Lutheran Ping!
Christ is in our midst!
Posted on 02/05/2011 2:20:30 PM PST by SmithL
The Rev. Matthew Harrison has a vision of what the future of American Protestantism might look like – and it includes a potentially big realignment.
Harrison, who was pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne in the 1990s and early 2000s, was elected last year to head the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a 6,200-congregation denomination with 2.3 million baptized members. The synod is the second-largest and most traditional among the branches of Lutheranism in North America.
In an interview last month during a visit to the Synod’s Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Harrison said he sees opposition to homosexuality and support of traditional marriage as leading to new ties among dissident members of diverse Protestant groups.
“I certainly see it happening,” he said. “It’s a very interesting moment worldwide.”
In recent years, several U.S. denominations including Lutherans, Episcopalians and Presbyterians have seen splinter groups form in reaction to policies that broadened acceptance of homosexuals.
Now, he says the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s recent move to allow some non-celibate gay clergy is affecting the church’s mission in the developing world, where different branches of the faith have traditionally cooperated.
He called the decision “the worst blunder in the history of Lutheran missions,” saying it makes it harder for the church’s message to be heard.
In Africa it’s because of homosexuality’s connection to the AIDS epidemic, he said. In countries such as Indonesia where Islam is prevalent, he added, Islamic radicals seize on the issue as proof that the Western Christian church is decadent and should be rejected.
Harrison said the issue may present an opportunity for his denomination in some countries.
In the past several years, Lutheran groups in Madagascar, where the population is 25 percent Lutheran, have made informal overtures to the Missouri Synod. Lutherans in the country have historically aligned with the ELCA, he said.
Another sign of the realignment, he added, is that his denomination and the Anglican Church in North America have begun formal dialogue seeking common ground.
The Anglican body formed in 2008 in a split from the U.S. Episcopal Church largely over the issue of allowing homosexual bishops and priests. It has ties to Anglican churches in Africa that opposed homosexuality, including Uganda, Nigeria and Rwanda.
Anglicans and the Missouri Synod are talking “to be able to affirm each other in significant ways as fellow Christians, stand together against certain societal and ecclesial trends and cooperate together in works of mercy,” according to the synod’s description of the dialogues. They began in November and will continue this year.
Still another sign of movement is a declaration signed by Harrison in December on marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
The declaration was endorsed by leaders of about 20 Protestant Christian groups as well as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church.
Harrison said for Missouri Synod Lutherans, the issue of homosexuality strikes at the root of the authority of Scripture.
“The difficulty we have runs to the very heart of the Gospel – is there salvation outside of Christ? The Bible says no,” he says, adding that those who claim acceptance of homosexuality are imposing their interpretation of the texts.
Harrison last year also wrote a letter to U.S. lawmakers saying that the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the U.S. military “will sorely inhibit our chaplains’ ability to call all sinners to repentance.”
He said the new policy will likely lead to openly homosexual chaplains and added that Missouri Synod members may be counseled not to partake of their services.
“But the challenge for the Missouri Synod on this whole issue is simply not to be the denomination of ‘no.’ ” he said.
“It is my deep desire to refrain from statements against homosexuality, at the same time affirming the biblical stance and that the church has a role in assisting people who struggle with this issue,” Harrison said.
In Fort Wayne, Harrison was known for spearheading a project with neighboring St. Peter Catholic Church that rejuvenated the Hanna-Creighton neighborhood.
Dilapidated homes were cleared from a 10-block area around the churches and replaced with new development, such as the Pontiac branch of the Allen County Public Library and the headquarters of the Urban League.
After leaving Fort Wayne, Harrison served as executive director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care.
fyi
Errr.. Most traditional is the Wisconsin Synod. The Missouri Synod went liberal a little while back. No way EVER the Wisconsin Synod joins up.
It is widely expected that this will lead to a vast realignment, traditional Christians in one group, secular revisionists in another, opposing group, with the old denominations being far less salient than they have been in the past.
There will be a new category, just like in politics. Conservative Christians—Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox will align themselves with the Bible and Jesus, against the Liberal denominations.
That action, along with what is going on around the planet, will just make the divide Good & Evil more pronounced.
Homosexual acceptance seems to be a poison pill. This is good news that Missouri Synod may become a new anchor in Christianity. I am sure Wisconsin Synod is fine too, I just don’t know much about them.
““It is my deep desire to refrain from statements against homosexuality, at the same time affirming the biblical stance....”
In other words,streamline it so that it is palateable to all. When the LCMS aligns itself with the Catholic bishops and the Mormons nothing is really changing.
And the Wisconsin Synod is different than the Missouri Synod in what way (other than that Ying Yang thing of the W/M/W/M?
Seriously ~ edumacate we heathen folk.
Well, all these missions to the Third World are nice, but frankly, they need to do a lot of work here in the US.
For what it's worth, a Missouri Synod congregation adhering to a traditional form of the Divine Service (essentially the English translation of Luther's Mass) is far more traditional in its worship than a Wisconsin Synod congregation following a contemporary form of liturgy.
Like Germans aren't Swedes. Swedes aren't Germans. To the trained eye vast differences are obvious ~ kinda' anyway!
Or, maybe vice versa what with that deal with the former Finnish Lutheran synod.
It would be great if protestants could unite on faith and doctrine. Getting together just because we agree homosexuality is a sin is not a good idea.
Matthew.....keep your eyes on the ball son!!!
I agree.. I love my Lutheran brethren, but we hold many points of differing doctrine..
Either we stand on our doctrine or we stand on a foundation of social sand..
The Wisconsin Synod would be to the right of the Missouri Synod.
This is a distressing statement, it is imperative christians take a strong stance against all sin.
>> This is a distressing statement, it is imperative christians take a strong stance against all sin. <<
Yeah, but it’s a little wierd to waste much breath on a sin that’s a temptation for only a few percent of the population. Keep the focus on the real purpose of sexuality and you shouldn’t even have to mention homosexuality, except as an instance of how far away from sanity we’ve drifted.
But yes, I certainly agree that Christians need to take a strong stance against all sin. When homosexuality is mentioned, it needs to be sharply condemned.
Christ is in our midst!
First, did I offend you in some way? In no way was I trying to be elitist or a snob.
As far as the synods are concerned, there's a long history of the major synods namely the LCA(ELCA), Missouri and Wisconsin Synod. On a scale, the ELCA has the most liberal policies (female pastors, etc), the Missouri is typically more conservative and the Wisconsin is the most conservative. Although, it is quite likely that certain churches in the Missouri Synod are run as conservative as a Wisconsin Synod. I believe Missouri does allow female pastors which are not allowed in Wisconsin. Also, Wisconsin synod churches operate with only the males as voting members. I grew up and was confirmed in LCA then in my 20's was Missouri and finally Wisconsin (although they are they are not as widespread).
Finally, it is not Wisconsin's belief that they are the only saving church meaning they don't have the attitude of the catholics where if you ain't catholic, you're screwed.
Peace.
Not so sure about this. I attended a Missouri Synod church in Myrtle Beach, SC and had a visiting female pastor preside over service at one point.
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