Megachurch pastor stuns congregation by announcing he’s converting to Catholicism

The Deacon's Bench ^ | March 10, 2014 | Deacon Greg Kandra

[NYer]

Details:

During his Sunday morning service, Ulf Ekman announced the he and his wife, Birgitta, are converting to Roman Catholicism.

Ekman is the founder of Word of Life, a megachurch in Uppsala, Sweden. News reports and blogs coming out of the nation reveal congregation was “partially stunned” after hearing what was packaged as a “special announcement.” The theme was “follow the Lamb wherever He goes.”

“For Birgitta and me, this has been a slow process where we have gone from discovering new things, to appreciating what we have discovered, to approach and even learn from our fellow Christians,” Ekman says on his ministry website.

“We have seen a great love for Jesus and a sound theology, founded on the Bible and classic dogma. We have experienced the richness of sacramental life. We have seen the logic in having a solid structure for priesthood, that keeps the faith of the church and passes it on from one generation to the next. We have met an ethical and moral strength and consistency that dare to face up to the general opinion, and a kindness towards the poor and the weak. And, last but not least, we have come in contact with representatives for millions of charismatic Catholics and we have seen their living faith.”

According to the Alethia blog and think tank, Ekman’s conversion is a news story that affects a relatively large part of Swedish Christianity. Word of Life has about 3,000 members and a staff of 12 pastors. The church’s school has about 1,000 students. Ekman also launched Scandinavia’s largest Bible school, constructed Scandinavia’s largest free church building, and rolled out a media program with TV on all continents, recorded teaching that has been spread around the world, books in 60 languages, and a strong engagement for Israel.

“We have as many know, followed Ekman’s steps towards Roman Catholicism since 2007, at times under a lot of ridicule from both members and leadership of the congregation, but also from others within the Christian Community in Sweden,” writes Andreas Glandberger, who operates the think tank. “Based on Ulf Ekman’s various articles, sermons, statements, and even type of organizations he decided to support financially, a painstaking puzzle has been laid in which the last piece of the puzzle now is in place.”

Glandberger went on to say that “shock, anger, sadness, despair and confusion” among the reactions to the news. Others, he writes, were relieved that Ekman’s long love affair with the Catholic Church finally was consummated openly, which is also a help in theological discussions.

Continue reading.

[verga]

Thank you for proving that you are not a Christian. I pray that Jesus will draw you to Him.

[Arthur McGowan]

“Straw man”? Nonsense. I am describing your position.

Your position is that my mother could pray for me while she was on earth, but now she can’t.

Your position is that I could ask my mother to pray for me while she was on earth, but that if I do the same thing now, I am an idolater.

I am saying there is no rational basis for the belief that people can pray for one another while on earth, and suddenly become inert at death.

[Elsie]

Thank you for proving that you are not a Christian.

Thank YOU for proving that you do not require much evidence for making a JUDGEMENT.

[Elsie]

Your position is that my mother could pray for me while she was on earth, but now she can’t.

That's MY position?

Strange; YOUR words earlier on the subject were a bit different.

You still haven’t explained why my mother, who prayed for me her whole life, would have no desire to do so once she is in heaven.

[Elsie]

Your position is that I could ask my mother to pray for me while she was on earth, but that if I do the same thing now, I am an idolater.

That's MY position?

Strange; I don't remember stating ANYTHING like what you've imagined.

[Elsie]

I am saying there is no rational basis for the belief that people can pray for one another while on earth, and suddenly become inert at death.

HMMMmmm...

[verga]

Thank YOU for proving that you do not require much evidence for making a JUDGEMENT.

I have been reading your comments for quite a while now. There is sufficient evidence, I am just the person that called you on your un Christian behavior.

[Arthur McGowan]

It isn’t your position that, if I ask my mother (who has died) to pray for me, I’m worshiping her?

[Elsie]

I have been reading your comments for quite a while now. There is sufficient evidence, I am just the person that called you on your un Christian behavior.

There may be people reading this thread who have NOT been reading my comments for a while.

Would you be so kind to direct them to the EVIDENCE of the state of my soul?

[Elsie]

It isn’t your position that, if I ask my mother (who has died) to pray for me, I’m worshiping her?

I don't think any 'position' that I've stated in this thread mentions whom you worship at all.

But then; my memory is a bit weak these days; so, if you'd be so kind to point out exactly what I HAVE said; I, among others no doubt; would be ever so appreciative of your kindness.

[verga]

Would you be so kind to direct them to the EVIDENCE of the state of my soul?

Well they can read your smarmy comments on this thread, or they can go to the main page and do a "user" search in the upper right corner by typing in your name.

[Elsie]

Well they can read your smarmy comments on this thread, or they can go to the main page and do a "user" search in the upper right corner by typing in your name.

I pity a person who cannot come up with the evidence they claim to have.

[Elsie]

Well they can read your smarmy comments on this thread, or they can go to the main page and do a "user" search in the upper right corner by typing in your name.

 

 

Since you are trying SO very hard to make this thread about me - here ya go; in reverse order...

---

---

---

I pity a person who cannot come up with the evidence they claim to have.

 

I don't think any 'position' that I've stated in this thread mentions whom you worship at all.

 

But then; my memory is a bit weak these days; so, if you'd be so kind to point out exactly what I HAVE said; I, among others no doubt; would be ever so appreciative of your kindness.

There may be people reading this thread who have NOT been reading my comments for a while.

 

Would you be so kind to direct them to the EVIDENCE of the state of my soul?

HMMMmmm...

 

 

 

 

Strange; I don't remember stating ANYTHING like what you've imagined.

MY position? Strange; YOUR words earlier on the subject were a bit different.

 

Thank YOU for proving that you do not require much evidence for making a JUDGEMENT.

Good luck!!

 

How would I know? It's YOUR strawman.

Why should I? It's YOUR strawman.

Why should I? She ain't in Heaven yet!

 

I see you denying that any 'good' people will come out of the grave at the last trump.

 

Mr. Chode does NOT pity the lazy...

 

You channeling Mr T now?

 

Nah...Thinking a dead person hears my prayers and then helps JESUS to answer them is what REALLY makes us feel good!

Gee; Thanks!!!   I’ll pray that MORE mega-church leaders come to the loving arms of the Roman Catholic Church.

SLC preaches EXACTLY the same thing.

 

 If you guys don’t watch the news on TV; you are uninformed.  If you DO read the news in the papers; you are misinformed.

 

Dang!  You absolutely SURE you ain't a MORMON??

Hungry wolves tend to go where the sheep are...

Tsk tsk... And in the RELIGION forum; too! 
 
Even if we accept your statement here; with NO evidence shown; to be true; at least PROTESTants have no Catch and Release program!

 

 

 

[verga]

Since you are trying SO very hard to make this thread about me - here ya go; in reverse order...

I wasn't making it about you. I simply called you on your un Christian, uncharitable comments. If you don't want to be called out on them then don't make them.

You were the one that kept pushing. If you don't want a reply than don't comment.

[Elsie]

101 Thank you for proving that you are not a Christian.

My!

You seem to have scaled back your rhetoric a bit...

I simply called you on your un Christian, uncharitable comments.

[Elsie]

You were the one that kept pushing. If you don't want a reply than don't comment.

Good advice!

Heed it...

[Elsie]

The plans called for a hole, five feet deep, right here.

But when I got down that far, there was STILL dirt at the bottom; so....

[verga]

Heed it...

Still pushing, Feel free to have the last word, the spiritually immature need it.

[BlueDragon]

Mirror mirror on the wall...

every_word_spoken_AT-others.

It is painful to watch.

[Kackikat]

SLC, so what does that mean? Truth is truth no matter where it comes from, because God has spoken through a donkey before.