SOLID GROUND A Brief History
Our Foundation ...
The gospels testify that Jesus preached a sermon on a mountain. To the audience in attendance that day, and to the audiences who choose to listen today, he tells a story about foundations. “Build your house (a metaphor for one’s life) either on sand or upon the rock. The choice is yours.” Jesus hopes that all who hear him will build their life upon the rock, which is nothing less or more than a personal relationship with Jesus and God’s word spoken through him (John3: 34ff).
Solid Ground – firm foundation – life choices – value. This is the voice expressed by a gathering of clergy and laity within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)”. Although still in its infancy, Solid Ground’s history reaches far back in history. In fact we pledge ourselves to the prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments as the pure and clear fountain of Israel, which is the only true norm according to which all teachers and teachings are to be judged and evaluated. Furthermore this pledge is empowered by the correct understanding of the Old and New Testament which is revealed in, with and through Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour of the world (Small Catechism page 49 question 4). Therefore, Solid Ground’s purpose and rationale for existence is to witness to Jesus, Lord and Saviour of the world and to let His truth be known within our Lutheran family (ELCIC) and the world at large.
Solid Ground is more than just “Eastern Synod clergy and lay people.” Solid Ground incorporates fellow brothers and sisters across Canada who also share in this conviction and passion. We claim an affinity with pre-existing Lutheran evangelistic movements such as Confessing Lutheran Fellowship, Lutheran Renewal-Canada, Canadian Lutheran Bible School Movement, and World Mission Prayer League, to name just a few, each presenting the historic tradition and teaching of Jesus, His saving grace and life transforming power, so that through the Spirit people are empowered to walk in newness of life and in God’s love.
Our History ...
In 2002, upon return from a conference in Western Canada, a few Eastern Synod clergy met to discuss the present spiritual condition of the ELCIC and prayerfully discern the Lord’s leading in this matter. Soon joining this group were other clergy as well as laity. An umbrella group for those sharing a common concern about present trends and movements within the Church was formed - Solid Ground. Clergy and laity continue to meet and to discuss the present spiritual vitality of the ELCIC and prayerfully discern the Lord’s leading.
Our Concern...
An initial concern for the friends and supporters of Solid Ground was a resolution asking the Eastern Synod at its 2004 Synod Convention to adopt a program from Lutherans Concerned (a Lutheran gay and lesbian lobbyist group) called ‘Reconciled in Christ’ (RIC). Lutherans Concerned has a goal of "affirming the God given nature of sexual orientation". ALL sexual orientations, including same-gender orientations are included. This position was viewed as being in direct conflict with Scripture, the historic witness of the Church, and the current policy of the Church with regards to homosexuality. Adoption of the "Affirmation of Welcome" by the Eastern Synod of the ELCIC was seen as one step towards this goal. As a case in point, 21 of the 61 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have become RIC synods; the ELCA will be voting on ordination and blessing of same-sex marriage in 2005. It turns out that the RIC motion never came to a vote at the 2004 Convention. Instead, an Eastern Synod Council substitute “welcome” motion was adopted by the 2004 Convention. Despite the fact that the substitute “welcome” motion had removed any reference to Lutherans Concerned and the RIC program, Lutherans Concerned, nonetheless, unilaterally declared the ELCIC’s Eastern Synod to be an RIC synod, that is, without the Eastern Synod specifically requesting Lutherans Concerned to take such action.
Solid Ground absolutely affirms the welcoming of ALL persons to an encounter with Jesus and the transforming power of the Gospel of Grace. However we oppose these ‘welcome’ motions and their intent, on Biblical, historical and Confessional grounds, holding to a Christ-centered, Biblical based healing alternative for those Christians who struggle with the temptation of same-gender attraction and the sin of homosexual practice. We would encourage the Church to consider an alternative statement of Welcome along the lines of the model developed by Communities of Grace in which welcome, support, and ministries of healing are extended to all who struggle with sexual sin.
No one knows the future or is able to predict the final outcome but what we confess and affirm is simply to entrust ourselves into the heart and hands of Jesus. Because of our submission to Jesus in an historic, evangelical and catholic manner, our lives and our voice will oppose the present direction of the Church and continue to call our servant leaders back to a posture that is in line with our historic Lutheran roots and the tradition of the church catholic.
The gospels testify that Jesus preached a sermon on a mountain. To the audience in attendance that day, and to the audiences who choose to listen today, he tells a story about foundations. “Build your house (a metaphor for one’s life) either on sand or upon the rock. The choice is yours.” Jesus hopes that all who hear him will build their life upon the rock, which is nothing less or more than a personal relationship with Jesus and God’s word spoken through him (John3: 34ff).
Solid Ground – firm foundation – life choices – value. This is the voice expressed by a gathering of clergy and laity within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)”. Although still in its infancy, Solid Ground’s history reaches far back in history. In fact we pledge ourselves to the prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments as the pure and clear fountain of Israel, which is the only true norm according to which all teachers and teachings are to be judged and evaluated. Furthermore this pledge is empowered by the correct understanding of the Old and New Testament which is revealed in, with and through Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour of the world (Small Catechism page 49 question 4). Therefore, Solid Ground’s purpose and rationale for existence is to witness to Jesus, Lord and Saviour of the world and to let His truth be known within our Lutheran family (ELCIC) and the world at large.
Solid Ground is more than just “Eastern Synod clergy and lay people.” Solid Ground incorporates fellow brothers and sisters across Canada who also share in this conviction and passion. We claim an affinity with pre-existing Lutheran evangelistic movements such as Confessing Lutheran Fellowship, Lutheran Renewal-Canada, Canadian Lutheran Bible School Movement, and World Mission Prayer League, to name just a few, each presenting the historic tradition and teaching of Jesus, His saving grace and life transforming power, so that through the Spirit people are empowered to walk in newness of life and in God’s love.
Our History ...
In 2002, upon return from a conference in Western Canada, a few Eastern Synod clergy met to discuss the present spiritual condition of the ELCIC and prayerfully discern the Lord’s leading in this matter. Soon joining this group were other clergy as well as laity. An umbrella group for those sharing a common concern about present trends and movements within the Church was formed - Solid Ground. Clergy and laity continue to meet and to discuss the present spiritual vitality of the ELCIC and prayerfully discern the Lord’s leading.
Our Concern...
An initial concern for the friends and supporters of Solid Ground was a resolution asking the Eastern Synod at its 2004 Synod Convention to adopt a program from Lutherans Concerned (a Lutheran gay and lesbian lobbyist group) called ‘Reconciled in Christ’ (RIC). Lutherans Concerned has a goal of "affirming the God given nature of sexual orientation". ALL sexual orientations, including same-gender orientations are included. This position was viewed as being in direct conflict with Scripture, the historic witness of the Church, and the current policy of the Church with regards to homosexuality. Adoption of the "Affirmation of Welcome" by the Eastern Synod of the ELCIC was seen as one step towards this goal. As a case in point, 21 of the 61 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have become RIC synods; the ELCA will be voting on ordination and blessing of same-sex marriage in 2005. It turns out that the RIC motion never came to a vote at the 2004 Convention. Instead, an Eastern Synod Council substitute “welcome” motion was adopted by the 2004 Convention. Despite the fact that the substitute “welcome” motion had removed any reference to Lutherans Concerned and the RIC program, Lutherans Concerned, nonetheless, unilaterally declared the ELCIC’s Eastern Synod to be an RIC synod, that is, without the Eastern Synod specifically requesting Lutherans Concerned to take such action.
Solid Ground absolutely affirms the welcoming of ALL persons to an encounter with Jesus and the transforming power of the Gospel of Grace. However we oppose these ‘welcome’ motions and their intent, on Biblical, historical and Confessional grounds, holding to a Christ-centered, Biblical based healing alternative for those Christians who struggle with the temptation of same-gender attraction and the sin of homosexual practice. We would encourage the Church to consider an alternative statement of Welcome along the lines of the model developed by Communities of Grace in which welcome, support, and ministries of healing are extended to all who struggle with sexual sin.
No one knows the future or is able to predict the final outcome but what we confess and affirm is simply to entrust ourselves into the heart and hands of Jesus. Because of our submission to Jesus in an historic, evangelical and catholic manner, our lives and our voice will oppose the present direction of the Church and continue to call our servant leaders back to a posture that is in line with our historic Lutheran roots and the tradition of the church catholic.