Posted on 11/02/2006 2:07:45 PM PST by lightman
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 2, 2006
ELCA Presiding Bishop, LWF President Preaches in Historic 'Black Church' 06-165-JB [Click for larger image] ELCA Presiding Bishop and LWF President Mark Hanson greets pastors and parishioners at the Black Church in Transylvania following his Reformation Day sermon.
BRASOV, Transylvania (ELCA) -- Preaching in a historic Lutheran church here on Reformation Day, Oct. 31, was a "great privilege" and "very moving" experience, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), as he concluded an eight-day visit to Hungary and Romania. Hanson preached his Reformation Day sermon at the historic "Black Church," so named because a fire in the city about 300 years ago left the exterior stone structure darkened. The church building, one of the largest in Europe, took about 100 years to build and was completed in the13th century -- predating the 16th century Reformation. It is still in use today, as are many church buildings in Transylvania that have existed for hundreds of years. The congregation of the Black Church is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession, which serves about 15,000 German-speaking Lutherans in Romania. The church is headquartered in Sibiu/Hermannstadt and is headed by the Rev. D. Cristoph Klein, who serves as bishop. Many of the worshipers were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Romania, a 35,000-member church that serves Hungarian-speaking Romanians. The Rev. Dezsö Zoltán Adorjáni is bishop. More than 600 people attended the Reformation Day service. Klein and Adorjáni participated in the service. Hanson preached a sermon similar to one he delivered Oct. 29 at a Lutheran church in Pilis, Hungary. In both sermons, he said that, in Jesus Christ, Christians are free but are not to do as they wish. "We are free to serve our neighbor. We are free to be involved in civil society. We are free to live our faith in our daily lives in our homes, in our workplaces, in our friendships, in our struggles for justice and peace. The freedom we have in Christ is for the sake of the other person, not for our own sake," Hanson said, adding that freedom is God's gift to the world given through Jesus Christ.
Hanson meets with local pastors Before the Reformation Day service, Hanson met with some 40 pastors of the two Romanian churches, sharing his views about the Lutheran church, the LWF and the ELCA. Hanson told the pastors there are four characteristics that make Lutherans unique: + Evangelical: Lutherans believe that through the gospel the Holy Spirit brings people to faith and sends them into the world to proclaim the gospel. The Lutheran churches in the world that are growing are churches in which members are evangelists, Hanson said. + Confessional: The Augsburg Confession provides the foundation for Lutherans' identity. + Ecumenical: Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon, church reformers whose writings formed the basis for Lutheranism, both wanted to preserve the unity of the Western church. Diversity makes Lutheranism richer and stronger, Hanson said. + Missional: The church does not exist to protect itself from the world. "It exists to be God's instrument in the world," he said. Hanson told the pastors that a key commitment of the LWF is to "stand together with the poor and work for justice." "Luther said God does not need our good works, but our neighbors do," he said. The pastors asked Hanson about relationships with Lutherans who are not in the LWF, issues related to human sexuality, and how other Christians and politicians view the LWF. The largest Lutheran body that is not a member of the LWF is the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), St. Louis, Mo. While leaders of the ELCA, an LWF member, meet regularly with LCMS leadership, there remain significant differences between the two on the status of ecumenical agreements, ordination of women and interpretation of Scripture, Hanson said. The LWF has a task force on marriage, family and human sexuality, and it is studying how various member churches are addressing these issues, he said. On the LWF and how it is perceived, Hanson noted that the LWF is respected by leaders of the Vatican and the Orthodox Church, with whom there are continuing LWF dialogues. As for political leaders, Hanson noted that he often meets with top government officials in the countries he visits as LWF president. But in his own country, Hanson said, U.S. President George W. Bush won't meet with him because he has criticized Bush, particularly on the war in Iraq. Hanson said he has supported Bush on other issues, such as Millennium Development Goals, and has met with Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State, and when she was Bush's National Security Advisor. "To be religious leaders in a free society we must work with political leaders for the common good, but we must challenge leaders when we believe they are in error," he said.
German-speaking Lutherans in Romania face challenges On the last day of his visit to Hungary and Romania, Hanson visited Sibiu/Hermannstadt, where many public buildings are undergoing renovation and restoration as the city prepares to assume the title of "European Cultural Capital" in 2007. The title is awarded to different cities throughout Europe to encourage cultural development and tourism. Klein told Hanson that the small church he leads is struggling with its survival. Germans have a long history in Transylvania stretching back several centuries. But many left Transylvania immediately after the fall of the Communist regime in 1989, Klein said. No one saw the political changes coming until right before the Communist government fell, he said, adding that the church needed "strong faith" to sustain it through a difficult time. --- Information about the Lutheran World Federation is at http://www.lutheranworld.org on the Web.
For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
The article I posted does not reveal this, but the authoress of the Lutheran World Federation's sexuality study is to be none other than the infamous Rev. Karen Bloomquist who produced the disasterous 1993 ELCA Sexuality draft statement. Nothing like a nice kick up stairs for a job so well done.
Ping
I wonder how ELCA congregants will like their 'renewed' (well, actually, emasculated) Book of Worship, shipping now.
"Hanson noted that the LWF is respected by leaders of the Vatican and the Orthodox Church, with whom there are continuing LWF dialogues."
There are indeed continuing discussions with the LWF. I can't speak to the Latins, but the Orthodox are not at all amused or impressed by ECLA.
I know I'm drifting somewhat from the thread subject. But I have a hunch you may be able to satisfy a curiosity of mine. You need not reply if you're not comfortable with the subject. {or distrustful of someone you don't know!}
In your opinion, why do "conservatives" remain with the ELCA? Do they believe they can outlast the current "church politics"? Are there some independently conservative ELCA congregations still scattered about the country? Neither? Both? None of my business?
I can speak only for myself. Strange as a reform movement within a reform movement may sound, there is a pan-Lutheran (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) oratory of biblically conservative, liturgically steeped clergy that has gathered for mutual support and to resist the tide of modernity.
I encourage you to check out the website of the Society of the Holy Trinity http://www.societyholytrinity.org Read the page on "The Rule" http://www.societyholytrinity.org/rule.htm, paying particular attention to the section entitled "Parish Practices".Members of the Society are deeply committed to the weekly Eucharist, Private Confession and Absolution, and the public recitation of the Daily Office. Somewhere on that website you can find an excellent essay by our Senior, Pr. Frank Senn "On Staying in Place"
This Society began with 27 subscribers to the Rule in 1997. At our last General Retreat in late September we passed the 200 mark. We are working to build an endowment fund to operate a parallel/alternative seminary in which students will be taught to respect the authority of scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.
Yes, we believe that we can outlast the current madness. The antinomian, anti-military, feminazi leadership came of age during the late 60's. Now their age is in the low 60's so it won't be too much longer. Yes, it will get worse before it gets better but long term I look for a lot of good.
One of the hidden strengths for conservatives in the ELCA is the strong relationship many of our Synods hold with African Synods. Our global south companions are straightening us out, very parallel to what is happening in the Anglican communion.
So, very long term, the future looks bright. I see both a great separation within denominations (Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, etc) along radical (heretic) and orthodox lines and, simultaneously, a coalesence of the like minded of both camps. I certainly have more in common with a Tradionalist Catholic or Continuing Anglican than I do with the extreme revisionist elements of the ELCA; the same could be said for the extreme "revisionistas".
Myself, I am actually an adult Lutheran convert. I literally had to stand up and state that the Lutheran Confessions were "my confession"; and having made that declaration I dare not recant on pains of bearing false witness before God. Like Luther, "here I stand, I can do no other."
May God bless you and your fellow servants in your perseverance!
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