From cyberbrethren.com

No big surprises here, but it is still sad and tragic that this is happening. In light of the decisions by the ELCA at their last Churchwide Assembly, a number of pastors who had been kept off their clergy roster, are now being placed back on it, including one who describes herself as a “transgendered lesbian.” Here is a link to the Associated Press story. Here is a snippet from the story:

Rohrer, who is transgender and a lesbian, was ordained by four congregations in San Francisco in 2006, but could not join the ELCA roster until the denomination’s national assembly approved the new policy in August.

“I didn’t really believe the policy was going to change as quickly as it did,” she said.

Rohrer said she is hopeful Sunday’s service will be a “symbol” to young people that the Lutheran church is working toward becoming more welcoming of people of all different backgrounds.

Jeff Johnson, another one of the pastors who will be added to the roster, said the ELCA’s position for years of not accepting the choice of some congregations to ordain gay clergy was painful and disappointing.

“The actions the church is taking on Sunday affirms the decisions of those congregations,” Johnson, pastor of the University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley, said. “The church is respecting our family, our partners, the choices we’re making.”

Your Church May Not be A Church If . . .

You rarely, if ever, hear the word “sin” there.

When you do hear the word “sin,” it is only only briefly mentioned, or redefined as “mistakes.”

You can’t remember when you last heard the name of Jesus in a message.

The Easter message isn’t about the resurrection but “new opportunities” in your life or turning over a new leaf.

On patriotic holiday weekends, the message is about how great America is.

On the other weekends, the message is about how great you are.

There are more videos than prayers.

People don’t sing during “worship,” but watch.

The pastors’ chief responsibilities are things foreign to Scripture.

There is more money budgeted for advertising than for mission.

The majority of the small groups are oriented around sports or leisure, not study or service.

You always feel comfortable there.

Church membership just appears to be a recruiting system for volunteers.

You only see other church people on Sunday mornings at church.

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WARNING: If your church meets one or more of these, it might be a spiritual pep rally, a religious performance center, a Christian social club, or something else entirely, but it is probably not, biblically speaking, a gathering of the Church.

Afraid, Anxious or Worried

Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Psalm 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Angry

Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

1 Peter 2:21 & 23 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps… 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

Depressed, Discouraged, Defeated

Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 118:25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Doubting

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.

Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Feeling Guilty

Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Jeremiah 31.18 Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned.

1 Corinthians 6:9 & 11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?… 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Lonely

Joshua 1:5 I will not leave you nor forsake you.

Psalm 23:1 & 4 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want… Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 27:10 When my father and my mother (or anyone else) forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.

Matthew 28:20 Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Sad, Sorrowful, Suffering

Psalm 126:5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

John 16:20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Sick, In Pain

Psalm 33:22 22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.

Psalm 40:17 But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.

Lamentations 3:32-33 Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies. 33 For He does not afflict willingly, Nor grieve the children of men.

Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Psalm 103:2-3 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Revelation 22:20 “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Tempted

Matthew 26:41 41 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Colossians 3:2-3 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Weary

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

For six years or so President Kieschnick has been working to overcome what he called the “silos” of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. These are the program boards and commissions such as Communications, Missions, Human Care, etc. I remember first hearing about this at one of the president’s strategic planning programs several years ago. I was part of the planning for one of these meetings. I asked what they meant by “silos,” and I was told that these boards tend to work on their own and aren’t under the control off the president. Some of the boards are also blessed with restricted funds which I guess went into the “silos.” I remember saying at one of those meetings that it is still important to keep power balanced in any organization. I also specifically warned that you must not alienate “the loyal opposition.”

Then came the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synodical Structure. This task force was oppointed by President Kieschnick to address this problem. Their solution was to transfer the work of most of these boards to only two boards: one for national missions and one for international missions. My big problem is that all the staff for these boards report to the president. In the past the directors of boards could only be dismissed by their elected boards. Now the president has total control over them. It would be the same as if I had a problem with a staff member (youth director or music director), and I decided not to renew their contract. I wouldn’t have to work through the Board of Elders or Church Council. The effect is to make the president much more like a chief executive officer than a pastor.

As the convention began, a motion was made to move the presidential election to the front of the convention. By moving the election to the beginning we would know who who would inherit these tremendous powers. It made perfect sense, and I thought it would surely pass. That motion was voted down, and the restructuring proposals were brought to the floor.

Some of the proposals are good, and I support them. But Resolution 8-08, which created the two boards mentioned above, was the worst. I stood in line for 40 minutes along with 50 or so other pastors and laymen hoping to speak to this resolution. In particular I was interested in knowing how this new structure would affect the relationship between the synodical president and seminary presidents. But the convention was getting frustrated. There were technical difficulties with the microphones which caused some of the delegates to sound like they were drunk. We also wasted a lot of time trying to find anyone who would speak in favor of this motion. (Most of the speakers were against, but the convention alternates between “pro” and “con” speakers to keep the debate balanced.) One of the delegates called the question. Discussion ceased, and to my amazement, the resolution passed – just barely – bringing sweeping changes to the way we conduct ministry at the national and international level. Now the president has total control of all synodical communication, offerings, missions, human care, educational services, youth, etc.

Additional structure changes were brought to the floor, and several of them continued to give the president more power; for example, the power to approve the synodical treasurer and to require the Synod to elect a vice president from a list that he approved. All of these were close votes around 51%.

Three days into the convention we finally prepared to elect the president who would have this unprecedented power. I simply prayed that God’s will would be done. I supported Matthew Harrison for president and Herb Mueller for vice-president. But I braced myself for yet another close loss. I took comfort in the fact that God knows far more than I do, and that the person the convention chose, whoever he was, would be His choice. It was in His hands.

Then the election results came in. Matt Harrison was elected on the first ballot by 54%. Herb Mueller was also elected vice-president! Harrison gave a beautiful acceptance message that particularly addressed the pain now felt by the Kieschnick supporters. He said, “When one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts.” I can’t imagine the shock being felt by those who were ceding more and more power to the presidency, and then to see that office go to their opponent.

Quo vadis? (Where do we go from here?)

I am very happy for the election of Harrison and Mueller, but I am not at all happy about the structural changes. They must be revisited and revised for the sake of our Synod. Perhaps this was God’s way of intervening in the predominant “corporate mentality” that has corrupted a healthy view of spiritual leadership in the church. My prayers go with Matt and Herb. But one of my most intense prayers is that they not be taken in by the temptation to keep this power that they will inherit. Satan, more than anything, wants them to think that they have all the answers for this church body. But they too, must work with the loyal opposition. I pray even more that God would use them to bring this Synod back together through the Word of God in truth and love. Yesterday was an historic day for the LCMS, and I pray that the mistakes that have been made can be corrected. God help us.

Urgency to complete our business together before adjournment tomorrow marked the day as President Kieschnick made great efforts to press on to the finish.  Devotions were led by Chaplain Mark Schreiber, US Navy (Ret.) who currently serves as the Director, Ministry to the Armed Forces, Board for Mission Services of the LCMS.  In remembering our men and women in the service, he shared Zephaniah 3:20 and reminded delegates that there is no cure for homesickness in the hearts of those deployed except to return home.  Of the 24 million Americans who make up the population of veterans, many believe that God has abandoned them and that God cannot forgive them.  Yet God, through us, calls them to come home to him through the Gospel.

Tom Kuchta, Synod’s retiring Vice President/Treasurer was recognized for 9 faithful years of service.  Rev. Sam Nafzger was also recognized for his some 35 years of work on the CTCR and other Synod responsibilities.  Then it was on to elections and business.  Ted Kober led us in our final Bible Study and talked about how the sharing of Christ’s peace in worship was never meant to be a trivial “Holy Howdy,” but an intentional effort in the body of Christ to make sure that all are reconciled one to another.  When we celebrate our unity in Christ at communion, yet are at odds with a fellow brother or sister in Christ, our disunity is a contradiction of faith and a disruption of worship.  After lunch, Dr. Leo Sanches, Director of the Center for Hispanic Studies (Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) led us in our afternoon devotion, focusing on the importance of reconciling even the differences we have as brothers and sisters at the convention.  After more business, the final special Ablaze! presentation was given on “sharing the faith.”  Three chaplains in our armed forces, CH LTC Oliver Washington (US Army), CH Maj. Matthew Franke (US Air Force), and Capt. Robert Crossan (CHC US Navy), gave a speech from the perspective of what their “dog tags” would say if they could talk, sharing with the delegates what these dog tags have observed about the activities of each chaplain to which they belong.  The convention rose in an extended standing ovation to show support to these faithful servants of the word in our armed forces.

Finally, at the close of the day, delegates gave glory to God in a special Service of Reconciliation.  Convention Chaplain, Johann Jotham, proclaimed that is never too late to be forgiven or to forgive.  Delegates were invited following the service to seek out anyone with whom they have difficulties so that they would be reconciled together.

599 voting clergy delegates
594 voting lay delegates
——–
1193 total voting delegates

393 “other” attendees

The synod has voiced its opinion that women lay readers is okay.

Sign-up. Read away.

For those who keep saying that the ordination of women has no bearing on the issue of the ordination of homsexuals, please note the comment in bold/itals (emphasis mine) in the story below.

Presbyterians take step towards ordaining homosexual clergy
ENI-10-0477

By Chris Herlinger
New York, 9 July (ENI)–The general assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has approved a measure that would allow those in committed same-sex relationships to be ordained as clergy.

The proposed change to the denomination’s polices must still be approved by the U.S. church’s 173 presbyteries. In 2009, 94 of the local bodies voted against the change following a similar decision by the 2008 general assembly.

Proponents of the measure said the move that was made on 8 July is a historic step that puts the Presbyterian Church on the right side of history.

The denomination, meeting for its 219th assembly in Minneapolis, Minnesota, also debated whether to broaden its definition of marriage to include people in same-sex relationships.

The assembly, however, voted to maintain the current definition of marriage – between a man and a woman – in its constitution.

Lacy Morris, a delegate to the assembly quoted by the Presbyterian News Service, said that on the issue of ordination, the church had to decide which was worse: possible division or failing to do what was right.

“We’re talking about history, but we need to talk about the future,” Morris said, noting that the ordination of women also risked divisions, but had proven to be the right decision.

There was no immediate comment from traditionalist groups within the denomination about the move, though on its Web site, Presbyterians for Renewal, had said the previous day that “the news is not good from the Twin Cities” (of Minneapolis and St. Paul).

The move would change language for the denomination’s Book of Order, which only permits ordination for those who are either married or celibate.

If approved by the two-million-member denomination, which is the 10th largest in the United States, the church would join a number of Protestant denominations, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, that in recent years have changed their ordination rules regarding gay and lesbian clergy.

Debates over the issue of sexuality have proved contentious, though, and have caused splits within the U.S. Episcopal (Anglican) Church and between it and other Anglican churches elsewhere in the world. [360 words]

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From Hermann Sasse, ‘Concerning the Hearing of God’s Word’, a sermon preached in Erlangen, Germany on Rogate Sunday, 18th May, 1941