Luke 12: 49-56. In that passage Jesus
said, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already
kindled! . . . . Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the
earth? No, I tell you, but rather
division!”
During
the days leading up to and even more so since the 2009 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly, we all have grieved over the relationships that have been strained
and even broken, the damage that has been done to congregations, and a church
body that is going off in the wrong direction. The division is even greater – the lines are
now even more sharply drawn – as the ELCA goes further and further away from a
traditional, orthodox understanding of the authority of the Bible, the mission
of the church, and moral values.
Four days after the close of the assembly, on August 14, the ELCA released a summary of actions that were taken by the assembly. A link to that summary can be found here. The opening sentence stated that the voting members made “a number of key decisions to further the mission and ministry of this church.” Those key decisions included naming patriarchy and sexism as sins; calling on the church to take action against gender-based violence, workplace discrimination, and economic inequality; pursuing racial diversity and inclusion; adopting memorials dealing with gun violence, engagement in the Holy Land, and gender identity; affirming the ELCA’s long-standing commitment to migrants and refugees; declaring the ELCA to be a sanctuary church body; committing the ELCA to support a campaign against rape and violence; and condemning white supremacy.
NO MENTION OF JESUS
Did
you notice that there is one thing missing in all these actions? There was no mention of Jesus. And there was only one mention of God, and
that one mention had to do with speaking “boldly about the equal dignity of all
persons in the eyes of God.” I did see
one other mention of God in one of the daily press releases during the
assembly, but that reference had only to do with using gender inclusive and
expansive language for God. With no
mention of Jesus, there is nothing in these actions regarding telling the world
about what Jesus has done (grace).
Instead they are all about what I need to do (works).
Now
some might say that that lack of reference to Jesus and that minimal mention of
God was only true of the summary of actions taken by the assembly. Certainly Jesus must have had a more
important place during the assembly.
You might be able to convince me of that possibility if it had not been for the action taken by the assembly to adopt “A Declaration of Inter-religious Commitment” as “church policy for inter-religious relations.” A link to that declaration can be found here. The Declaration said, “We must be careful about claiming to know God’s judgments regarding another religion.” It also stated, “Lutheran tradition has understood the word ‘faith’ to mean trust rather than affirming beliefs. Hence, we also must be careful not to judge our neighbors only on the basis of their religious beliefs. . . . All we know, and all we need to know, is that our neighbors are made in God’s image and that we are called to love and serve them.”
I
do not know how anyone could read the Bible and study church history and say
that “we must be careful about claiming to know God’s judgments regarding
another religion.” The prophet Elijah
spared no energy in warning Israel against the worship of Baal. Other Old Testament prophets joined with him
in clearly warning against worshipping the idols of the surrounding
peoples. The apostle Paul warned the
churches to whom he was writing about the other religions of the day. How could we say that the Bible says that we
cannot know God’s judgments regarding other religions? And besides, to argue that faith means trust
rather than affirming certain beliefs does not support the intent of this declaration
because my trust is only as good as the object of my trust. I am not showing love for and I am not
serving my neighbors (which the declaration calls upon me to do) if I do not
warn them that what and/or whom they are placing their trust in is not worthy
of their trust.
We
commend a voting member of the assembly for reminding the assembly that in the
words of Jesus in John 14: 6 we do have “a basis to know God’s views on
religions that do not require faith in Jesus Christ.” This voting member proposed an amendment to
the declaration both prior to and during the assembly. His motion to amend was overwhelmingly
defeated. The policy statement was
adopted with 97.48% voting in favor. How
can we view the fact that the discussion took place in the presence of
thirty-nine ecumenical and inter-religious guests on stage as anything other
than the ELCA’s manipulating and controlling the outcome?
IN SHARP CONTRAST
In
Luke 12 Jesus said, “I came to bring fire to the earth.” “I came to bring division.” Contrast the actions and priorities of the
ELCA Churchwide Assembly and its de-emphasis upon Jesus with the clear
statements from the Rev. Dr. Daniel Selbo, who was elected to be the new bishop
of the NALC (North American Lutheran Church).
In answer to the question, “What hopes do you have for the mission of
the NALC?” he wrote, “As a Christ Centered church body my hope is that we will
continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus as our Savior and Lord. I hope each member of the NALC will become
stronger in their own personal faith-walk with Christ. I hope our preaching and teaching will lift
up the name of Jesus. . . . My hope is that Christ will be seen in us because
we have fallen in love with Him and we have no greater purpose in life than to
live for Him. . . . Because ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,’
we must be tireless in our efforts to increase the number of people who come to
know Him as Lord.”
I AM DEEPLY DISTURBED AND
CONCERNED
I
am deeply disturbed by the actions taken, the resolutions approved, and the
memorials adopted by the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. I am even more concerned when I consider the
percentages of the votes.
The
“Declaration of Inter-religious Commitment,” which we discussed above, was
approved by a vote of over 97%. The
social statement, “Faith, Sexism, and Justice,” was approved by a vote of
97%. Elizabeth Eaton was re-elected on
the first ballot by a vote of over 81%.
She is the first ELCA presiding bishop to win re-election on the first
ballot. How could we expect her to view her
re-election as anything other than a clear mandate to continue leading the
church in the direction in which she has been leading it?
What
is the significance of all of these nearly unanimous or high percentage votes? (Every photo I saw of voting members’ voting
by ballot showed everyone holding up their green cards.) I can think of several probable outcomes from
the ELCA’s leadership and chief decision-making body becoming almost completely
of one mind.
An increasingly intolerant attitude towards and eventual suppression of any dissenting position. They are well on their way to eliminating anything other than the preferred view. If they are already at 97%, and there were about nine hundred voting members, they only have to eliminate twenty-seven people in order to be at 100%. Why would they even bother to pretend to honor bound conscience and listen to and give a place for traditional views if the prevalence of revisionist views is so strong? Even though the ELCA leadership and makeup of the churchwide assemblies will be increasingly out of synch with the majority of congregation members sitting in the pews and supporting the work of the church, those in power will fully be able to implement their agenda and priorities.
An even stronger trend to promote only the official ELCA values and views at the ELCA seminaries. While we are very thankful for every orthodox ELCA pastor serving in an ELCA congregation and as Lutheran CORE want to do everything we can to support them, it is only a matter of time until every ELCA rostered leader will have attended and graduated from seminary post 2009. Orthodox churches who are blessed to have an orthodox pastor and who believe that all of this cannot and will not affect them are in for a rude awakening.
An even easier path for positions that a few years ago would have been unthinkable to become acceptable, mainstream, and even preferred. For example, there is a video in which Bishop Elect Leila Ortiz of the ELCA’s Metro Washington D. C. Synod speaks favorably of polyamory (a relationship in which there are three or more partners). A link to that video can be found here. With the churchwide assembly being so strongly of one mind, what is to prevent an even further erosion of Biblical views and values from taking place?
TRUSTWORTHY SERVANTS
In the July 2019 issue of CORE Voice we wrote about the document, “Trustworthy Servants of the People of God,” which was written in order to express what the ELCA expects of its rostered leaders. A link to that article can be found here. As we mentioned, the document was recommended to the ELCA Church Council by the ELCA Conference of Bishops. But after hearing from many who objected to it, the ELCA Church Council declined to consider it and instead referred it back to the Domestic Mission Unit, who had originally written it, for review and revision. In our opinion it was rejected because it was just too traditional and conservative. We believe that the review and rewriting process will continue until it is exactly what the LGBTQIA+ agenda and community want it to be.
There was a very interesting email that was sent out
to some ELCA rostered leaders on August 3, in which Pastor Phil Hirsch,
executive director of the ELCA’s Domestic Mission Unit, asked for input. He said that the review and rewriting
committee wanted to hear from “various communities,” including “the
confessionally conservative” and “those from all four convictions identified in
the social statement ‘Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.’”
On the one hand, we are encouraged by the possibility
that an ELCA task force might actually want to hear from “the confessionally
conservative” and those who hold to more traditional views. But then we wonder whether traditional views
will actually be taken seriously and whether this is only a way so that they
will be able to say, “We heard from all sides.”
We are reminded of how strongly some people objected even to Lutheran
CORE’s presence at the 2016 Churchwide Assembly. Some people said that even our presence made
them feel unsafe, to say nothing about the willingness on the part of the
leadership of the assembly to announce our evening hospitality gathering twice. One person asked, “Who will they allow to be
here next? The Taliban?”
If even our presence at the 2016 Churchwide Assembly
was so strongly objected to, how much more of an outcry will there be against
the review and rewriting committee’s wanting to hear from “the confessionally
conservative” and from those who hold to positions one and two as identified in
the human sexuality social statement?
And will it be even easier for the objecting voices to prevail given
that the votes at the 2019 Churchwide Assembly were so close to being unanimous?
Still, if you have received one of those emails from
the Domestic Mission Unit, asking for your input, we urge you to respond.
IS
THERE ANY HOPE?
Many
times I have been asked by people, “Is there any hope that the ELCA will turn
around?” I always tell them, “It would
take a major intervention on the part of God.
It would take a powerful working of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus said, “I came to bring fire to the
earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! . . . . Do you think that I have
come to bring peace to the earth? No, I
tell you, but rather division!”
We
pray for a sending of the power and fire of the Holy Spirit, to convict us of
error and to bring us back to Biblical truth.
We pray that we will not be comfortable and at peace until the church
returns to recognizing Jesus rather than a social activist agenda as its
Lord. We pray that the church will be
united under the authority of God’s Word, which is living and active, sharper
than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4: 12), and able to pierce and divide truth
from error, true worship from idolatry, true values from misplaced
priorities.
Jesus
said, “I came to bring fire to the earth.”
Jesus, we need Your fire. We need
Your fire to reform, renew, reorient, and redirect Your church. Please, Lord, bring Your fire. How we wish it were already kindled!
