Lutheran (EL
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Posted on 05/11/2010 10:21:43 AM PDT by SmithL
A Lutheran pastor and four congregations in South Dakota were recently censured by their bishop for affiliating with another Lutheran body.
The Rev. Frezil Westerlund of Philip, S.D., received a letter last week from the South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America informing her that she was in violation of church law.
The four churches she serves had voted to join the more "centrist" Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ and redirect funds away from the synod. At the same time, they did not vote to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The votes were made after the highest legislative body in the ELCA approved a resolution last August that opened the door to noncelibate gay and lesbian clergy.
Though Westerlund, 63, did not join the LCMC, she was also deemed an "outlaw," as she described it, according to Lutheran CORE, a renewal group.
"This act of censure belies the promise that orthodox Christians will have a place within the ELCA," she said. "We did not withdraw from the ELCA because we believed that the course of the church could still be righted. Now who knows what will happen."
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson has emphasized that the denomination has a place for both gay-affirming members and traditionalists who oppose homosexual behavior. The denomination, he stressed earlier, provides a way for those who recognize partnered gays to ordain them but it also recognizes congregations who hold a traditional view of homosexuality.
But the recent letter of admonition has Westerlund thinking otherwise.
Since the controversial vote last year to allow partnered homosexuals on the ELCA clergy roster, hundreds of congregations have taken steps to sever ties with the 4.6 million-member denomination. Nearly 200 have joined the LCMC, which opposes the ELCA's pro-gay actions.
"This is not an issue about human partnerships. Our issue is Biblical authority,” said Westerlund. "We can’t just take scissors and cut out the parts of the Bible we don’t like. That lacks integrity."
With the recent exodus of churches, the ELCA has taken a tougher stance against dual affiliation. ELCA Secretary David D. Swartling sent synod bishops a memo in January, informing them that affiliating with other Lutheran bodies while remaining in the ELCA is impermissible.
South Dakota Bishop David Zellmer recently announced that he would discipline congregations for dual affiliation. Notably, Zellmer is discontent with the ELCA's actions but said he doesn't feel leaving the ELCA is the answer.
So much for “bound conscience”.
They hoped for the best and got slammed for it. I hope a lesson was learned. The ELCA is for PC, and PC only.
"This is not an issue about human partnerships. Our issue is Biblical authority,” said Westerlund. "We can’t just take scissors and cut out the parts of the Bible we don’t like. That lacks integrity."
Seems she has cut something out that SHE does not agree with
One real church home is enough: "The Lord says, 'Get away from unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.'"
South Dakota Bishop David Zellmer recently announced that he would discipline congregations for dual affiliation. Notably, Zellmer is discontent with the ELCA's actions but said he doesn't feel leaving the ELCA is the answer.
Before the ELCA Study Commissions had finished their emendations to the Bible, did any ELCA bishop anywhere discipline any ELCA church that had accepted a homosexual pastor?
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
I expect to find that funny feeling any day now as officialdom takes a dim view of our actions:
has a place for both gay-affirming members and traditionalists who oppose homosexual behavior.
And the place for the traditionalists is the closet where they better be writing a check or else.
I have sorrow and sympathy.......but little patience with those affiliated in different ties with the ELCA, yet continue to hang around and hang around making the same mistake and hoping for a different outcome.
Leni
So is the ELCA going to take away their birthdays or what? What is the ‘discipline’ envisioned?
Good question.
Lightman, do you know re: discipline?
What could be the purpose of dual affiliations? That’s very confusing.
IF the “discipline” imposed on these congregations is like unto the “discipline” imposed on congregations which, prior to August 2009 Called “clergy” not on the ELCA roster (specifically, openly gay and lesbian persons) the worse they can expect is being barred from sending Voting Members (delegates) to Synod Assemblies.
The ultimate sanction is explusion from the ELCA by action of the Synod Council. By Constitution, when that happens the congregation keeps its property, automatically. VERY unlikely to happen!
On the surface dual affiliation has the appearance of eccleciastial mugwumpery; however, it has been permitted and even encouraged by the ELCA when the second affiliation is with a “full communion ecumenical partner” such as the UCC or Episcopal Church.
In my neck of the woods there have been some UCC/Lutheran “Union Churches” which have become dually affiliated “federated” congregations, with such agreements predating the “full communion” agreements.
Yes, dual standards for dual affiliations.
‘encouraged by the ELCA when the second affiliation is with a “full communion ecumenical partner” such as the UCC or Episcopal Church.’
That is strange.
So dare not partner with a competing “Lutheran” organization, but fine to join with an outside denomination altogether!
Further - is UCC United Church of Christ? I might’ve thought as much.
In my book, the initials stand for
U tterly
C onfused/reedless/lueless
C hristians.
You are getting CORE confused with LCMC. CORE was organized to act as a transition group for churches still in the ELCA. The LCMC an NALC are new synods. Well NALC is not quite ready yet.
This is about cash. That simple. ELCA wants the bucks.
These congregations used ‘discernment’ to ‘follow their bound conscience’ and affiliated with LCMC while maintaining their ties to the original affiliation of their heritage (ELCA).
Were that it were otherwise, there would have been no letter, except maybe one of congratulations on being one big happy Lutheran family.
Hate to say it, but the Lutheran Churches have been reduced to brands. This brand has ‘less Satan’. This brand has ‘more Bible’. This brand is ‘more Gay’. This brand has ‘more Rapture (Pre-Trib).
Talk about losing the point. Wow.
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