San Francisco Lutheran Congregation to Celebrate First 'Feast of Hope'

Worldwide Faith News ^ | 12/24/9

[SmithL]

St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco, will celebrate its first "Feast of Hope" worship Dec. 27, in celebration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly decision directing changes in ministry policies.

The Rev. Anita Hill, pastor of St. Paul-Reformation Church, Minneapolis, will serve as guest preacher.

Since 1995 the congregation has held a "Feast of Expulsion" in late December, commemorating the date when the congregation was expelled from the ELCA, according to a news release from the congregation.

On Dec. 31, 1995 St. Francis was removed from the ELCA's roster of congregations for calling ministers in same-gender relationships, a violation of ELCA policy.

The 2009 Churchwide Assembly directed changes to ELCA ministry policies that created the possibility that people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships could serve as ELCA associates in ministry, clergy, deaconesses and diaconal ministers. The assembly also adopted a social statement on human sexuality.

St. Francis members were among many others in the ELCA who worked for years for changes in ELCA ministry policies.

The Rev. Robert M. Goldstein, who serves as lead pastor at St. Francis, said the congregation council began discussions about changing the emphasis for the congregation's annual observance.

"We weren't sure what to name it," he said in an interview. "Since the congregation on the whole is very hopeful, and we're still in a holding pattern until we see the details in the (ELCA) Church Council's reformulation of polices, we thought 'hope' was the best and most accurate name to give this."

When it meets in April 2010, the ELCA Church Council is expected to consider revised policy documents implementing the actions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The proposed policies will be reviewed by the ELCA Conference of Bishops before any council action.

Goldstein said the congregation wants its event to be "forward- looking."

"It's time to accent the future now, and not live in the past," he said. Most of the congregation's approximately 135 members will likely attend Sunday's event, Goldstein said.

While members at St. Francis celebrate hope for the future, there are some congregations in the ELCA that do not agree with the assembly's decisions. Many cite biblical authority as their reasons. David D. Swartling, ELCA secretary, reported that as of Dec. 16, about 135 of the ELCA's nearly 10,400 congregations have taken first votes since the assembly to leave the denomination. Ninety-seven congregations achieved the required two-thirds vote and are moving forward in the process; 38 failed to achieve two-thirds.

Goldstein said members of congregations who disagree "are my brothers and sisters as we disagree over something that St. Francis' brothers and sisters feel very strongly about." He said he and St. Francis' members recognize others are in pain over the decisions, but noted many at St. Francis have been in pain for years because of the longstanding policies.

Goldstein added that he hopes one day there can be a "rite of reconciliation" for St. Francis and the ELCA.

[SmithL]

Now that the ELCA has turned sin into a pseudo-sacrament, the devil can be very hopeful.

[SmithL]

Oh, THAT St. Francis: http://www.st-francis-lutheran.org/

[Freddd]

‘forward looking’...where do I remember hearing that from? Oh yeah, Obama.

[magslinger]

Forget forward looking. With that crowd, I would think checking your six would be vital.

[rhema]

And in the “new” ELCA, the Metropolitan Community Churches now have a partner with which they can share full pastoral fellowship.

[lightman]

When I received this ping, my initial reaction was to abstain from hitting the ping list out of respect for the Nativity of Our Lord.

Then I discovered that the source for this information is the ELCA News Service, which issued a press release about this abomination on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

Some may recall that I have sometimes opined that the ELCA News Service has a habit of emitting very controversial statements late in the business day on Fridays, a practice quite akin to leaving a foul f@rt in the elevator car as one exits.

This one is worse than a Georgia outhouse in August.

So.....

Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!

* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.

Christ is Born, Glorify Him!

Remembering the Christmas homily of Leo the Great "Christian, remember your diginity" it is my hope that by next Christmas many of my STS colleagues will no longer be part of the ELCA.

There, I've said it publicly.

[raygunfan]

very telling that those who object to the church’s direction cite:

“...While members at St. Francis celebrate hope for the future, there are some congregations in the ELCA that do not agree with the assembly’s decisions. Many cite biblical authority as their reasons.”

what do you think they used as their authority to arrive at their current position, as a bible first/only church....?

(wait, let me guess, they are a bible first/only church...at least not anymore....)

Amazing how that happens....

[aliquando]

Thank you lightman! You are truly a candle for me!

[rhema]

Since 1995 the congregation has held a "Feast of Expulsion" in late December, commemorating the date when the congregation was expelled from the ELCA, according to a news release from the congregation.

In its we're-flaunting-our-apostasy spirit, the ELCA should initiate a "Feast of Ichabod," commemmorating the date when Ichabod was written on its denominational door.