Topics

1

Your Turn / ELCA church opens her doors to rogue Roman Catholics

« on: January 05, 2015, 04:09:46 PM »

Here is the story: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article5392290.html

Why would an ELCA congregation willingly open their doors to something that will cause an offense to the Roman Catholic church? 

2

Your Turn / CTCR early Communion statement

« on: October 09, 2014, 12:57:27 AM »

https://www.scribd.com/doc/242235954/Knowing-What-We-Seek-and-Why-We-Come-Questions-and-Answers-concerning-the-Communing-of-Infants-and-Young-Children#fullscreen

I have some issues with the above statement.

1. Bente: The tender age at which the young were held to partake of the Lord's Supper appears from Bugenhagen's preface to the Danish edition of the Enchiridion of 1538, where he says "that after this confession is made, also the little children of about eight years old or less should be admitted to the table of Him who says: Suffer the little children to come unto me. (Historical Introductions to the Symbolic Books, Triglotta, p.82)

2.  Rubric 2 for the Rite of First Communion Prior to Confirmation: Concerning the worthy reception of the Lord's Supper, the Small Catechism teaches: Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words "for you" require all hearts to believe. (LSB Agenda, p. 25)

Under footnote number 2 of the above CTCR document: Unless qualified by an age (paedocommunion), the term will be used in this paper to refer to the communing of children within the age range stretching from infancy to puberty.

It seems that the Synod is speaking against itself on this issue.  I welcome any comments on this.

Bishop Benke, do you have any thoughts on this?

3

Your Turn / Statement of the 44, TTMBO, and ACELC

« on: October 02, 2014, 09:40:28 AM »

Much has been said about the dissenting nature of the ACELC, and I agree that these fellows went about their work in the wrong way. Rececently,  I was reminded about the original gangstas of dissent in the LCMS, namely the Statementarians, who were the first to site their concerns.  In some corners of the LCMS, these men are still considered "heroes."  How is the ACELC (or TTMBO, the statement that came out after the Yankee Stadium service) any different from the OGs?

Here is the the beginning of the Statement:

In Nomine Jesu

STATEMENT

 We, the undersigned, as individuals, members of Synod, conscious of our  responsibilities and duties before the Lord of the Church, herewith  subscribe to the following statement:

FOUR
We believe that the ultimate and basic motive for all our life and work must be love--love of God, love of the Word, love of the brethren, love of souls. We affirm our conviction that the law of love must also find application to our relationship to other Lutheran bodies.  We therefore deplore a loveless attitude, which is manifesting itself within Synod. This unscriptural attitude has been expressed in suspicions of brethren, in the impugning of motives, and in the condemnation of all who have expressed differing opinions concerning some of the problems confronting our Church today.

 FIVE
 We affirm our conviction that sound exegetical procedure is the basis for sound Lutheran theology.
 We therefore deplore the fact that Romans 16:17, 18 has been applied to all Christians who differ from us in certain points of doctrine. It is our conviction, based on sound exegetical and hermeneutical principles,  that this text does not apply to the present situation in the Lutheran Church of America. We furthermore deplore the misuse of First Thessalonians 5:22 in the translation "avoid every appearance of evil." This text should be used only in its true meaning, "avoid evil in every form."

The whole text may be found here: http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/lcms/ST44/ST44.txt

I personally love this line: We therefore deplore a loveless attitude, which is manifesting itself within Synod.

So, how is this statement any different than the "That They may be One" or the ACELC?

4

Your Turn / A new job for Dr. Gard

« on: May 30, 2014, 04:18:54 PM »

My Alma Mater announced via Facebook (that's how these things are done now, I guess) that the Rev. Dr. Daniel Gard has been elected the new President of Concordia (it will always be River Forest) Chicago.  Congrats!

5

Your Turn / Rome likes Confessional Lutherans

« on: February 07, 2013, 09:55:46 AM »

http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2013/02/roman-catholics-and-confessional-lutherans-explore-deeper-ties

Pull quote: While dialogue between Roman Catholics and mainline Lutherans continues, a desire has arisen among Roman Catholics to begin looking to confessional Lutherans for more fruitful dialogue.

From the cheap seats, it seems that Missouri has actually been more active in talking to other Christian churches since President Harrison was elected.  We have had plenty of talks with the NALC, ACNA, and Rome. 

6

Your Turn / The Intersection of Church and State

« on: September 08, 2012, 12:42:43 PM »

Check out this new program produced by The Lutheran Hour which will debut on the Fox Business Channel on September 30th at 5:00pm Eastern:

http://intersectionofchurchandstate.com/

I guess it will air on local channels throughout the next couple of months.

7

Your Turn / Hymnal Question

« on: January 25, 2012, 03:22:04 PM »

A shut-in of mine was showing me her old hymnal (and it was not TLH or SBH), it was called The American Lutheran Hymnal.  Skimming through it, it had the full texts of the epistle and gospel readings in the propers, which I thought was kind of cool.  It has a 1930 copyright. 

Question:  Which synod used this book?

8

Your Turn / Infant Baptism (Infant faith)

« on: January 24, 2012, 05:40:00 PM »

My first attempt at a poll.  An interesting discussion has emerged amongst some in my community concerning the necessity of baptism.  As I was waiting for some car repairs this morning, I started Dr. Scaer's new book Infant Baptism.  Scaer points out how some Lutherans in the 19th century moved away from Luther's idea that baptism=saving faith (especially in light of the baptism of infants).

So I was curious as to the ideas out there concerning baptism (infant baptism in particular) here on this wonderful forum.  If you think something needs to be added to the poll, I'll try to add another entry. 

9

Your Turn / Issues etc... interviews Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of TEC

« on: January 14, 2012, 01:37:12 PM »

http://issuesetc.org/2012/01/04/the-episcopal-church-and-its-future-katherine-jefferts-schori-142012/

Of note:  It seems that the presiding bishop  believes that denying man-made global warming is a serious sin.  Also from the interview, you hear her universalism coming through.  Also of note at the 20 minute mark, the presiding bishop agrees with the question that the ordination of women leads to the ordination of homosexuals.  She equates this with the ordination of various minorities prior to the ordination of women.  So for her it seems ordination is simply a matter of "justice".

A well done interview.