Dear Members of St. James: (by Rev. Larry Gember)
I write this letter not on behalf of the Council or the Healthy Congregation Task Force. I speak for myself as your pastor. In the Lutheran Church, there is an expression that “the pastor is the resident theologian for the local church.” There is also the biblical imagery of the pastor as the shepherd who leads his flock.
I write today in all humility, but also as one who is responsible for sound theological teaching. I feel a responsibility to do my best to shepherd this flock and not let any be led astray. At the same time I wish to respect any member who has studied the scriptures and comes to a different theological conclusion. My calling as a pastor is to love and care for all of the flock—even those who disagree with me. I want to summarize some of what I have shared at the informational meetings since not all of you could make it to all three meetings. SOME THINGS WE CAN ALL AGREE ON
· All people are welcome in this church and should be loved and cared for regardless of their sexual orientation. We are all sinners in need of the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. · As church members, we should love and respect each other regardless of how our views may differ. We can simply “agree to disagree” on certain things. MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ELCA SYSTEM OF DECISION-MAKING
· I believe there is far too much power at the level of Presiding Bishop (national bishop) and the ELCA Church Council. First of all, they appointed the Sexuality Task Force who studied the issue of homosexuality and made the recommendation to change ELCA policy to allow practicing homosexuals to serve as pastors in the ELCA. Only three of the fourteen members of this task force were known to hold traditional biblical views. The Bishop and Council accepted and endorsed their recommendation. Does this seem like a fair process to you?
· Months before the national voting assembly in August 2009, virtually all of the 65 regional bishops pleaded with the Council to recommend to the national assembly that a two-thirds majority vote be required to pass this particular policy (normally a policy only requires a simple majority). The bishops knew that this policy would cause much division in the churches under their care. The Council ignored their request. (Bishops have no legislative authority in the ELCA.) · The Council created their own sub-committee to research the process for voting on this policy change. This committee also recommended a two-thirds majority be required. The Council then refused the advice of their own committee! The result was that the vote at the assembly passed by a 52% majority. Even that majority was made possible in part by special interest groups working behind the scenes to get delegates elected who would vote in their interests. All of this politicking was done beyond the congregational level. Does that seem like a fair process to you? · Voting members of all regional and national assemblies are instructed during their orientation “not to vote the way the people back home want you to vote, rather vote on what you believe to be best.” The system intentionally bypasses the will of the church members in the pews. This is borne out by the ELCA’s own surveys, which said that only 22% of church members believed this new policy should be enacted. Neither is anyone allowed to know how a delegate voted, so there is no accountability to the folks back home. Does this seem like a good system to you? |
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BIBLICAL/THEOLOGICAL CONCERNS
· The issue is not so much sexuality (that is only the presenting symptom) but the authority of the word of God. At Sunday worship our lectors end the scripture reading with the phrase “The word of the Lord.” Even though the bible was written by men, we believe that God inspired those men to write the truth and that the bible is a reliable source for knowing God’s will for our lives.
· God is very clear about the role of sexuality in our lives. Its proper place is between one man and one woman in the context of holy matrimony, as Jesus says in Matthew 19:4-6. There are many passages that speak directly to homosexual activity. Please read Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, 1Corinthians 6:9-11, and 1Timothy 1:9-10. I don’t believe people choose to have same-sex attractions, and these passages do not condemn those who have these impulses, so neither should we. Nevertheless, all people have the ability to control their actions.
· Pastor Fred Hubert gave an alternative view during the second informational session. I believe Pastor Fred is a fine pastor and I have every reason to believe that the biblical teaching and preaching he has done here over the years is sound. However during the recent meeting he revealed for the first time his views on sexuality. I believe the relatively little he said about the biblical witness was incorrect and insufficient. The concepts of grace, law and gospel he presented that day are inconsistent with the historic Lutheran Confessions (Reformation documents which lay out Lutheran doctrine and biblical interpretation). His teaching on this subject is also at odds with literally 99% of all Christian churches. I want to humbly affirm that there is much that I can learn from Pastor Fred because of his many years of experience, but on this particular issue I have spent far more time in study. It has been a special area of research for me for 25 years.
· Many of the finest theologians and biblical scholars in the ELCA have recently spoken out about how the ELCA has “lost its way” theologically by seeking to be politically correct with the popular culture. They include Carl Braaten, Robert Jenson, Paul Hinlicky, Robert Benne, Frank Senn, Stephen Hultgren, Steven Paulson, and Paul Martinson. I listened to all of them at a conference in August and the recurring theme was that the ELCA is in theological crisis and that Lutheranism must correct its course. One of the other ways we have gone off course is the moving away from the revealed name of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The radical feminists in the ELCA administration have influenced the new hymnal by providing options for avoiding male language for God. The continual use of the phrase “Holy Trinity” and “Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier” as a replacement for the revealed name of God serve to depersonalize God.
· God is very clear about the role of sexuality in our lives. Its proper place is between one man and one woman in the context of holy matrimony, as Jesus says in Matthew 19:4-6. There are many passages that speak directly to homosexual activity. Please read Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, 1Corinthians 6:9-11, and 1Timothy 1:9-10. I don’t believe people choose to have same-sex attractions, and these passages do not condemn those who have these impulses, so neither should we. Nevertheless, all people have the ability to control their actions.
· Pastor Fred Hubert gave an alternative view during the second informational session. I believe Pastor Fred is a fine pastor and I have every reason to believe that the biblical teaching and preaching he has done here over the years is sound. However during the recent meeting he revealed for the first time his views on sexuality. I believe the relatively little he said about the biblical witness was incorrect and insufficient. The concepts of grace, law and gospel he presented that day are inconsistent with the historic Lutheran Confessions (Reformation documents which lay out Lutheran doctrine and biblical interpretation). His teaching on this subject is also at odds with literally 99% of all Christian churches. I want to humbly affirm that there is much that I can learn from Pastor Fred because of his many years of experience, but on this particular issue I have spent far more time in study. It has been a special area of research for me for 25 years.
· Many of the finest theologians and biblical scholars in the ELCA have recently spoken out about how the ELCA has “lost its way” theologically by seeking to be politically correct with the popular culture. They include Carl Braaten, Robert Jenson, Paul Hinlicky, Robert Benne, Frank Senn, Stephen Hultgren, Steven Paulson, and Paul Martinson. I listened to all of them at a conference in August and the recurring theme was that the ELCA is in theological crisis and that Lutheranism must correct its course. One of the other ways we have gone off course is the moving away from the revealed name of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The radical feminists in the ELCA administration have influenced the new hymnal by providing options for avoiding male language for God. The continual use of the phrase “Holy Trinity” and “Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier” as a replacement for the revealed name of God serve to depersonalize God.
PRACTICAL MATTERS
· I believe that it will be very difficult for us to grow as a congregation in this community because of the perceived scandal in the ELCA. I am amazed at how many people in the community know about what happened in the ELCA and just shake their heads in disbelief. I know of two families who want to join our church but are waiting in hopes that we will leave the ELCA. I received a call from family in Cicero this week, wanting to visit our church because they heard we were considering leaving the ELCA. I told them they are welcome but that a one hour drive is not very practical! There are two boys (separate families) from the community who used to regularly attend our youth group this year. Their parents recently told them they could visit the parsonage but could no longer step into our church. Why? The parents went on the internet to research the ELCA and read about the current controversy. Cindy told them that she teaches traditional biblical values. They said they were worried about how other church members might influence their children. These are clearly irrational fears, but what people perceive is what influences them.
· The ELCA is now the “new left” on the Lutheran landscape. The Missouri Synod and Wisconsin Synod are the “old right”. Fortunately there are two moderate church bodies that we can affiliate with. Lutheran Congregations in Mission in Christ (LCMC) formed ten years ago and is made up of former ELCA churches. The new North American Lutheran Church (NALC) launched in August with its opening Convocation. I attended this convocation as did other members of our church. The Roman Catholic Church sent a representative bishop as a symbol of their support for the efforts of these Lutherans to return to orthodox teachings. The Anglican Church of North America and LCMC did likewise. St. James’future affiliation will be decided by our members at a later time if we achieve a two-thirds vote this Sunday on the Council’s recommendation.
· In our Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ten churches have left over the past year and joined LCMC. Other churches have been waiting for a year in order to carefully discuss the issues and have been waiting for the launch of the NALC. The church in Auburn was the first in Indiana to join last week. Four churches are voting this Sunday, Nov. 21st. Four others are voting over the next couple of weeks. Many others are making plans.
· I know that many of us are naturally resistant to change, but when you think about it, the ELCA leadership has already imposed a major change of teaching on us. I simply want us to go back to what our church was officially teaching a year ago. For those of you with emotional ties to the ELCA, remember that we will still be connected with ELCA people if we join one of the churches I mentioned. The NALC has many of our theologians and former ELCA bishops involved, including our former bishop, Ralph Kempski. It’s really not a big deal from a practical standpoint. Nothing will change at St. James as a result of this new affiliation.
On a personal note, this decision by the ELCA has caused a spiritual crisis in my life. I have battled bouts of depression and have had many sleepless nights. There has been much polarization among the pastors and I believe this infighting will continue for years. ELCA leaders keep calling for unity now that they got what they wanted. But when many of us warned them not to pursue this policy because it would cause much division they arrogantly ignored us.
I would like to be part of a church body that has relative peace and is joyfully focused on the basics of mission and evangelism. I see those things in both LCMC and the NALC. Therefore I urge you to vote “yes” to the Council’s recommendation.
I want our meeting this Sunday to be conducted in a peaceful and respectful manner. We can disagree without being disagreeable. Since I have used this letter to communicate my thoughts and feelings, I will probably not say very much at our meeting. It will be your opportunity to share your concerns.
I will respect whatever decision the congregation makes. If you decide to remain in the ELCA, I will have to pray about and decide my future path. Some of you will be making hard decisions about your future as well. Vote your conscience, captive to the Word of God, as Martin Luther did. Remember, the outcome is His. And regardless of the aftermath, our Sovereign God will most assuredly direct our steps, sustain and bless our lives.
With much love,
Pastor Larry
· The ELCA is now the “new left” on the Lutheran landscape. The Missouri Synod and Wisconsin Synod are the “old right”. Fortunately there are two moderate church bodies that we can affiliate with. Lutheran Congregations in Mission in Christ (LCMC) formed ten years ago and is made up of former ELCA churches. The new North American Lutheran Church (NALC) launched in August with its opening Convocation. I attended this convocation as did other members of our church. The Roman Catholic Church sent a representative bishop as a symbol of their support for the efforts of these Lutherans to return to orthodox teachings. The Anglican Church of North America and LCMC did likewise. St. James’future affiliation will be decided by our members at a later time if we achieve a two-thirds vote this Sunday on the Council’s recommendation.
· In our Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ten churches have left over the past year and joined LCMC. Other churches have been waiting for a year in order to carefully discuss the issues and have been waiting for the launch of the NALC. The church in Auburn was the first in Indiana to join last week. Four churches are voting this Sunday, Nov. 21st. Four others are voting over the next couple of weeks. Many others are making plans.
· I know that many of us are naturally resistant to change, but when you think about it, the ELCA leadership has already imposed a major change of teaching on us. I simply want us to go back to what our church was officially teaching a year ago. For those of you with emotional ties to the ELCA, remember that we will still be connected with ELCA people if we join one of the churches I mentioned. The NALC has many of our theologians and former ELCA bishops involved, including our former bishop, Ralph Kempski. It’s really not a big deal from a practical standpoint. Nothing will change at St. James as a result of this new affiliation.
On a personal note, this decision by the ELCA has caused a spiritual crisis in my life. I have battled bouts of depression and have had many sleepless nights. There has been much polarization among the pastors and I believe this infighting will continue for years. ELCA leaders keep calling for unity now that they got what they wanted. But when many of us warned them not to pursue this policy because it would cause much division they arrogantly ignored us.
I would like to be part of a church body that has relative peace and is joyfully focused on the basics of mission and evangelism. I see those things in both LCMC and the NALC. Therefore I urge you to vote “yes” to the Council’s recommendation.
I want our meeting this Sunday to be conducted in a peaceful and respectful manner. We can disagree without being disagreeable. Since I have used this letter to communicate my thoughts and feelings, I will probably not say very much at our meeting. It will be your opportunity to share your concerns.
I will respect whatever decision the congregation makes. If you decide to remain in the ELCA, I will have to pray about and decide my future path. Some of you will be making hard decisions about your future as well. Vote your conscience, captive to the Word of God, as Martin Luther did. Remember, the outcome is His. And regardless of the aftermath, our Sovereign God will most assuredly direct our steps, sustain and bless our lives.
With much love,
Pastor Larry