University Lutheran Chapel (University of Minnesota) to be sold

[George Erdner]

FYI - A cyber-hint to all participants.

If you've picked a cryptic, coded log-in name (and there's nothing wrong with doing that!), it's very easy to change your displayed screen name to one that's less ambiguous. Click on the link to "Profile" at the top of the screen, then pick "Modify Profile". You can change your displayed name to something that won't get you confused with others who might share the same initial and last name.

My apologies for the digression. This ends the cyber-hint.

[A Catholic Lutheran]

Some of your comments are as bad as the other LCMS gossip sites.  Why not just find out the truth instead of this stupid speculation.  You can do better.  Be sad about the loss of the building - but don't descend to this speculative nonsense like BJS or the other confessional gossip websites.

I tend to disagree(oops) AGREE with Pr. Meyer.

A recent conversation I had with a vacant congregation (which I am overseeing in their vacancy) went like this:
"The Bishop hasn't given us any candidates because he wants to close us."
"Did he tell you that?"
"No.  But it's obvious.  If he didn't want to close us he'd send us candidates."

Ummm...  This is a congregation that has been without a Pastor for THREE months.  The "average" vacancy for ELCA parishes is over a year.  And this is not your "average" congregation...they are going to need a special pastor with a special skill set--by their own admission.

But this is where their mind jumps in the vacuum.  Not "The Bishop might not have the right candidate yet..." or "Gosh, we've only just started the process..." but "The Bishop wants to close us."

Likewise, let us show some charity in attributing motives to others here.  It's an awfully long jump to "Maybe they want a trophy..." or "They're exulting in the downfall of the building..."

Pax Christi;
Pr. Jerry Kliner, STS

[Donald_Kirchner]

As a nominal member of MNN and a U of M alum, I personally feel betrayed by MNS for it failing to live up to its stewardship responsibilities, and what has been visited upon ULC with seemingly no remorse by MNS leadership is horrendously sinful.

But...I think that we must keep in mind that ULC was, legally, a tenant at will. As such they could be removed for any reason or for no reason by the landlord, MNS. Elsewhere, it has been stated that $2 million is not nearly enough to compensate ULC, legally a tenant at will, for their loss, that $3.25 million, the purchase price of the property, would be just, which puts them in a position of the owner, not a renter.

There is something wrong here. I think the victimization mode has been carried too far. I see quotes of Scripture- "It is finished" with a pic of a crucifix. I read that, upon their vacating their rented premises, it was the first day of the Church in. exile. There seems to be much worship of a building. The ULC congregation lives, if they want to do so.

$2 million plus donations of...how much? And we are exhorted to keep on giving to put ULC back in the position that they were. They were renters! The funds they now have should find them a place that they can lease.

I digress... bottom line, the cornerstone is not ULC's. I have as much right, as a nominal member of MNN, to a claim of that cornerstone. And that's a flimsy claim, i.e., no claim.

[jtpless]

The destruction of the buildings (chapel and parsonage) that housed the campus ministry of University Lutheran Chapel was a barbaric and tragic loss. I trust that the Lord will work good out of this mess. There are some good things emerging out of this already. I'm grateful that the MNS district in convention voted to give ULC 2 million dollars to relocate although that will not be nearly enough to purchase property near the campus. On a larger scale, the assault on ULC has prompted more positive attention to campus ministry in the Synod. Proof of this can be seen in the campus ministry "think tank" held in January, the upcoming "Unwrapped Conference," and most especially in the appointment of veteran campus pastor, Marcus Zill to serve as campus ministry coordinator for the LCMS.

JTP+

[Michael Slusser]

There is a new chapter in the story of the LCMS Campus Ministry at Minnesota. The community, which has been worshipping at one of the Luther Seminary chapels, has its eye on a new location, a sorority house.

http://www.ulcmn.org/News/Newsletter%20-%20Current.pdf

May their ministry grow strong and benefit the University community.

Peace,
Michael

[Jay Michael]

There is a new chapter in the story of the LCMS Campus Ministry at Minnesota. The community, which has been worshipping at one of the Luther Seminary chapels, has its eye on a new location, a sorority house.

http://www.ulcmn.org/News/Newsletter%20-%20Current.pdf

May their ministry grow strong and benefit the University community.

Peace,
Michael

More recently operated as a bed and breakfast, there are plans for the future.     http://www.saveulc.org/

[Jay Michael]

The members of University Lutheran Chapel held their regular voters meeting today (Sunday).  One of the items on the agenda was to finally give the "Faculty House" a more fitting name.  After narrowing down the selections to 3 names, it was decided to call it the Luther House.  The name was chosen to identify the house as being a Lutheran place where students and members can come and hold Table Talk, Bible Studies and congregational fellowship activities.

Formal dedication and open house is tentatively scheduled for April 5th at 7:30pm.  For more information about the Luther House and updates on other activities please visit http://www.saveulc.org and http://www.ulcmn.org

http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=27378

[Jay Michael]

ULC's Luther House was dedicated April 5.  The Luther House link provides information on the dedication as well as information on plans to replace the chapel they lost in 2012.

[Jay Michael]

A recent Reporter article tells of the new hope that a new home has given the members and students at ULC.

[Donald_Kirchner]

Wow...

"'The district had — and still has — an aggressive plan to expand campus ministry in the district through existing congregations and new starts, without the burden of owning and maintaining facilities, 'Nadasdy told Reporter.

Even though buildings were sold at both locations, 'both campus ministries now continue as congregational ministries,' he noted."

Not because of any efforts by the District office!  Rather, despite efforts by the District office, ULC continues because:

"Delegates to the district's 2012 convention adopted a resolution to provide $2 million from the sale of the ULC property toward its relocation. The campus ministry in Mankato continues in the same facilities, which were purchased by Hosanna Lutheran Church, Mankato, also with assistance from the district convention [not the District office]."

[Michael Slusser]

A Synod-wide coordination of "intentional campus ministries in the LCMS" has been announced:
http://blogs.lcms.org/2013/registration-drive-for-lcms-u
In the past, the Synod listed congregations as campus ministries based on their proximity to a college, "whether they were intentionally engaged in a campus ministry or not," according to one FAQ. "Campus ministries were also designated as full-time, part-time or dedicated ministries, based upon reporting from those at the local, circuit or district levels. While such designations may be helpful at those levels, LCMS U will no longer report those details."

Another FAQ notes that congregations previously listed in The Lutheran Annual as a "contact congregation for campus ministry" will no longer be listed.

Does this have implications for the kind of decision taken by the Minnesota South district, or possibly did the latter play a part in drawing attention to a need for the drive?

Peace,
Michael

[LutherMan]

Build-It-Back Video

http://saveulc.org/

http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=34022