{ LCMS } Lutheran leader sees Protestants aligning

Fort Wayne Journal Gazette ^ | 2/5/11 | Rosa Salter Rodriguez

[Charles Henrickson]

The Rev. Matthew Harrison . . . was elected last year to head the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. . . .

Harrison is a good man. I'm glad he was elected. I was a delegate to the convention last summer, and I voted for him.

[xone]

visiting female pastor preside over service at one point.

She wasn't ordained in the LCMS, they don't have female clergy. She could be a deaconess but as far as 'presiding' during the service I'd have to know the context.

[Charles Henrickson]

It would be great if protestants could unite on faith and doctrine. Getting together just because we agree homosexuality is a sin is not a good idea. Matthew.....keep your eyes on the ball son!!!

Oh, he will do that! I know the man personally, and he is a very able theologian, top-drawer.

[RFEngineer]

“Lutheran leader sees Protestants aligning”

Short of the second coming of Christ, that’s not how we roll. Not gonna happen.

[Charles Henrickson]

“But the challenge for the Missouri Synod on this whole issue is simply not to be the denomination of ‘no.’ ” he said. “It is my deep desire to refrain from statements against homosexuality, at the same time affirming the biblical stance and that the church has a role in assisting people who struggle with this issue,” Harrison said.

Look, I think I know what he means by this (if indeed this is being quoted correctly and in context). There is no doubt in my mind that Harrison regards homosexual behavior as sinful. And our synod maintained its strong stand against the sin of homosexuality once again last summer, when the convention adopted several resolutions against what the ELCA has done.

But I think Harrison's point is that we want to do more than just say "We're agin' it!" And we don't want to focus solely on that one sin. Plus, we want to make clear there is forgiveness for repentant homosexuals too.

[Charles Henrickson]

a Missouri Synod congregation adhering to a traditional form of the Divine Service . . . is far more traditional in its worship than a Wisconsin Synod congregation following a contemporary form of liturgy.

This is true. Both synods have their problems with goofy pastors and congregations that do "contemporary worship." And, on the other hand, you can also find many pastors and congregations in both synods that do the liturgy well, sing solid hymns, celebrate the Sacrament often, and have good, Christ-centered preaching. Nowadays you have to check out things on a congregation-by-congregation basis.

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

sola scriptura plus pride = no unity.

[Mr. Lucky]

Is this possible?

[Charles Henrickson]

It is not *supposed* to be possible in the LCMS that you would see a visiting female pastor preside over a service. We don't have female pastors and we don't have fellowship with churches that do.

However, there are some wacky liberal congregations on our left fringe that do things they're not supposed to do, so I can't say it's not "possible."

But I'd also have to know more details to make a judgment--i.e., what is meant by "preside at one point."

[MSF BU]

...an openly sodomite chaplain, I had not considered that. I’m sure the Unitarians and Epixcolians have one on standby immediately. Oh boy.

[Mr. Lucky]

Thanks.

[lightman]

This is true. Both synods have their problems with goofy pastors and congregations that do "contemporary worship." And, on the other hand, you can also find many pastors and congregations in both synods that do the liturgy well, sing solid hymns, celebrate the Sacrament often, and have good, Christ-centered preaching. Nowadays you have to check out things on a congregation-by-congregation basis.

So that infection I found so prevelant in the ELCA has spread across North American Lutheranism?

The talks with the ACNA may be an excellent vehicle for restoring liturgical order.

[RFEngineer]

“sola scriptura plus pride = no unity.”

Protestant = Don’t care what Rome thinks, even if we can’t get along with other Protestants

[redgolum]

Women can’t be ordained pastors in the LCMS. Might be an LCMC (splinter from the ELCA), but not LCMS.

That is one of the “trip wires” for me and a great many MoLu’s.

[AnalogReigns]

If “went liberal” you mean NOT calling all other Protestant denominations heretical, you may be right...but the LCMS is still VERRRRRRRY CONSERVATIVE (still requiring closed communion, after all) within the evangelical world.

No female clergy and closed communion puts the LCMS still to the far right amidst evangelical Protestants.

I’m sure you’re correct though that Wisconsin Synod is way to the right of that. How far right in religion though, is wrong?

[AnalogReigns]

I really think news and discussions amidst Protestants should be within “Caucus” or “Closed” titles, to avoid the inevitable snide comments by Roman Catholics and others.

NOTHING it seems can be posted about Protestant issues without various cranks creeping in trying to bash the Reformation.

[taxesareforever]

So, does it mean that the “Thou shall not...” commandments will also hold the same “refrain from statements against..” so as not to be a “denomination of no”? Where does it stop? I’m hoping that Harrison used a poor choice of words but, sadly, I believe his meaning is clear.

[Cronos]

one thing the pinkos do not realise (or perhaps they do) is that the steps they perform in the west has a lot of repercussions in AFrica and Asia. When Gene Robinson was made “bishop” in the ECUSA, then devout anglicans in Nigeria were attacked by Moslems as “they supported gays”

[Cronos]

I agree with Analog on this, OLOROB --> this is about the common enemy faced by ALL Churches, the pinkos.

This thread should NOT devolve into the same inter-Christian bash thread (whether WELS v/s LCMS or orthodoxy vs. protestantism) -- we have other threads for that :-P

All need to stand together against the creeping homosexual attack on Christianity as a whole.

[Redleg Duke]

I was raised in the American Lutheran Church and left the ELCA when I saw it going away from the Holy Gospel.

My Mom was raised in the Wisconsin Lutheran Church and because of its refusal to allow Scouting, the American Legion and Free Masonry, we were not interested in it.

When my son and I moved back up to New Hampshire, the nearest church was a WELS one and I went once and was not welcomed at all. I found it cold and barren. In this day and age, women have too much to offer to be shut out from voting. Clergy, I can go either way, but too much of the ELCA women clergy are lesbian influenced or radical feminist at the least. Most of the women clergy I have met have chips on their shoulders.

I am comfortable in the LCMS.