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The Lutheran Constellation by Bp. James F. Mauney — September 22, 2009 There has been a full moon in the sky these past days, which has made it a bit more difficult to notice the vast array of stars in the heavens. I remember as a Boy Scout learning the patterns and stories of the different constellations. Some were constellations with all large, bright stars. Some constellations had several strong, bright stars, and several lesser, faint lights, but the point was that they gathered in a cluster that made them a unique presence in the firmament of God. For instance,...

Many churches hold their denominational conferences during the summer months, and the most significant and closely watched was the church-wide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneapolis in late August. The ELCA is one of the largest Christian religious denominations in the country, with about 10,000 congregations and 4.7 million members. Prior to the conference the main concern expressed by assembly members and throughout the church was the possibility of a split over the appointment of practicing homosexual clergy, perhaps the most divisive subject in 21st Century religious circles. The rift, which crosses denominational lines, has been growing since...

“Jesus would be passing out condoms.” That provocative thought was offered by an ELCA pastor on the floor of the Minneapolis churchwide assembly. Amazingly enough, he was quoting his former synodical bishop. When I heard that, I felt strangely relieved. We have clarity. If that is where the ELCA’s leadership is headed, as for me and my house, we are not going with them. I. In the midst of our sorrow, in the midst of our shock, in the midst of our grief, we are living in a period of historic opportunity for the church in North America. I believe...

Fishers Saturday morning Saturday began with Holy Communion, presided over by Paull Spring, with Jaynan Eglund preaching. She began with a few comments about the CWA, explaining that she wanted to get the speech out of the way before preaching the Word of God. Her sermon was rousing (though I must admit it left me wondering how it would have been different if it were a speech; in conversation with others, the terms “angry” and “unhelpful” came up). The service went 15 minutes longer than scheduled—something that could have been avoided if (a) the hymns had been played at a...

FISHERS, IND. — Conservative members of the nation's largest Lutheran denomination voted Saturday to spend the next 12 months deciding whether to split from the church after it liberalized its stance on gay clergy. About 1,200 people meeting in suburban Indianapolis approved a constitution for the conservative umbrella group Lutheran CORE and a resolution directing its steering committee to report back in a year on whether to stay within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, form their own denomination or join another. Some members urged the assembly to more quickly sever ties with the 4.7-million member ELCA after the vote...

Former ELCA Presiding Bishop Calls for 'Churchmanship' What now lies before the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is not human sexuality but "churchmanship," according to the Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom. He served two terms as the first presiding bishop of the ELCA beginning in 1987. Although the word "churchmanship" lacks inclusiveness, after "years of searching for a better one, 'churchmanship' still seems best," Chilstrom wrote in a Sept. 21 e-mail message to colleagues, called "The Real 'CORE' Issue -- Churchmanship." Chilstrom wrote the message in anticipation of a Sept. 25-26 meeting of the Lutheran Coalition for Reform (CORE) --...

September 23, 2009 Dear Colleague in Ministry, "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." (Colossians 3:15-16a) I give thanks to God for your faithful leadership and your committed partnership in the gospel. I am mindful of the varied responses to churchwide assembly actions on human sexuality -- joy, anger, hope, confusion, ambivalence, perhaps even detachment. In this letter please join me in reflecting on our witness together as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, particularly...

The presiding bishop of the nation's largest Lutheran denomination warned Wednesday that withholding financial support to protest a recent gay clergy vote would be "devastating" to the church. Bishop Mark Hanson laid out his concerns in a letter to leaders of the 4.7 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which is based in Chicago. The ELCA churchwide assembly voted last month to allow gays and lesbians in committed relationships to serve as clergy, dropping a requirement that gay clergy remain celibate. The Rev. Mark Chavez, director of Lutheran CORE, said the gay clergy vote was the devastating event — "a...