2013 Lutheran CORE & NALC Convocations & Theological Conference

[Mel Harris]

       Only a few more days until the most important events of this year, the Lutheran CORE and NALC Convocations and Theological Conference.     

The NALC web site states that these events will be live streamed on the internet.

       According to this recent article by Robert Benne

The ELCA's most distinguished theologians—Robert Jenson, Carl Braaten, James Nestingen, David Yeago—are all now persona non grata within that church and are speaking writing in different churches and venues.

Three of those four are among those scheduled to speak at the 2013 Lutheran CORE/NALC Theological Conference: On Being the Church in These Precarious Times.

(There is a little more information about the theological conference on page 11 of the July 2013 NALC News.)

       Those with a fast enough internet connection, and the time to do so, may find it worthwhile to look in on our theological conference.

                  Mel Harris

[Charles_Austin]

I look forward to reading what those theologians have to say.
We do not have to agree on who the "most distinguished theologians" in the ELCA are to have some regard for Dr. Braatan (my systematics professor w-a-y back in time) and those others have to say.
Would the MVP of the fifth game in the 1972 World Series be hitting the long ball or pitching that killer fastball today? Could Ronald Reagan, darling of Republican conservatism back in the day, get cheers from the Tetley or Nestle-drinkers of 2013?

[LutherMan]

Looking fw to the reports from the conference.  I hope someone will be reporting...

[Kurt Strause]

President Reagan is still regarded with deep respect by the current "Nestle-drinkers" within the Republican party.

I'm not sure if there was an MVP of game five of the 1972 World Series, but Pete Rose went 3 for 5 with a home run in a 5-4 Cincinnati win over Oakland. I don't think the four theologians cited by Dr. Benne are guilty of anything comparable to "Charlie Hustle" during his career.

Dr. Benne's assertion isn't that these four aren't on top of their theological game, but rather they and their theology are "persona non grata" within the ELCA. That's a strong charge against our church. That seems rather different than a generation arising who are shaped by new theological schools of thought.

Kurt Strause

[Michael Slusser]

It appears that Carl Braaten will only be doing an opening introduction; if I remember right, he did the same last August in Minnesota. The main talks are

Tuesday evening: 8:00 pm The Holy Spirit: Creator of the Church, by Rev. Dr. Stephan Turnbull
Wednesday: 9:30 am The Church is Part of the Gospel , by Dr. David Yeago
10:45 am Breaking the Promise of Lutheran Unity: Apostasy, Heresy, and Schism, by Rev. Dr. Nathan Howard Yoder
2:00 pm Whether Church Order is a Matter of Indifference in Lutheran History and Theology, by Rev. Dr. James Nestingen and Rev. Dr. Frank Senn
4:00 pm Doing Theology in the Service of the Church, by Rev. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson

It does sound like a feast; I hope I can get carry-out.

Peace,
Michael

[Keith Falk]

Now for a serious question...


If a person can only dine out once in Pittsburgh - where do we go?  What is THE place to hit up?

[Michael Slusser]

Now for a serious question...

If a person can only dine out once in Pittsburgh - where do we go?  What is THE place to hit up?

My own choices--since I like ethnic food--would be Mallorca http://mallorcarestaurantpgh.com/, which is on the South Side like your hotel, and Penn Brewery http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/23/271314/restaurant/Troy-Hill/Penn-Brewery-Pittsburgh, farther away on the North Side. Unfortunately, Old Europe closed a year after I left Pittsburgh in 2006, taking the best East European food in town with it.

Peace,
Michael

[J. Thomas Shelley]

Now for a serious question...

If a person can only dine out once in Pittsburgh - where do we go?  What is THE place to hit up?

My own choices--since I like ethnic food--would be Mallorca http://mallorcarestaurantpgh.com/, which is on the South Side like your hotel,

Definitely a drive from Station Square--a very, very long walk.

[Michael Slusser]

Definitely a drive from Station Square--a very, very long walk.

You're quite right, but Keith Falk sounded as if that wasn't an important factor for him. The 48 Arlington bus runs that route until after 11:00 p.m. weeknights, at half-hour intervals.

Peace,
Michael

[Don Whitbeck]

 


I just rec'd a copy of Core Connection; the Headlines ELCA, LCMC, and NALC: Can We begin the journey toward forgiveness and reconciliation?

I haven't read it it, but I think the only church that need to ask for forgiveness is the ELCA.  After all it was this so called Lutheran Church, that cause the breakup of the ELCA, and the formation of the LCMC and NALC.  I don't think the ELCA is going to change it strips anytime soon.

I look forward to watching their Covention.


Respectfully,

[Charles_Austin]

Someone writes:
I haven't read it it, but I think the only church that need to ask for forgiveness is the ELCA.

I comment:
The only, repeat only, church that needs to ask for forgiveness is the ELCA?
The others are perfect? The others are without sin? The others are totally pure and true? Honestly, "confessional", get a grip!

[George Erdner]

Now for a serious question...


If a person can only dine out once in Pittsburgh - where do we go?  What is THE place to hit up?

There are fine restaurants all over the world. So, if you want to truly experience something uniquely Pittsburgh, go to Primanti Brothers. That's an experience you cannot duplicate anywhere else.

[ghp]

Ought Luther have begged forgiveness of Leo X?

I look outside my window to the sunny Valparaiso afternoon and ponder if Tetzel responded any more/less winsomely than Austin...

[Charles_Austin]

The man who wrote the article for CORE has a more gentle disposition than either "confessional" (whoever he or she is) and Mr. Piper. He speaks about the need for confession and reconciliation all around.
But he seems a bit naive. There will indeed be reconciliation, I believe, but I wonder whether now is the time to work for it. The naive pastor also speaks of the various denominations respecting each group's "identity," and presumably its policies, and I don't see much of that happening.
Time heals all wounds (And, my mother said, wounds all heels).
But now... probably not.

[D. Engebretson]

It appears that Carl Braaten will only be doing an opening introduction; if I remember right, he did the same last August in Minnesota. The main talks are

Tuesday evening: 8:00 pm The Holy Spirit: Creator of the Church, by Rev. Dr. Stephan Turnbull
Wednesday: 9:30 am The Church is Part of the Gospel , by Dr. David Yeago
10:45 am Breaking the Promise of Lutheran Unity: Apostasy, Heresy, and Schism, by Rev. Dr. Nathan Howard Yoder
2:00 pm Whether Church Order is a Matter of Indifference in Lutheran History and Theology, by Rev. Dr. James Nestingen and Rev. Dr. Frank Senn
4:00 pm Doing Theology in the Service of the Church, by Rev. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson

It does sound like a feast; I hope I can get carry-out.

Peace,
Michael

Dr. Frank Senn's name stood out when I read this list as he is a well respected scholar in liturgical circles.  I hadn't realized until I checked, but he is now retired from active pastoral ministry as of June 30th.  According to the website of his last parish he went from retirement to working in Singapore [http://www.ilcevanston.org/index.php/news/frank-answers-archive/528-frank-answers-epilogue].  A couple of items caught my attention in his update:
--In reference to the Lutheran Church of Singapoer (LCS) which is in fellowship with the ELCA, Dr. Senn notes: "Bishop Kee explained to me that the LCS is in a relationship of protest with the ELCA over its sexuality decisions and ministry policies but has not severed relations. I was cordially welcomed."
--In reference to the impact of contemporary worship music on this church body: "The biggest problem I encountered in all the Churches is what to do about contemporary worship music (CWM). The earthquake of CWM has created a tsunami that has crashed ashore in Asia. I was asked to speak to the Lutherans pastors about "How God Works Through Music" and to the laity about "More Than Music: What Lutheran Worship Offers." The issue of music kept coming up in my course. I was even invited to preach about the challenge of CWM on Choir Sunday in the Syrian Mar Thoma Church (an ancient independent Church of the East based in Kerala, India) that has a congregation of Indians in Singapore. I have been invited to teach in Indonesia next summer at the School of Performing Arts in Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga, Central Java, and attend the Church Music Camp of the Chinese congregations in Sumatra. If my retirement ministry is taking me to Asia and this is one of their major liturgical issues I will have to help Asian Christians develop a strategy for dealing with it."