this is a very good source for keeping up on what is going on in the nation with regards to the elca
http://davidbarnhart.blogspot.com/2011/02/results-21311-congregations-voting-to.html
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sunday, November 28, 2010
obit
Leo Alf Storbakken, 88, of Eagan, Minnesota, went to be with Jesus while at home Monday, November 22 surrounded by his loving family. He was born November 5, 1922 in Veblen, South Dakota to Alf and Rosetta (Edson) Storbakken. Leo served with the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.
He married Glada Schmidt in 1949. They farmed briefly in South Dakota before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he worked as an aircraft mechanic, specializing in sheet metal. His wife, children, and faith brought him the greatest joy. Leo and family enjoyed traveling and spending time at the lake during the early years. He loved fishing, tinkering in the garage, and gardening. Tomatoes and roses were his specialty. He and Glada also valued a big circle of friends, who over the years, danced, played whist, and just hung out together. He loved people and they him. For sixteen retirement years, he and Glada wintered in Texas and fished the Gulf. He will be forever loved and remembered.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years Glada, daughters Renae and Marsha, son Allen (Kristi), grandchildren Lee (Sara), Terri, Sarah, and Corey, great-grandchildren Tyus, Kaitlyn, Raiha, and Allison, siblings Alvin (Marie) Storbakken, Mable Realdsen, Ruth Nelson, and Lillian (Erling) Berger, and sisters-in-law Laurel and Ruthie Storbakken. Leo was preceded in death by brothers Carl and Roy.
Funeral Services are scheduled for 10 AM Monday, November 29 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Visitation 3-5 PM Sunday, November 28 at the Henry W. Anderson Mortuary, 14850 Garrett Avenue, Apple Valley, (952) 432-2331 and 1 hour prior to service time at church. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
He married Glada Schmidt in 1949. They farmed briefly in South Dakota before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he worked as an aircraft mechanic, specializing in sheet metal. His wife, children, and faith brought him the greatest joy. Leo and family enjoyed traveling and spending time at the lake during the early years. He loved fishing, tinkering in the garage, and gardening. Tomatoes and roses were his specialty. He and Glada also valued a big circle of friends, who over the years, danced, played whist, and just hung out together. He loved people and they him. For sixteen retirement years, he and Glada wintered in Texas and fished the Gulf. He will be forever loved and remembered.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years Glada, daughters Renae and Marsha, son Allen (Kristi), grandchildren Lee (Sara), Terri, Sarah, and Corey, great-grandchildren Tyus, Kaitlyn, Raiha, and Allison, siblings Alvin (Marie) Storbakken, Mable Realdsen, Ruth Nelson, and Lillian (Erling) Berger, and sisters-in-law Laurel and Ruthie Storbakken. Leo was preceded in death by brothers Carl and Roy.
Funeral Services are scheduled for 10 AM Monday, November 29 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Visitation 3-5 PM Sunday, November 28 at the Henry W. Anderson Mortuary, 14850 Garrett Avenue, Apple Valley, (952) 432-2331 and 1 hour prior to service time at church. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
wa core mtg
WordAlone/Lutheran CORE
OPEN MEETING
As the ELCA deserts its biblical and confessional roots for the ideals of
secular culture, many Lutherans are looking for an alternative means
of connecting with fellow believers and being church together. Come
and learn how some are doing this and experiencing what it really
means to be evangelical.
Pastor Peter Churness
Life Together Churches
"Worship and congregational life in a small group environment"
Thursday, October 28, 7 p.m.
Calvary Lutheran
7520 Golden Valley Rd., Golden Valley*
*Directions: From Hwy 55 (west of Hwy 100 and east of Hwy 169) turn
north on to Rhode Island Ave and right (east) on Golden Valley Rd.
(Note: Construction on Winnetka Ave.)
Questions? call Karen Stack 612-889-5709
or visit: www.tcwordalone.org
OPEN MEETING
As the ELCA deserts its biblical and confessional roots for the ideals of
secular culture, many Lutherans are looking for an alternative means
of connecting with fellow believers and being church together. Come
and learn how some are doing this and experiencing what it really
means to be evangelical.
Pastor Peter Churness
Life Together Churches
"Worship and congregational life in a small group environment"
Thursday, October 28, 7 p.m.
Calvary Lutheran
7520 Golden Valley Rd., Golden Valley*
*Directions: From Hwy 55 (west of Hwy 100 and east of Hwy 169) turn
north on to Rhode Island Ave and right (east) on Golden Valley Rd.
(Note: Construction on Winnetka Ave.)
Questions? call Karen Stack 612-889-5709
or visit: www.tcwordalone.org
Sunday, October 3, 2010
ga
FYI: I viewed the video of Gustavus college's freshman orientation with disgust, and waited to see the reactions from others. Pr. Scott Grorud, Faith, Hutchinson, whom I'm sure you already know, has responded so well for us all. After his response you can view the Gustavus material yourself. Pr. Grorud's point is well taken. Norm----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Grorud
Subject: FW: [Boardtalk] Fw: "Rated R" at ELCA Gustavus Adolphus CollegeOrientation
Dear Friends,
This e-mail has been making the rounds this weekend, but if you haven't yet seen them, the two videos linked at the bottom of the message below are a tragic witness to the theological vacuum that has entered so many ELCA and other mainline Christian institutions. They are not easy to watch, but the saddest part is at the very end of the second one.
What I find most troubling about them is not the material presented. Sadly, our young people hear such messages constantly from the culture. What is most troubling is the complete lack of any Christian convictions or any moral context to analyze, critique or oppose this cultural rot. (The videos are excerpts, but they give little reason even to hope that a countering message was also presented.) The individual and his/her desires/thoughts/ideas have become idols. Plenty of this concerns the Sixth Commandment (adultery), but much more of it concerns the First (no other gods). That this can be presented at a college that still claims to be Christian and Lutheran reveals just how big a battle we're fighting for the soul of Christianity today.
As the parent of a college student, I can't help but wonder, too, about the tens of thousands of dollars being shelled out by faithful Christian parents who are taking false comfort from the fact that their children are attending a "Christian" college. Where is the obligation of the college to live up to its own mission and claims about itself? If you are an alumnus/a, a parent of a student or a donor to GAC, I hope you will make your convictions known to the administration.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Scott
Subject: Fw: "Rated R" at ELCA Gustavus Adolphus CollegeOrientation
"Rated R" at ELCA Gustavus Adolphus College Orientation
To:
Date: Thursday, September 30, 2010,
Warning: the content of these videos taken at this year's Freshman Orientation at the ELCA's Gustavus Adolphus College is graphic and, in my opinion, vulgar, appalling, disturbing, tasteless, degrading, and completely unbefitting the sacred trust given to a Christian college and an institution of the ELCA. Sadly what is seen on these videos is not likely limited to GAC. You are an adult -- you can decide whether to watch these or not, but I hope you will understand why I felt it important for you to know what is happening on even one ELCA Church College campus.
President Ohle read a letter to me which he had prepared concerning this matter. I invited him to email me a copy and said that I would send it to those with whom I communicated in this regard. If & when he sends me this letter, in which the aforementioned presentations were described as "light-hearted," I will forward it to you.
GOOGLE: You Tube and search by the following titles or the links in the press release below.
1) Freshman Oreintation at Gustavus Infiltrated by Student w/video 6:27 minutes
2) Freshman Orientation at the Lutheran Gustavus Adolphus College 4:25 min.
3) Gustavus Freshman Orientation: Other Clips from Inside Scoop 5:58
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2010
Contact: Phil Cleary (GRA Vice-President) * Gusties Restoring America
Email: pcleary@gustavus.edu
Sexual Indoctrination at Lutheran College's Freshmen Orientation Caught on Tape
Saint Peter, MN – The freshman orientation activities that incoming students at Gustavus Adolphus College participate in were caught on camera by a student attending the seminars. According to the student with the camera, Phil Cleary, “the seminars filmed featured a series of skits with sexually explicit scenes and patently vulgar language.”
The first video, from a seminar titled the “Inside Scoop” features a series of sexually suggestive skits explaining to incoming students such things as where to get free condoms on campus, how to signal to your roommate that you are busy having sex (so he waits until later to come in), and how to tell your roommate you're gay (as well as the appropriate response you ought take when receiving such information).
The second video is from a seminar titled “E Pluribus Gustavus” and goes a bit further than the first, educating students about distinctions between gender and sex (as well as how to celebrate "LGPBBTTQ&A"), testimonies from gay, lesbian, and atheist students, and a call censor the content of speech after screaming cuss words at students in the dark.
Cleary commented, “This is propaganda that one might expect be taught in a Gender and Sexuality course at a secular, state institution. However, Gustavus is a Lutheran school in southern Minnesota founded by Swedish immigrants in the 1800’s, and these shameful seminars are presented during the first few hours and days that students are on campus before classes even begin.”
A book published by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) alerts young people to be aware of the “use of coercive tactics that violate the individual rights of students to formulate their own beliefs” during orientation programs on College campuses. Also discussed in FIRE’s Guide to First-Year Orientation and Thought Reform on Campus is “diversity training that aims to intimidate students into abandoning deeply held beliefs so that they will adopt the university’s preferred political stance.”
More details and the videos can be viewed at the following links:
http://gustavus.campusreform.org/group/blog/freshman-orientation-caught-on-tape
http://gustavus.campusreform.org/group/blog/video-inside-freshman-orientation
Gustavus Adolphus College is a church-related, residential liberal arts college firmly rooted in its Swedish and Lutheran heritage that aspires to be a community of persons from diverse backgrounds who respect and affirm the dignity of all people and is a community where a mature understanding of the Christian faith and lives of service are nurtured and students are encouraged to work toward a just and peaceful world.
*Gusties Restoring America is an independent, non-partisan student group at Gustavus whose mission is to promote the conservative worldview and its principles in the community at Gustavus Adolphus College.
From: Scott Grorud
Subject: FW: [Boardtalk] Fw: "Rated R" at ELCA Gustavus Adolphus CollegeOrientation
Dear Friends,
This e-mail has been making the rounds this weekend, but if you haven't yet seen them, the two videos linked at the bottom of the message below are a tragic witness to the theological vacuum that has entered so many ELCA and other mainline Christian institutions. They are not easy to watch, but the saddest part is at the very end of the second one.
What I find most troubling about them is not the material presented. Sadly, our young people hear such messages constantly from the culture. What is most troubling is the complete lack of any Christian convictions or any moral context to analyze, critique or oppose this cultural rot. (The videos are excerpts, but they give little reason even to hope that a countering message was also presented.) The individual and his/her desires/thoughts/ideas have become idols. Plenty of this concerns the Sixth Commandment (adultery), but much more of it concerns the First (no other gods). That this can be presented at a college that still claims to be Christian and Lutheran reveals just how big a battle we're fighting for the soul of Christianity today.
As the parent of a college student, I can't help but wonder, too, about the tens of thousands of dollars being shelled out by faithful Christian parents who are taking false comfort from the fact that their children are attending a "Christian" college. Where is the obligation of the college to live up to its own mission and claims about itself? If you are an alumnus/a, a parent of a student or a donor to GAC, I hope you will make your convictions known to the administration.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Scott
Subject: Fw: "Rated R" at ELCA Gustavus Adolphus CollegeOrientation
"Rated R" at ELCA Gustavus Adolphus College Orientation
To:
Date: Thursday, September 30, 2010,
Warning: the content of these videos taken at this year's Freshman Orientation at the ELCA's Gustavus Adolphus College is graphic and, in my opinion, vulgar, appalling, disturbing, tasteless, degrading, and completely unbefitting the sacred trust given to a Christian college and an institution of the ELCA. Sadly what is seen on these videos is not likely limited to GAC. You are an adult -- you can decide whether to watch these or not, but I hope you will understand why I felt it important for you to know what is happening on even one ELCA Church College campus.
President Ohle read a letter to me which he had prepared concerning this matter. I invited him to email me a copy and said that I would send it to those with whom I communicated in this regard. If & when he sends me this letter, in which the aforementioned presentations were described as "light-hearted," I will forward it to you.
GOOGLE: You Tube and search by the following titles or the links in the press release below.
1) Freshman Oreintation at Gustavus Infiltrated by Student w/video 6:27 minutes
2) Freshman Orientation at the Lutheran Gustavus Adolphus College 4:25 min.
3) Gustavus Freshman Orientation: Other Clips from Inside Scoop 5:58
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2010
Contact: Phil Cleary (GRA Vice-President) * Gusties Restoring America
Email: pcleary@gustavus.edu
Sexual Indoctrination at Lutheran College's Freshmen Orientation Caught on Tape
Saint Peter, MN – The freshman orientation activities that incoming students at Gustavus Adolphus College participate in were caught on camera by a student attending the seminars. According to the student with the camera, Phil Cleary, “the seminars filmed featured a series of skits with sexually explicit scenes and patently vulgar language.”
The first video, from a seminar titled the “Inside Scoop” features a series of sexually suggestive skits explaining to incoming students such things as where to get free condoms on campus, how to signal to your roommate that you are busy having sex (so he waits until later to come in), and how to tell your roommate you're gay (as well as the appropriate response you ought take when receiving such information).
The second video is from a seminar titled “E Pluribus Gustavus” and goes a bit further than the first, educating students about distinctions between gender and sex (as well as how to celebrate "LGPBBTTQ&A"), testimonies from gay, lesbian, and atheist students, and a call censor the content of speech after screaming cuss words at students in the dark.
Cleary commented, “This is propaganda that one might expect be taught in a Gender and Sexuality course at a secular, state institution. However, Gustavus is a Lutheran school in southern Minnesota founded by Swedish immigrants in the 1800’s, and these shameful seminars are presented during the first few hours and days that students are on campus before classes even begin.”
A book published by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) alerts young people to be aware of the “use of coercive tactics that violate the individual rights of students to formulate their own beliefs” during orientation programs on College campuses. Also discussed in FIRE’s Guide to First-Year Orientation and Thought Reform on Campus is “diversity training that aims to intimidate students into abandoning deeply held beliefs so that they will adopt the university’s preferred political stance.”
More details and the videos can be viewed at the following links:
http://gustavus.campusreform.org/group/blog/freshman-orientation-caught-on-tape
http://gustavus.campusreform.org/group/blog/video-inside-freshman-orientation
Gustavus Adolphus College is a church-related, residential liberal arts college firmly rooted in its Swedish and Lutheran heritage that aspires to be a community of persons from diverse backgrounds who respect and affirm the dignity of all people and is a community where a mature understanding of the Christian faith and lives of service are nurtured and students are encouraged to work toward a just and peaceful world.
*Gusties Restoring America is an independent, non-partisan student group at Gustavus whose mission is to promote the conservative worldview and its principles in the community at Gustavus Adolphus College.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
norm's news 8-18
FYI: Recently the ELCA, with 3 (?) bishops present, held a special "Reception Service" for 7 persons who formerly had been refused ordination because of their affirmation of gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/and transgender lifestyles. It was purely pagan, (yet ELCA approved) with prayers addressed to all the gods, so as to be "inclusive" of ALL GODS
Here is the response of one who wasn't impressed - as I and many others were't. I hope you saw the published "Order of Service". It was totally alien to anything Lutheran and/or Christian. But we can now rejoice, because the wicans and pagans liked it. Yet even they are wondering what we Lutherans are doing. Most of our ELCA members, however, are NOT wondering but keep voting to support the ELCA with their membership and money. They "don't want to get involved".
Evidently the Flame on their altar has gone out (and the one in their belly too) OR Christ has"removed their candlestand". Just think, Christians once chose to be eaten by lions rather than submit to this stuff. Norm
Just when I foolishly thought things could not get any worse with the ELCA, I was informed of this in another forum. The wiccans/pagans apparently were quite impressed with the rite of reception service for the 7 gay, lesbian, transgendered ELM pastors. It is on the wiccantogether.com website. The person who wrote the article found the service to be beautiful, and was surprised that there was a prayer to a goddess. The person who wrote this also stated:
"I'm not mad that there is a Goddess deity and/or personality being used in Christianity, but I just can't help but see where it fits in with standard Conservative Lutheran practices . Thanks in advance for the great discussion!"
Such irony that a pagan is wondering how this "fits with standard conservative lutheran practices". Answer: IT DOESN'T!!!!!
It is shameful. This is how the ELCA is being seen by everyone. Do you still want to be associated with this???
As for me & my family, only 26 more days and we will be out of the ELCA for good, one way or the other. It can not happen soon enough. This just sickens me
A great website with more info ishttp://www.exposingtheelca.com
__._,_.___
Here is the response of one who wasn't impressed - as I and many others were't. I hope you saw the published "Order of Service". It was totally alien to anything Lutheran and/or Christian. But we can now rejoice, because the wicans and pagans liked it. Yet even they are wondering what we Lutherans are doing. Most of our ELCA members, however, are NOT wondering but keep voting to support the ELCA with their membership and money. They "don't want to get involved".
Evidently the Flame on their altar has gone out (and the one in their belly too) OR Christ has"removed their candlestand". Just think, Christians once chose to be eaten by lions rather than submit to this stuff. Norm
Just when I foolishly thought things could not get any worse with the ELCA, I was informed of this in another forum. The wiccans/pagans apparently were quite impressed with the rite of reception service for the 7 gay, lesbian, transgendered ELM pastors. It is on the wiccantogether.com website. The person who wrote the article found the service to be beautiful, and was surprised that there was a prayer to a goddess. The person who wrote this also stated:
"I'm not mad that there is a Goddess deity and/or personality being used in Christianity, but I just can't help but see where it fits in with standard Conservative Lutheran practices . Thanks in advance for the great discussion!"
Such irony that a pagan is wondering how this "fits with standard conservative lutheran practices". Answer: IT DOESN'T!!!!!
It is shameful. This is how the ELCA is being seen by everyone. Do you still want to be associated with this???
As for me & my family, only 26 more days and we will be out of the ELCA for good, one way or the other. It can not happen soon enough. This just sickens me
A great website with more info ishttp://www.exposingtheelca.com
__._,_.___
norm news 8-21
For those of you with some interest in these matters:
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Ramsey, MN, is a congregation of some 3300
members who worship around 1400 each week-end. The congregation took a
first vote to leave the ELCA and it passed.
Before the second vote, effort was made to generate defeat of the motion to
leave the ELCA, with some inactive members contributing one penny in an
envelope so they could say they had given to the church within the past 2
years.
When the second vote failed to reach the 2/3 threshold, the senior pastor
and 80% of the church staff resigned then and there and are now worshiping
in a school nearby, with over 600 in attendance at the first service--and
growing.
So now the church building is sitting there with the bulk of the inactive
members responsible for paying the mortgage while the active members have
formed the new Northgate Lutheran Church with Steven Perkins as senior
pastor and his associate from Lord of Life with him at Northgate.
Obviously these people and church staff knew they could not remain in the
ELCA any longer regardless of the outcome of the voting. Pray for them and
their new ministry--which is a continuation of the old ministry without ELCA
baggage!
It may well be that the church will be on the market before too long--or,
better yet, Lord of Life will reconsider their last vote and move for
unity--distanced from the ELCA.
Phil
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Ramsey, MN, is a congregation of some 3300
members who worship around 1400 each week-end. The congregation took a
first vote to leave the ELCA and it passed.
Before the second vote, effort was made to generate defeat of the motion to
leave the ELCA, with some inactive members contributing one penny in an
envelope so they could say they had given to the church within the past 2
years.
When the second vote failed to reach the 2/3 threshold, the senior pastor
and 80% of the church staff resigned then and there and are now worshiping
in a school nearby, with over 600 in attendance at the first service--and
growing.
So now the church building is sitting there with the bulk of the inactive
members responsible for paying the mortgage while the active members have
formed the new Northgate Lutheran Church with Steven Perkins as senior
pastor and his associate from Lord of Life with him at Northgate.
Obviously these people and church staff knew they could not remain in the
ELCA any longer regardless of the outcome of the voting. Pray for them and
their new ministry--which is a continuation of the old ministry without ELCA
baggage!
It may well be that the church will be on the market before too long--or,
better yet, Lord of Life will reconsider their last vote and move for
unity--distanced from the ELCA.
Phil
Thursday, August 5, 2010
norm's news 8/4/10
FYI: PASTOR SCOTT GRORUD HAS WRITTEN AN EXCELLENT PREVIEW OF THE 'RITE OF RECEPTION' RECENTLY HELD, in which several pastors were" re-instated"on the clergy roster, under the new guidelines adopted last August. A copy of the bulletin is attached below. This is from -
Gerry Peterson
WA/CORE Coordinator MAS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: FW: Rite of Reception "liturgy"
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 10:20:05 -0500
From: ScottG@faithlc.com
To: ScottG@faithlc.com
Dear Friends,
You may have seen the announcement that seven pastors were recently admitted to the ELCA clergy roster in the Sierra Pacific synod under the new rules adopted last summer. The e-mail below concerns the service held July 25 to "re-instate" them to the roster. The note below points out the deepest offense of this service --the theological distortion of the faith in service to various ideologies. Click on the link to see for yourself.
The note ends by pointing out how the "confession" reveals what a fiction the whole notion of "bound conscience" is, which is painfully evident. But that is the least of the problems here. Far more telling is that this "confession," despite its use of first person plural, is devoted to confessing the sins of others--all those who dared to disagree with the revisionist agenda. The "we" and "our" refer to the ELCA and especially that part of it that refused to embrace their agenda, but it includes no genuine confession of the sin of those who were in the room. This reflects a self-righteousness that would make the Pharisees blush and reveals how different a gospel they have come to believe, even as it masquerades under traditional litrugical forms.
For those who struggle to believe that the ELCA is afflicted by more than a dispute over ministerial policy or different views of sexuality, this helps to reveal the profound theological perversion that has come to be openly accepted in the ELCA (remember, three bishops were there, leading the service in full approval). For those of us who have shaken the ELCA dust off our feet, this may not be of much interest, but for those who are still languishing in a church that is increasingly losing its way, this can help to make the case. They need our concern, prayers and witness, that they can find the lifeboats before this creeping heresy infects their local church or even their own faith. (And trust me, this false theology is not limited to the San Francisco area!)
Grace and peace,
Pastor Scott
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Rite of Reception "liturgy"
For any of you who may not have seen this, you really ought to take a look at the service folder from the rite of reception "liturgy" last weekend in San Francisco restoring or receiving onto the ELCA clergy roster seven extraordinarily ordained or expelled pastors.
The service folder is here: http://www.welcomeministry.org/RiteofReceptionJULY252010.pdf I have downloaded it and can email it to any of you, but it is a very large file and I didn't want to clog your inboxes.
I could point out the SIX "alternatives" for the "Prayer of Jesus" (f.k.a. the Lord's Prayer), including the infamous "Our Mother, who is within us" from the equally infamous "Herchurch."
I could point out the prayers addressed to "Life-giving Mother" (don't get excited, they didn't mean the BVM) and "O Sophia, Wisdom and Mother of us all."
I could point out that every couplet of the Great Thanksgiving was rewritten to eliminate "Lord."
I could point to the rewriting of the Sanctus to eliminate, apparently, not just "Lord," but also "power and might" (the alternative text read "Holy Holy Holy are you, God of heavenly hosts").
I could mention that the congregation was dismissed "In the name of the Creator, + Redeemer and Holy Spirit."
I could mention that the entrance procession included, and you really can't make this up, a "liturgical parasol" -- a frilly and glittery pink umbrella.
I could mention that all this Scriptural disobedience and rank paganism was presided over by Bp. Mark Holmerud (Sierra Pac Synod), with two other sitting synodical bishops also participating in the service (Bp. Dean Nelson, SW CA, and Bp. David Brauer-Rieke, Oregon).
But all that pales, at least in terms of the integrity of the ELCA, to the words spoken by Bp. Holmerud as part of the confession and forgiveness:
Our church of the reformation has been too long captive to bias and misinformation.
We have not remembered the life giving words of our own Confessions.
We have not respected the gift of sexuality, nor the joy, delight and vulnerability sexual intimacy creates between loving partners.
We have not honored faithful and loving promises, marriages, and covenantalrelationships.
We have not acted quickly enough, for some have died and have not made it tothis day.
We have not accorded all families the dignity and respect they deserve.
We have not spoken up.
We have betrayed fellow members of the body of Christ because of cultural prejudice.
We have misused Scripture as a tool of discrimination.
We have forced celibacy upon too many, a gift God grants to only a few.
We have encouraged silence and complicity.
We have promoted invisibility and dishonesty.
We have hardened our hearts with bitterness and condescension.
We have intimidated and disciplined, censured and expelled.
Our actions have destroyed faith and have led people away from the gospel's call to love and justice.
Hearing that, from a sitting synodical bishop, in what possible way can it be said that the ELCA's claims to respect the "bound consciences of all" have any shred of integrity left? How can it be that the institutional ELCA intends to "bear each other's burdens" if a synodical bishop is free to attack, impugn and demean orthodox-traditionalist believers, all the more so in the context of confession of sins? How can the claims to respect diverse viewpoints on human sexuality be any more than, at best, hollow promises, and at worst, active deception?
And why is it that the only bishops I hear saying that they are called to be "a bishop to all people in the synod" are orthodox bishops who are trying to justify not taking a public stand?
It just boggles the mind.
Gerry Peterson
WA/CORE Coordinator MAS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: FW: Rite of Reception "liturgy"
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 10:20:05 -0500
From: ScottG@faithlc.com
To: ScottG@faithlc.com
Dear Friends,
You may have seen the announcement that seven pastors were recently admitted to the ELCA clergy roster in the Sierra Pacific synod under the new rules adopted last summer. The e-mail below concerns the service held July 25 to "re-instate" them to the roster. The note below points out the deepest offense of this service --the theological distortion of the faith in service to various ideologies. Click on the link to see for yourself.
The note ends by pointing out how the "confession" reveals what a fiction the whole notion of "bound conscience" is, which is painfully evident. But that is the least of the problems here. Far more telling is that this "confession," despite its use of first person plural, is devoted to confessing the sins of others--all those who dared to disagree with the revisionist agenda. The "we" and "our" refer to the ELCA and especially that part of it that refused to embrace their agenda, but it includes no genuine confession of the sin of those who were in the room. This reflects a self-righteousness that would make the Pharisees blush and reveals how different a gospel they have come to believe, even as it masquerades under traditional litrugical forms.
For those who struggle to believe that the ELCA is afflicted by more than a dispute over ministerial policy or different views of sexuality, this helps to reveal the profound theological perversion that has come to be openly accepted in the ELCA (remember, three bishops were there, leading the service in full approval). For those of us who have shaken the ELCA dust off our feet, this may not be of much interest, but for those who are still languishing in a church that is increasingly losing its way, this can help to make the case. They need our concern, prayers and witness, that they can find the lifeboats before this creeping heresy infects their local church or even their own faith. (And trust me, this false theology is not limited to the San Francisco area!)
Grace and peace,
Pastor Scott
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Rite of Reception "liturgy"
For any of you who may not have seen this, you really ought to take a look at the service folder from the rite of reception "liturgy" last weekend in San Francisco restoring or receiving onto the ELCA clergy roster seven extraordinarily ordained or expelled pastors.
The service folder is here: http://www.welcomeministry.org/RiteofReceptionJULY252010.pdf I have downloaded it and can email it to any of you, but it is a very large file and I didn't want to clog your inboxes.
I could point out the SIX "alternatives" for the "Prayer of Jesus" (f.k.a. the Lord's Prayer), including the infamous "Our Mother, who is within us" from the equally infamous "Herchurch."
I could point out the prayers addressed to "Life-giving Mother" (don't get excited, they didn't mean the BVM) and "O Sophia, Wisdom and Mother of us all."
I could point out that every couplet of the Great Thanksgiving was rewritten to eliminate "Lord."
I could point to the rewriting of the Sanctus to eliminate, apparently, not just "Lord," but also "power and might" (the alternative text read "Holy Holy Holy are you, God of heavenly hosts").
I could mention that the congregation was dismissed "In the name of the Creator, + Redeemer and Holy Spirit."
I could mention that the entrance procession included, and you really can't make this up, a "liturgical parasol" -- a frilly and glittery pink umbrella.
I could mention that all this Scriptural disobedience and rank paganism was presided over by Bp. Mark Holmerud (Sierra Pac Synod), with two other sitting synodical bishops also participating in the service (Bp. Dean Nelson, SW CA, and Bp. David Brauer-Rieke, Oregon).
But all that pales, at least in terms of the integrity of the ELCA, to the words spoken by Bp. Holmerud as part of the confession and forgiveness:
Our church of the reformation has been too long captive to bias and misinformation.
We have not remembered the life giving words of our own Confessions.
We have not respected the gift of sexuality, nor the joy, delight and vulnerability sexual intimacy creates between loving partners.
We have not honored faithful and loving promises, marriages, and covenantalrelationships.
We have not acted quickly enough, for some have died and have not made it tothis day.
We have not accorded all families the dignity and respect they deserve.
We have not spoken up.
We have betrayed fellow members of the body of Christ because of cultural prejudice.
We have misused Scripture as a tool of discrimination.
We have forced celibacy upon too many, a gift God grants to only a few.
We have encouraged silence and complicity.
We have promoted invisibility and dishonesty.
We have hardened our hearts with bitterness and condescension.
We have intimidated and disciplined, censured and expelled.
Our actions have destroyed faith and have led people away from the gospel's call to love and justice.
Hearing that, from a sitting synodical bishop, in what possible way can it be said that the ELCA's claims to respect the "bound consciences of all" have any shred of integrity left? How can it be that the institutional ELCA intends to "bear each other's burdens" if a synodical bishop is free to attack, impugn and demean orthodox-traditionalist believers, all the more so in the context of confession of sins? How can the claims to respect diverse viewpoints on human sexuality be any more than, at best, hollow promises, and at worst, active deception?
And why is it that the only bishops I hear saying that they are called to be "a bishop to all people in the synod" are orthodox bishops who are trying to justify not taking a public stand?
It just boggles the mind.
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