ARTICLES ARCHIVE

 

 

DOWNSVIEW, ONTARIO BIDS FAREWELL

We bid farewell to another congregational family.
Sunday, June 21, 2009, Faith Lutheran Church, Downsview, ON held their second vote in the process to leave the ELCIC. They voted 86% in favour of
leaving.

 

NATIONAL CONVENTION, 2009

“Solid Ground” will have a hospitality suite at Convention from June 25-28 at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC.

We will be located on the main level of The Gage Towers near the main entrance, across from the Main Office and at the door to the South Tower.

It will be a place to connect with others who are concerned about the direction in which the ELCIC seems headed, gather for prayer, information and meetings.

We hope to see you at "The Oasis".

 

BERGHEIM, SASK. BIDS FAREWELL

On Sunday, May 17, 2009, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Bergheim, SK held their second vote to leave the ELCIC. The vote passed with a resounding Majority.

We are sad to see these brothers and sisters in the faith depart but we wish them Godspeed.

 

RESPONSE TO HOLY LAND RESOLUTION

A response to the shortcomings of the ELCIC resolution on the holy land.

By Paul Merkley

       Professor of  History, Emeritus, Carleton University

In his recommendation,  Paul urges that the ELCIC resolution on the holy land  “NOT”  be adopted, but referred to Synod Council for further study.   ....more   

 

PETITION TO OPPOSE MERGER…

 

In the Report of the National Bishop to the 2009 ELCIC Convention, Bishop Susan Johnson states “The reality is that no church can exist and function as an independent body anymore.”  (Second last sentence on Page E-2, 2009 ELCIC  Book of Reports).  Her report raises the issue of sharing office space with the Anglican Church of Canada as well as other initiatives to insure that the ELCIC ceases to function as an independent church organization.  (Page E-2, ELCIC BOR)

 

Resolutions to Maintain the ELCIC as an Independent Church will be presented at the 2009 ELCIC Convention.  These resolutions relate to the apparent drift of the ELCIC hierarchy to support the merger or takeover of the ELCIC by the Anglican Church of Canada (“ACOC”).  The attached rationale for the petition outlines some of the significant differences between the ELCIC and the ACOC.

 

Eastern Synod Bishop Michael Pryse is one of two keynote speakers at the Trinity College Conference on June 14 – 17, 2009 entitled, “YOUR PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, Anglicans and Lutherans together; Visions for the future.”  The conference brochure describes the purpose of the conference as follows:

 

“Do we anticipate doing at a national level what is already happening locally in some places – the merger of the two churches into one?  What are the implications of these options?” (emphasis added)

 

ELCIC National Church Council’s 2009 convention agenda has designated that a significant portion of the ELCIC Convention will be dedicated to meeting with ACOC delegates.  The 2009 ELCIC Convention will likely have a profound impact on the medium and long term survival of the ELCIC.  A merger or more likely a takeover of the ELCIC by the ACOC would likely result in the transfer of all congregational assets from individual ELCIC congregations to the ACOC Diocese (Synod) offices.  The ACOC places complete control over all congregational property and employment of pastors in the hands of Bishops rather than individual congregations.  Although some members of the ELCIC believe that Bishops at both the Synod and National level deserve more power and control over congregational property, this is not the view of all ELCIC members.  The four resolutions seek to maintain the ELCIC as an independent confessional Lutheran church. ....more

 

PETITION TO STOP…

 

A petition to “stop all ELCIC resources spent supporting same sex issues” of ELCIC staff and decision making bodies has been made. ELCIC is to stop from expending any additional human or financial resources on initiatives supporting same-sex blessings, same-sex marriage or ordination of practicing homosexuals. This has been proposed by Trinity Lutheran Church, Ponoka, AB. 

 

This petition like all petitions regarding same-sex blessings or other matters has been

 

“excluded from the official ELCIC Convention Book of Reports.  ELCIC Bishop Susan Johnson and ELCIC National Church Council (“NCC”) took this unprecedented action at the March, 2009, NCC meeting.”

 

As a result of their action, convention delegates will be unable to review and reflect on the congregational petitions regarding official ELCIC policy relating to human sexuality.

 

The initiative to bless same-sex unions has consumed hundreds of thousands of dollars of church resources over the past ten years.  The past two ELCIC conventions refused to allow same sex blessings to be sanctioned by the ELCIC.  It is time to direct the Bishops, NCC and the Synods to focus their limited time and scarce ELCIC financial resources on initiatives other than the blessing of same-sex unions and/or ordination of practicing homosexuals. ....more

 

NCC Nominating Committee Selection Changes

 

Faith Lutheran Church, Sundre, AB has prepared a petition proposing changes in the manner in which the members of the Nominating Committee (“NC”) are selected. ....more

 

ABT member of NCC responds to pension

 

a member of National Church Council (NCC) responds to availability of all relevant pension information

This information is necessary to make sure that future pension administration is properly managed.

....more

 

Availability of all relevent pension information

 

ELCIC Bishop “Susan Johnson” and ELCIC National Church Council (“NCC”) have unilaterally cancelled the long-standing policy of including congregational petitions in the ELCIC Convention Book of Reports.  Rhenish Church of Canada (Member Congregation of the ELCIC), Markham, Ontario, submitted a petition, Regarding Availability and Transparency of ELCIC Pension Information relating to the ELCIC pension plan.  The past service pension liabilities assumed by ELCIC head office decision-making bodies have required the transfer of millions of dollars of both ELCIC assets and congregational assets to the ELCIC pension plan

 

ELCIC Group Services Inc. (“GSI”), the entity charged with administering the pension plan’s assets and liabilities, has refused to release any actuarial information prior to 2006.  After having decided not to release this actuarial information, Ms. Hildy Thiessen and GSI distributed the following statement to the retired pastors receiving an ELCIC pension:

 

“All ELCIC congregations continue to make contributions to the unfunded liability that arose in 2002 and 2003 and we anticipate it will be fully funded in 2015.”

 

The assumptions that allow GSI to make this statement are not stated. However, if those assumptions are based on mortality table UP94 (the mortality table that has been used in 2006 and 2007), it may indeed prove to be a false hope. If GSI anticipates full funding of the pension plan by 2015, why would GSI refuse to release actuarial reports prior to 2006 in order that pensioners may indeed be reassured of those projections?  All projections must of course, take into account GSI costs which amounted to $ 920,652 in 2007.  ....more

 

 Resolution for Congregations Leaving the ELCIC

Despite the long-standing ELCIC policy of publishing congregational petitions in the official convention Book of Reports (“BOR”), for delegate perusal prior to convention, Bishop “Susan Johnson” and the ELCIC National Church Council (“NCC”) have decided to “reverse that policy”.  Their decision therefore also affects the attached petition, submitted by Peace Lutheran Church, Innisfail, AB.  The petition is titled, Resolution Regarding Congregations Leaving the ELCIC.  The petition concerns changing the ELCIC policy of commencing lawsuits against former congregations.

The policy of the ELCIC to commence legal action against departing congregations is not in accordance with orthodox Christian doctrine, historical ELCIC policy or simple logic.   The attached petition analyzes the flawed logic employed by the ELCIC in its attempt to force congregations to pay for liabilities incurred by ELCIC decision-making bodies.  Since the ELCIC has no conflict of interest policy, many members of the ELCIC decision-making bodies were permitted to vote on policies in which they had a direct or indirect financial interest.  The decisions made by past ELCIC decision-making bodies have resulted in liabilities that the ELCIC is now attempting to collect from departing congregations.  ....more

 

 Petition to preserve Assets

 

A Petition to Preserve and Protect a Congregation's Ownership and Control of  Its Assets submitted by Calvary Lutheran Church, Edmonton, AB will not be
included in the 2009 ELCIC Convention Book of Reports ("BOR").   Bishop “Susan Johnson” and ELCIC National Church Council ("NCC") have refused to include the congregational petition in the BOR in spite of the time-honoured policy of previous ELCIC conventions.

  

This petition addresses the initiatives of the Eastern Synod and the B.C. Synod to gain control over

all congregational property including real estate.

Since the ELCIC National Convention is the highest authority in the church, the attached petition proposes an addition to the ELCIC Administrative Bylaws to prevent ELCIC Synods or the ELCIC NCC from assuming control of congregational property currently owned by individual congregations.  The intention of this petition is to reduce the potential for protracted
acrimonious legal disputes over congregational

property between local congregations and the

ELCIC hierarchy, as is currently happening within the Anglican Church of Canada. ....more

 

Conflict of interest policy refused

 

ELCIC Bishop “Susan Johnson” and “National Church Council (“NCC”)” have “refused” to distribute “a congregational petition proposing a conflict of interest policy” for ELCIC decision-making bodies, including the NCC. 

 

This refusal radically alters the long-standing ELCIC policy of distributing congregational petitions in the Book of Reports (“BOR”) sent to delegates for their perusal, prior to the convention  ....more

 

New Anglican “Conservative” jurisdiction

 

A new “conservative” Anglican jurisdiction in North America has been announced by bishops representing three-quarters of the faith's worldwide anglican bishops for "conservative faithful Anglicans" in defiance of the wishes of the established churches of Canada and the United States.  ....more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social statement dissenter

 

While the ELCA Task Force's recommended social statement on "Marriage, Family and Human Sexuality" has received the approval and the full political
support of the ELCA Executive Council, there are many within the church body who feel that the document abandons "traditional biblical interpretation and
theological principles".  Three of the Task Force members have come out publicly with their dissent.  ....more

 

ELCA Sexuality Statement final draft

 

On Feb 19, 2009, ELCA released its final draft Sexuality Statement. The ELCIC will borrow heavily from this Study in our Sexuality Statement.  ....more

 

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Response

 

President Gerald Kieschnick responds ....more

 

The ELCA/ELCIC response to the new Sexuality Statement will have a direct affect on our future relationship and joint ministries with our fellow Lutherans.

 

Confessional Ministerium launches web site

Pages on the site include the confessional statements to which they adhere, "how you may join" and a brochure advertising an upcoming Conference,

               "Courage to be Lutheran"

 to be held in June 2009......more

 Injustice for excommunication confirmed

In Sept, 2007, seven members were excommunicated from Faith Lutheran Church, Kelowna.

Excommunication squashed by BC Supreme Court, costs awarded to members.....more

The Vanishing Creeds

Are our common confessions about to disappear? Dr. Lothar Schwabe reflects on an endangered foundation stone of our Christian beliefs.....more

Albert Synod Bishop's Task Force Releases Document on Marriage, Family and Human Sexuality

At the end of November, the Synod of Alberta and the Territories released its Statement on Marriage, Family and Human Sexuality in the Alberta context.

Part 1
Part 2

Eastern Synod Council Rules on Congregation’s Irregular Call of Gay Pastor 

According to the present constitutional requirement of the ELCIC (Bylaws Part II, section 2 and 6), Bishop Michael Pryse has two options to respond to the wilful violation and disregard of the constitution by Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Newmarket, Ontario: suspension or exclusion. In his letter to the congregation, he expresses regret that he has to choose either, and chooses the former, suspension.

This suspension could go on indefinitely because the letter does not include any time-line for the expectation of congregational compliance, and failing that, when exclusion would then be warranted.

Bishop Pryse envisions that the church's present constitution is only a temporary hurdle. This is also the opinion of his assistant, the Rev. Guenter Dahle as quoted in the National Post http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=970725
of Wednesday, November 19, 2008, “The church as a whole will one day be open to gay ordination but it is not acceptable for individual parishes to go off and do it themselves.”

         In conclusion, Bishop Pryse commits himself to working towards the eventual realization of Holy Cross', the Eastern Synod's, and the ELCIC's goal of recognizing same gender relationships and the ordination of gays and lesbians... more

Another Congregation Departs the ELCIC

Another Congregation Announces Its Departure from the ELCIC In an increasingly more frequent occurrence, another congregation, Martin Luther, a German/English faith community in Vancouver, BC has recently completed the voting process to leave the ELCIC.
A member shares a part of their story........... more

Published Advertising for Solid Ground Denied

While Eastern Synod Lutheran continues to publish advertisements for Solid Ground, we are no longer welcome to communicate with the people of the ELCIC through the Canada Lutheran or Esprit magazine, periodicals of the national church. Here's the rest of the story...........more

Position Paper on Marriage
After changes to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that included the passing of Bill C250 in September of 2003, extending the list of minorities protected by hate crimes legislation to include “sexual orientation” and the subsequent changing of the definition of marriage, in 2005, to between “two people”, a statement of caution was sent out to churches from the Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF), “legal professionals in Canada serving Christ and others”.  In response to developments in the law and in answer to the question, “What, if anything, should churches do in response to possible federal same-sex marriage legislation?” the CLF recommended that churches may want to consider taking steps i) to review and/or amend their constitutional documentation and ii) to conduct a legal audit of all their policies and constitutional documents, as well as their liturgies and teaching materials.
With the ELCIC’s continuing attempts to alter our church body’s definition of marriage and/or policies regarding it, congregations may want to look closely at the Position Paper on Marriage recently adopted by the congregation of Grace Lutheran Church, Kelowna, BC.
More….

To read the complete rationale, follow this link:
http://www.gracelutherankelowna.com

WordAlone Launches New Opportunity for Theological Studies.
Many individuals seeking to prepare for the pastoral office, be better trained lay leaders or acquire deeper theological understanding have, for some time now, hesitated to pursue their education through the seminaries presently in existence in the ELCA/ELCIC. The liberal drift that predominates these institutions has resulted in many would-be church leaders being hesitant to enroll. The new Institute "is an autonomous, multi-location and web-based, Lutheran theological educational organization committed to equipping current and future generations of pastors, lay leaders and professors to know and faithfully proclaim the true gospel of Jesus Christ, our Crucified and Risen Lord and identify the false gospels of the world." (from the Institutes Vision Statement) To learn more about the Institute, its Staff, programs or how you can support it, visit.....
http://www.instituteoflutherantheology.org/

A senior warden in The Episcopal Church’s resignation speech
November 5th, 2007 Posted in TEC
FORMER MEMBERS
In recent days, we have posted a number of articles reflecting on the critical division that is occurring in mainline Christian denominations, including the ELCA/ELCIC. More and more often we hear of people leaving their parishes, parishes leaving their church bodies. Many members do not understand why. In this speech made by an Episcopal Warden departing his congregation, he lays out clearly and simply reasons for this separation. more....

Pastor Alan's Address to the Congregational Meeting October 13, 2007
Over thirty years ago, on July 10, 1977, as part of the ordination service I was asked: “Will you preach and teach the Word of God in accordance with the Confessions of the Church, and will you administer the Holy Sacraments after the ordinance of Christ?”  My answer to that question was: Yes, by the help of God.”more

In his article entitled "Fear Takes on Flesh in the ELCIC," Solid Ground President Ed Skutshek made reference to the plight of seven members of a congregation in the BC Synod who were excluded from membership in that congregation and denied the Sacraments. Many of our subscribers have requested further information on he disciplinary process which led to the harshest discipline permitted by the governing documents of an ELCIC congregation. Mr. Everly Lutz, one of those excluded members, has prepared an account of the events which led up to this most serious discipline.
Please follow this link to Mr. Lutz's article entitled "Our Side of the Story."
http://www.herewestand.ca/Our-Side-Story.pdf

Dr. Nestingen Interview
Dr. James A. Nestingen, Professor Emeritus of Historical Theology at Luther Seminary, MN is the featured guest on a radio talk show, Issues, that aired a few months ago. In this interview, he responds to questions about Ebenezer(Her Church) Lutheran Church in California "trying to live the future now", the recently released Study on Human Sexuality and the direction in which the ELCA is headed. Quoting H. Richard Niebuhr, Dr.
Nestingen warns that the ELCA's present teachings honor "a God without wrath [who]brings men without sin into a kingdom without pain through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross. more

Technology, Thinking, and Theology
By: Dr. Lothar Schwabe

I once taught a course on Interpersonal Communication to people who worked in the field of information technology. Somehow we started talking about marriage. It was startling to hear how many participants had difficulties in their marriage relationships or had even experienced divorce. more

Scriptures Claim for Itself
A link to a Sermon by Dr. David Glense on Biblical Authority.

August 26: By Heart? from Christ Lutheran Church
An audio file of a Sermon given on 26 August at Christ Luterhan Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.

September 2: By Heart? from Christ Lutheran Church
An audio file of a Sermon given on 2 September at Christ Luterhan Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Audio Files from "Equipping the Saints" Now Available
Audio files of presentations by Dr. Jim Nestingen, Rev. Jaynan Clark Egland, and Rev. Ed Skutshek are now available at the web page reporting on Solid Ground's "Equipping the Saints for God's Mission" conference which was held in Edmonton in April.

Letter to 2007 ELCIC Convention Delegates
Two National Convention delegates from a congregation in Alberta have sent a letter to their fellow convention delegates.

Celebrating Diversity?
A report from a consultation meeting between representatives from the ELCIC's National Church Council and members of the Eastern Synod Council in relation to the motion passed at the 2006 Eastern Synod convention regarding a local option for same-sex blessings, emphasized that "We need to celebrate diversity in our church". This article examines what "celebrating diversity" means and its implications for our church.

What's Really At Stake?
Several members of the Eastern Synod give their reflections on the pre-convention workshop, "Mission & Ministry in the ELCIC: What's at Stake?", hosted by the Eastern Synod's Kitchener/Waterloo Conference on May 26th.

Solid Ground at 2007 National Convention
Through its presence at the National Convention, Solid Ground Ministry/Canada is:
- Calling the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) to embrace and live by its orthodox Christian heritage.
- Supporting delegates who share our commitment to historic, orthodox Lutheran teaching and Christian theology. ...more

Political Activists Exposed
The national bishop in his report to the 2007 National Convention in a section entitled "Ecclesiology and Mission" does not specifically state who it is that he is attacking in his report. Some have noted that his statements perfectly describe the rebellious and divisive behavior of the leadership of the Eastern Synod.

A Mission Theology Entitling Each Synod of the ELCIC to Make its Own Decisions on Matters such as Same-Sex Blessings?
According to National Bishop Ray Schultz, the message that he has been taking across the country (for example, "A People Sent: Reflections on Mission in Context") is his articulation of the ELCIC's "mission theology", which provides "the background to how NCC [National Church Council] understands the blessing of same sex couples as a mission decision". This article attempts to discern the attributes of the "mission theology", as articulated by the National Bishop in his presentation "A People Sent", raises questions prompted by these attributes, and asks the question: "Does anybody object?"

A Response to "A People Sent"
National bishop, Raymond Schultz, has begun visits to each synod of the ELCIC for the purpose of providing a background to and the case for why the National Church Council once again is bringing forward a resolution related to same-sex blessings. A recent version of the presentation made by the bishop during his visits, a version entitled, "A People Sent - A message from the National Bishop on Mission", has been posted at the ELCIC's web site. Rev. Edward Skutshek, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Kelowna, BC and president of Solid Ground, has written a letter to Bishop Schultz in response to the bishop's message. The letter concludes with an appeal to the National Bishop to "Please withdraw the resolution - we have too much to lose as a church!"

Report on “Equipping the Saints for God’s Mission” Conference
Judging from feedback received from participants at the conference held April, 26-28 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Sherwood Park, Alberta, the event was an uplifting and inspiring experience. For an interim report on the conference, follow this link.

Bulletin of Reports for National Convention
The Bulletin of Reports for the 2007 ELCIC Convention has been posted at the ELCIC's National Convention web site. The Bulletin of Reports is a package of information that helps the delegates to conduct the business of the convention. Included in the Bulletin of Reports is the agenda as well as various reports, including the report of the national bishop (pages E-1 to E-6) and the National Church Council, and motions that are up for consideration. Two major orders of business for this convention are the election of a new national bishop and a vote on the NCC's synodical local option motion. Inexplicably the petition submitted from Grace, Kelowna, which convincingly calls into question the constitutionality of the National Church Council's motion attempting to give synods the authority to make decisions on matters such as same-sex blessings, is missing from Section G (Motions) of the Bulletin of Reports.
UPDATE: We have subsequently been advised by the National Bishop that because of a sorting error the Grace, Kelowna motion did not appear in the Bulletin of Reports that was posted on-line. We were told that the error was discovered before the docket went to print so the motion will appear in the mailed out packets. The on-line edition also has been corrected. The Grace, Kelowna petition now appears at the end of Section G of the Bulletin of Reports on pages G-33 to G-36.

Reflections on NCC's Proposed Resolution
In the recent (April) issue of The Forum, a publication of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories, various individuals provided their reflections on the National Church Council's resolution that will come before the 2007 National Convention - a resolution which would give synods the option to make decisions on matters such as the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of pastors in such relationships. Included in this issue is an article (page 5) by Rosalynn Tubbe entitled "An Eastern Layperson's Perspective". According to Rosalynn, "Those who haven't yet confronted the current divisive matters will soon have to decide where they stand." "Same-Sex Blessings - Two Year Later" (page 4) provides the perspective of Robert Schmidt who is a lay member of the National Church Council, representing the Synod of Alberta and the Territories. Robert concludes his article saying, "The ELCIC must respect and comply with its own Constitution and doctrine; and as long as the Constitution and Social Statement (on Sex Marriage and the Family) remain in effect, in their current form, synods cannot be granted the authority to bless same-sex relationships". With respect to the latter, one has to wonder about the willingness of National Church Council to act in accordance with the church's constitution and teaching. Contributing to such concern are the actions of the Council at its recent January meeting (see page 3 of January minutes). At that meeting the following amendment to the motion to come before the 2007 National Convention was proposed: "That all synodical mission strategies and ways to minister to people who live in a committed same-sex relationship must be in accordance with the ELCIC mission, by-laws, constitution and the current social statement(s) on human sexuality". Astonishingly, the NCC rejected this amendment! In doing so, the Council, in essence, rejected the proposition that the ELCIC should respect and comply with its constitution and statements of church doctrine.

What are the Differences between Traditional Theology and Revisionist Theology?
In his report to the 2007 ELCIC National Convention, (page E-4) National Bishop Ray Schultz in a very unwelcoming gesture takes a swipe at those who confess the Scriptures as the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions as witnesses to the way in which the Holy Scriptures have been correctly understood and explained. According to the bishop, those members of the ELCIC who uphold such traditional Lutheran theology are nothing less than "a separatist political movement", a "divisive movement" within the church whose "real agenda is the struggle for authority and control". However, according to Pastor Dr. Lothar Schwabe that which is causing division in this church is the existence of two incompatible theologies. In this article Dr. Schwabe sketches out the differences between these two theologies.

Flip-Flop at the Top
This article traces the recent history of how the National Church Council has managed the issue of same-sex blessings before this church - a series of flip-flops, that is, a journey punctuated by inconsistencies and reversals.

Donations to Solid Ground
Solid Ground Ministry/Canada is very pleased to report that on the eve of the Equipping the Saints for God's Mission conference, notification was received that we now have charitable status! Henceforth, donations in the form of cheques can be made out directly to "Solid Ground" and mailed to our Kitchener address:

Solid Ground
c/o 194 Blackwell Dr.
Kitchener, ON
N2N 2S2

An Open Letter to the 2007 ELCIC National Convention
An open letter ("In a Time When Confession is Necessary") to the 2007 ELCIC National Convention is being signed by pastors in the ELCIC. A web site, which includes a convenient online subscription process for other pastors to join as subscribers to the open letter, has been created. The open letter ends with the conclusion that, "Any effort to advance the cause of the local option for same-sex blessings must be recognized as being outside this church's constitution and teachings".

A Tale of Two Motions
This article traces the history of the seemingly 'forgotten' motion from the 2004 Eastern Synod Convention, namely, the motion petitioning the National Church Council to "to initiate a study" on the matter of ordaining "openly lesbian and gay persons" and "to bring appropriate recommendations to the 2007 ELCIC National Convention".

When They Came for Me There Was No One Left to Speak Out
This article provides a chilling account of the desperate situation in the Episcopalian (Anglican) church in the U.S., a "once proud denomination", the fabric of which is being ripped and torn apart over the homosexuality issue.

A Way Forward in the ABT Synod
Bishop Ron Mayan of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories (ABT) recently released a Communiqué entitled "A Way Forward in the ABT Synod after the National Convention".

Is This Where the Lutheran Church is Heading?
The B.C. Synod's pages of the March 2007 issue of the Canada Lutheran carried an announcement (page 16) that All Saints Lutheran, Kelowna, a mission church of the British Columbia Synod, had become the Canadian distributor for "Living the Questions" (LTQ), a DVD-based study series that informs us about "how we might interpret scripture in new ways".
On close examination one learns that this DVD series, developed by two United Methodist pastors in Phoenix, Arizona, is intended for "thinking (progressive) Christians" who want to explore "progressive Christianity". It is described as an "unapologetically liberal alternative to Alpha" where "participants can discuss the revolutionary re-visioning of Christianity already emerging in the world".
To help "seekers" to discover 'new' ways of interpreting scripture and "what a meaningful faith can look like in today's world" the LTQ study series includes presentations by the likes of Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, and John Shelby Spong, who are among today's most radical, liberal scholars and theologians, all known for their revisionist views of Christian tradition.
The emergence of this study series, which is calling for a radical theological makeover ("the revolutionary re-visioning") of the Christian church as we know it and is being propagated by an ELCIC congregation, prompts a lay member of the Alberta Synod to ask:Is this where the Lutheran church is heading?

'NCC' Says No to Request to "Clear the Air"
In February a lay member of the Alberta Synod sent a letter to the National Church Council (NCC) requesting that the NCC conduct an inquiry into the allegations calling into question the validity of the 2005 National Convention vote on same-sex blessings. The chair of NCC, responding to a recent query as to the NCC's response to the request for such an inquiry, indicated that no action will be taken.

Canada’s Anglican Leaders Promote Same-Sex Blessings
No core Anglican doctrines should prevent the blessing of same-sex unions, Canadian Anglican leaders said in a decision that could set their church on a collision course with the global Anglican Communion. This decision by the Anglican Church of Canada's Council of General Synod (CoGS), akin to the ELCIC's National Church Council (NCC), means that this June Canada's Anglicans will likely be voting on a motion to give their dioceses, roughly equivalent to synods in the ELCIC, the option to conduct same-sex blessings, a motion that had been deferred from their previous national meeting (General Synod) held in 2004. This decision by CoGS, similar to a decision by the ELCIC's NCC in January, puts the two full communion partners, the ELCIC and the Anglican Church of Canada, in lock-step with respect to the kinds of decisions that the leaders of both church bodies are promoting for their respective national conventions to be held during the second-last week in June in Winnipeg.
Also see report, in the Anglican Journal.

An Open Letter to Bishop Ray Schultz
Retired pastor Rev. Dr. Lothar Schwabe writes this “open letter” to ELCIC national bishop Raymond Schultz in response to the bishop’s recent reference to “pre-convention propaganda threatening to divide this church”.

The Politics of Our Church
A lay member of the Eastern Synod reflects on how the ELCIC is organized and governed.

Canadian Anglicans Weigh In On Primates' Warning to U.S. Church
The Archbishop of Canterbury has recently admitted that he fears that the worldwide Anglican Church is on the brink of schism over homosexuality. He said, "I fear the situation slipping out of my control…I fear schism…It's going to drive people into recrimination and bitterness." Following their recent meeting in Tanzania, the primates (leaders of each of the 38 provinces) of the world-wide Anglican Communion, issued an ultimatum for the American church (Episcopalians) to state unequivocally by Sept. 30 that it would bar same-sex blessings and stop ordaining gay bishops. This headline in the Anglican Church of Canada's publication, the Anglican Journal, reports on the response from Canadian Anglicans to the recent ultimatum.

Conflict in ELCIC Congregations Concerning Two Theologies
Two different theologies are facing each other in the ELCIC, commonly labelled as the "Traditional Lutheran Theology" and the "New Theology" or "Emerging Theology". An ELCIC pastor, Rev. Dr. Lothar Schwabe, with over 30 years of professional experience in dealing with conflict situations, including congregational conflicts, provides a "situation analysis" of the processes at work in dealing with the different theologies. He identifies four conflict situations which result in a different impact on a congregation. With respect to the situation where the pastoral leadership is supporting the "New Theology" while the majority of the congregation is opposing it, Dr. Schwabe describes the strategy most commonly employed by the pastoral leadership to achieve its goal of moving the majority of the congregation to accept the "New Theology".

B.C. Congregation Challenges the Constitutionality of the NCC Motion
The congregation of Grace, Kelowna, B.C. will be submitting a petition to the 2007 National Convention which convincingly calls into question the constitutionaility of the National Church Council's motion attempting to give synods the authority to make decisions on matters such as same-sex blessings.

Congregational First Vote to Leave the ELCIC Fails to Receive Ratification
According to Section 6, Article VI (Relationship to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) within ELCIC congregational constitutions, "Should the congregation desire to sever its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada this decision shall require a two-thirds majority vote of all voting members present and voting at a legally called and conducted meeting. Such a decision shall not be effective until at least ninety days after the bishop has been notified and until the initial action has been ratified by a two-thirds majority vote at a subsequent legally called and conducted meeting". On October 21st, 2006 Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Mission, B.C. took the first step towards severing its relationship with the ELCIC when the congregation voted by 82% to leave. However, at the second meeting which took place on February 17th, the first vote to leave the ELCIC narrowly failed to receive ratification as only about 65% of the voting members present at the second meeting voted in favour of leaving.

Clear the Air
In an open letter to the ELCIC National Church Council (NCC), a lay member of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories calls upon the NCC to conduct an inquiry into the allegations which are calling into question the validity of the 2005 National Convention vote on same-sex blessings.

ELCA May Be Asked to Change Its Ban on Non-Celibate Homosexual Pastors
A "discipline hearing committee" of twelve ELCA clergy ruled this week in a case involving Bradley Schmeling, an open homosexual who has been serving as a pastor in Atlanta. The committee, on a 7-5 vote, found that Schmeling violated the ELCA's current policy which bars non-celibate homosexual pastors and set August 15 as the official date for his removal from the clergy. However, at the same time, the committee was "nearly unanimous" in its disagreement with that policy and has recommended it be removed at the ELCA's Churchwide Assembly in early August.
Click here for a response from WordAlone.

We Are Divided - How Can We Stop Hurting Each Other?
With deep regret and sorrow, an Alberta pastor concludes that we in the ELCIC must respectfully recognize that our members are involved in an irreconcilable conflict and, that, accordingly, in fairness to both sides, our ELCIC will have to be dissolved and be reconstituted as two separate churches, allowing each faction to pursue its own direction and ministries.

Now You See It, Now You Don't!
According to a news release summarizing highlights from the National Church Council's recent January meeting, National Church Council (NCC) has dropped its plan, announced subsequent to its September 2006 meeting, to present a motion at the ELCIC's 2007 National Convention "to reconsider the local option for pastors and congregations to bless same-gender couples". Instead, NCC voted to bring a new motion to the 2007 National Convention, which essentially would give synods the local option to bless same-gender couples and more.

Here We Stand Issues Second Letter
The original 18 subscribers to the Here We Stand confessional declaration have sent out a second letter to ELCIC church council chairpersons across the country, as a follow-up to their first (October 31, 2006) letter. Follow this link, to see the second letter (scroll down the page past the first letter). Once again, the council chairpersons were asked to "share this letter with their Church Council, Pastor and congregational members".

Trashing the Lutheran 'Brand'
This opinion piece was prompted by the National Post article (Church of tough love) below. The author, a lay member of the Alberta Synod, contends that the consequences of the liberalizing tendencies within the ELCIC are far-reaching, affecting all those who call themselves "Lutheran".


Church of tough love
At the close of 2006, the National Post carried a week-long series of articles considering the state of Canadian Christianity. The first article in the series, "Church of tough love", which appeared on December 23rd, carried the interesting observation that for churches in Canada, "...the way forward may in fact be the way backward". Contrary to "the natural and long-standing assumption…that they must become more accessible, modern and relevant," the Post article concludes that "…taking a more relaxed approach to liturgy, scripture and tradition, the experience of the past 40 years shows there comes a point when these liberal churches no longer represent a strong spiritual authority" - "Modernizing reforms might get good headlines, but in the long run, no one seeks shelter under a tree that bends with the wind". The article cites Jonathan Malloy, a political scientist at Carleton University, who concludes "There's no doubt that the religions that are growing are the ones that hold fast to certain answers, and are more definite in their answers, that are more clear in their doctrine and their teachings about what's right and wrong. For better or for worse, that's what people want to hear, that's what attracts them". Similarly, John Stackhouse, a theology and culture professor at B.C.'s Regent College, contends that "…the churches that grow best are those that 'combine conservative doctrine and conservative personal ethics with a complete freedom for innovation in almost everything else in church life,' such as the style of mass, the taking of communion, or the use of music". Stackhouse's analysis of church trends was immediately followed by a rather troubling and embarrassing statement by the author of the Post article, which placed "Lutherans" in the category of "the more liberal Canadian churches" such as the United Church!: "It is unclear how the more liberal Canadian churches - United, Anglican, Lutheran, among others - should respond to this sociological trend".

A Charismatic Asks: 'Is there TOO MUCH Emphasis on the Holy Spirit?'
In this article published in the December 2006 issue of The Forum, a publication of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories, a pastor from Alberta notes that "The Spirit will not speak something that is contrary to the revealed Word of the Holy Scriptures". Check out some of the other interesting articles in this issue, including an article by Ron Voss on The Book of Concord.

ELCIC National Bishop Announces Retirement
According to a news release from the National Office of the ELCIC, National Bishop Raymond L. Schultz has announced that he will retire as of September 1, 2007 following the election of a successor at the 2007 National Convention.

Commentary on Pastor Vibe's Resignation from the ELCIC
An Eastern Synod pastor provides a commentary on Pastor Harry Vibe's recent announcement (below) that he was resigning from the ELCIC.

Eastern Synod Pastor Resigns
An Eastern Synod pastor recently submitted his letter of resignation to Bishop Michael Pryse claiming, in good conscience, to no longer being able to remain a member of a church body because of its current beliefs and actions. Click here to read the letter of resignation.

Report on Consultation with Eastern Synod Council
According to this upbeat report from the National Office of the ELCIC with respect to a consultation that took place between representatives of the National Church Council and Eastern Synod Council, "It's a good time to be in the Church".

Lutheran Pastor Ready to Defy Bishop Over Same-Sex Marriage
A pastor in the Eastern Synod says he's willing to conduct same-sex marriages - without his bishop's approval - if he gets the go-ahead from parishioners.

Eastern Synod Council Responds to National Church Council Ruling
In September, the ELCIC's National Church Council (NCC) made a ruling which challenged the jurisdictional legitimacy of the Eastern Synod Convention's July 2006 resolution affirming a local option on the blessing of same gender unions. A letter dated November 18th from Bishop Pryse provides the Eastern Synod Council's response to the NCC ruling.

An ELCIC Pastor's Letter of Resignation
An ELCIC pastor recently felt compelled to tender his resignation from the ELCIC and has asked that his letter of resignation be posted at the Solid Ground site so people will "understand why some of us are leaving the ELCIC". (Also, see below, Council Chairperson Resigns and Leaves the ELCIC.)

Congregation in BC Synod Takes First Step to Leaving the ELCIC
According to Section 6, Article VI (Relationship to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) within ELCIC congregational constitutions, "Should the congregation desire to sever its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada this decision shall require a two-thirds majority vote of all voting members present and voting at a legally called and conducted meeting. Such a decision shall not be effective until at least ninety days after the bishop has been notified and until the initial action has been ratified by a two-thirds majority vote at a subsequent legally called and conducted meeting". On October 21st, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Mission, B.C. took the first step towards severing its relationship with the ELCIC when the congregation voted by 82% to leave the ELCIC.

President's Report to Friends and Supporters of Solid Ground
Pastor Ed Skutshek (Grace Lutheran, Kelowna), president of Solid Ground Ministry/Canada, sends out this report to friends and supporters of Solid Ground.

"Here We Stand" Lay Movement Launched
Here We Stand, a lay movement of members of the ELCIC who are concerned about the direction and future of the ELCIC are taking a stand in accord with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions in response to the winds of change in the ELCIC. They believe that the only hope in restoring the ELCIC to its biblical, confessional Lutheran roots is to awaken the laity and encourage them to likewise take a stand and make their voices heard. For more information, follow this link to the Here We Stand web site.

Constitutions are Not Set in Stone
In this article which appeared in the latest issue of the Anglican Journal, Peter Mikelic, a pastor of Epiphany Lutheran church, Toronto and a clergy member of the ELCIC's National Church Council (NCC), gives his point of view on the decision to be made by the NCC at its September 15-16, 2006 meeting in regards to the legality of the Eastern Synod Convention's action in July to give congregations the authority to decide whether or not to conduct blessings of same-sex couples.
The timing of this article is rather peculiar. It appears in the October issue of the Anglican Journal and, thus, after the NCC had made its ruling on this matter in mid-September. And yet it is written as if that decision by the NCC were still to come.

Openly Gay Lutheran Pastors Defy the ELCA
There are two reports at the Lutherans Concerned web site of pastors in homosexual relationships being ordained to serve as pastors in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). One pastor is being ordained at a Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco. That church also known as "Her Church" is described by Lutherans Concerned as "known for its cutting edge ministry and 're-imaging' what it means to be church". The other pastor was to be ordained at a church in Chicago. Both ordinations are taking place with the full knowledge that they are in opposition to policies of the ELCA. A March report from the WordAlone network indicated that organizations such as Lutherans Concerned are working together to raise $2 million to further their cause for change in the ELCA as they consider the ELCA to be at a "tipping point, a critical juncture".

Eastern Synod Bishop Responds to NCC Ruling
The bishop of the Eastern Synod has issued a response to the National Church Council's ruling that the action taken by the Eastern Synod Convention this summer giving congregations the option to conduct same-sex blessings is "beyond its constitutional authority". He indicates that the Eastern Synod Council at its November 16-18 meeting will "determine an appropriate response". As well, the Kitchener-Waterloo Record recently reported (Same-sex blessings hit snag, September 26, 2006) that Bishop Pryse "is taking the council's ruling as an opinion that can be appealed to a church court of adjudication" (ironically the Eastern Synod Convention defeated a motion that would have sent the original resolution to the ELCIC's court of adjudication to determine its constitutionality). The Record also reports that the Eastern Synod Council at its November meeting "will discuss whether to comply or appeal the national council's decision". However, according to Section 11, Part VII (National Church Council) of the church's by-laws (see Key Constitutional Reference to Consider below), if the Eastern Synod does not rescind its action, then "the issue shall be reported to the next convention for adjudication".

N.B.: Deadline for Delegate Selection
The ELCIC’s National Office has recently sent out a notice that congregations must elect their lay delegates by January 20, 2007. The secretary of the Synod then needs to advise the national office of the names and addresses of lay delegates elected by the member congregations by February 20, 2007. This will complicate life for many congregations whose annual meetings do not take place until the end of January or later. Unless the annual meetings are re-scheduled to an earlier date, then congregations will need to schedule a special congregational meeting in order to elect their delegate(s) within the allotted time frame - that is, prior to January 20, 2007.

Key Constitutional Reference to Consider
In his press release ("Letter To The Church From National Bishop Raymond Schultz") of July17, the National Bishop indicated that, "The Officers of this church will bring a recommendation to NCC regarding the legality of the Eastern Synod resolution at the September 15-16, 2006 meeting to be held in Winnipeg" and that in making its ruling the NCC will "review the action of the Eastern Synod in light of this church's documents". One particular element from the church's documents to carefully consider with respect to the NCC's recent ruling on the action of the Easteren Synod is Section 11, Part VII (National Church Council) of the church's by-laws, which states:

"It (National Church Council) shall review the actions of the committees and synods of this church at the first or second meeting of the council following receipt of minutes in which such actions are recorded. If a specific action is, in the judgment of the council, outside the authority of the committees or synod concerned or not in conformity with a policy laid down by the convention, formal declaration of that fact shall postpone or suspend the effectiveness of such action. If the action in question is not rescinded, the issue shall be reported to the next convention for adjudication".

National Church Council's Response to Eastern Synod's Approval of Same-Sex Blessings
A press release from the National Office of the ELCIC provides a statement from the National Church council on the motion passed at the 2006 Eastern Synod Convention regarding the blessing of same-gender couples. To read the statement, click here.

WordAlone's Orthodox Take on Faith Was, Not So Long Ago, 'Moderate, Middle' of Lutheranism
In many ways the current situation in the ELCIC mirrors that in the ELCA. In this article, an ELCA pastor describes how it is in the interest of some to try to portray the WordAlone movement's orthodox position on faith as that of an extreme interest group within the ELCA. Not unlike the position of Solid Ground, the pastor notes that "Far from being an interest group on the fringe of Lutheranism, WordAlone represents orthodox, confessional Lutheran theology within a denomination that still claims the name Lutheran, but seems increasingly unaware of what that even means."

New Lutheran Book of Worship - A Case of Buyer Beware?
A letter to The Anglican Journal from a member of the Alberta Synod recommends that those considering the purchase of the new hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, take a close look at its contents before doing so. To read the letter entitled "A Pig in a Poke", click here (scroll about half way down the page to find the letter).

Refutation of Arguments Advanced in Support of Same-Sex Blessings Motions
In this document (click on title above) Solid Ground provides a Refutation (counterargument) to the various arguments (Rationales) advanced by the clergy in support of the seven same-sex blessings motions that were brought forward to the recent Eastern Synod Convention.

Eastern Synod Pastor Expresses Concern
In an open letter to the National Church Council (NCC), a retired pastor from the Eastern Synod expresses his opposition to the resolution condoning same-sex blessings that was passed at this year's Eastern Synod convention and asks the NCC "to take all steps necessary to repudiate the Eastern Synod action and have the same declared invalid". To read the letter, click here.

Fork in the Road for the ELCIC
Apart from the Eastern Synod Convention’s approval of same-sex blessings being in defiance of the ELCIC’s constitution, there are deeper underlying theological issues involved. The latter was underscored by a lay member of the Alberta Synod in his recent submission to the National Church Council. He identified the larger theological issue as “the place and authority of the Old and New Testaments and the Lutheran Confessions in general, and the place and authority of the Law in particular, in the theology and practice of the ELCIC”. In his view, there is a “fork in the road” for those of us in the ELCIC leading to two different paths representing two irreconcilable theologies: “One choice is the vague uncertain road that requires a redefinition of God and His relationship to man, based on nothing more than the personal opinions of convention participants. The other choice is the road that requires a return to the God of the Scriptures and the Confessions as understood and proclaimed throughout the history of the Church”.

B.C. Pastor's Letter to National Church Council
Out of a "deep concern for our church and its future", a pastor from the B.C. Synod provides wise counsel to the National Church Council in light of their task at the September 15-16, 2006 NCC meeting to make a ruling with respect to the legality of the Eastern Synod resolution giving congregations the authority to decide whether or not to conduct same sex blessings.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter
A lay person from the Alberta Synod proposes that the only hope we have for moving forward together in this discussion about homosexuality is to get to the heart of the matter, namely, by addressing the question: "Is homosexual behavior no longer a sin?".

Church Council Chairperson Resigns and Leaves the ELCIC
The chairperson of St. John’s, Waterloo in the Eastern Synod announced his resignation from his local congregation and, as well, the ELCIC, saying that he “cannot in good conscience belong to a church that has made a decision such as the Eastern Synod has made at its 2006 Convention”. Sadly, this is an example of the kind of fallout one can expect as a result of the recent Eastern Synod Convention’s decision to give congregations the authority to bless same-sex unions. Click here to read the letter of resignation.

B.C. Solid Ground Meeting
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2006
Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Place: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 32420 Seventh Ave, Mission, B.C.
Rev. Ed Skutshek (Grace Lutheran Church, Kelowna, B.C.) - National President of Solid Ground Ministry Canada – will speak about the goals and vision of Solid Ground. For registration and further information, click here.

A Pastor's Concern Regarding Eastern Synod’s Actions
In a letter sent to Bishop Schultz and National Church Council, Rev. K. Glen Johnson (Ascension, Calgary), expresses his deep concern with respect to the recent Eastern Synod Convention's approval of a motion allowing congregations to decide whether or not to bless same-sex unions.

B.C. Synod’s Bishop Responds to Eastern Synod’s Actions
In a letter dated July 21, 2006 sent to all congregations and rostered ministers of the B.C. Synod, B.C. Synod Bishop, Gerhard Preibisch, gave his response to the recent action of the Eastern Synod in convention regarding the blessing of same-sex unions.

Truth in Love - Responses to Questions Concerning Same Sex Blessings
Despite the vote at last year’s National Convention, this church continues to face questions concerning the blessing of same-sex relationships. That situation has been heightened by the recent action taken at this year’s Eastern Synod Convention declaring that congregations in the Eastern Synod have the authority to decide whether or not to conduct such blessings. Prior to last year’s national convention vote on a ‘local option’ for same sex blessings, three pastors in the Alberta Synod prepared a series of eight brochures providing answers to common arguments or questions put forward by those who are advocating a change in the church’s teaching on same-sex lifestyles. In light of the on-going strife in our church, intensified by the Eastern Synod Convention’s actions, these brochures are still very much relevant and continue to speak the truth in love with respect to the challenging issues before this church. Click here to access these illuminating brochures.

Eastern Synod Bishop's Pastoral Letter
Text of a pastoral letter to the Eastern Synod of the ELCIC regarding the action taken by the Eastern Synod Convention to allow same-sex blessings within the Eastern Synod.

National Bishop Responds to Eastern Synod Action on Same-Sex Blessings
National Bishop Ray Schultz has issued a letter to this church in response to the action taken by the recent Eastern Synod Convention to allow same-sex blessings within the Eastern Synod.

Motions Related to Same-Sex Blessings Submitted to 2006 Eastern Synod Convention
The Reference and Counsel Committee for the 2006 Eastern Synod Convention received seven motions pertaining to the issue of local discretion with regards to the blessing of same sex unions and decided to present one of these motions for consideration by the convention, regarding action on that motion (1.1) as subsuming the need for the convention to deal with the other similar motions (1.2 -1.7). Follow this link for copies of Motion 1.1 (the motion adopted by delegates to the Eastern Synod Convention) and motions 1.2 - 1.7, as they appeared in Reference and Counsel's report to the convention. These reports include the authors of the various motions along with their rationale. Noteworthy, for all seven motions is that the sixteen authors in total were all ordained members of the Eastern Synod. Included in this summary of motions received by Reference and Counsel are two others motions (1.8 and 1.9) relevant to the issue of same-sex blessings.

Motion to Relinquish Congregational Property in the Event of a Decision to Leave the ELCIC
Although a lot of attention has been given to the Eastern Synod Convention’s approval of a motion allowing same-sex blessings, less is known about another controversial motion which came before the Eastern Synod Convention. According to a constitutional amendment, which was brought forward by the Eastern Synod Council, in the event of a congregation severing its ties with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, then all property owned by that congregation would be transferred to the synod (see page 2-10f from the “Report of Synod Council”). There was no vote on this motion. Instead the convention passed a motion “that the proposed amendments for Article VI Section 10 and Section 11 be referred to Synod Council for further reflection and consideration.”

Solid Ground Responds to Eastern Synod's Actions
Solid Ground has issued a press release (Lutherans Lament Eastern Synod Actions) in response to the recent decision by the Eastern Synod Convention to allow the blessing of same-sex unions.

Lutherans Ponder Next Step as Synod Votes for Same-Sex Blessings
The Anglican Journal reports that "a cloud of uncertainty remains as to whether the (Eastern) synod...has jurisdiction over the matter or whether it resides with the national convention, which last year defeated a similar motion to allow the blessing of same-sex unions. According to the Anglican Journal, the ELCIC’s National Church Council "is expected to decide on the matter when it meets in September" at which time "ELCIC national bishop Raymond Schultz...plans to make his own recommendation during that meeting".

Testing the tent poles of Anglicanism
Retired Anglican Bishop of Fredericton, Rev. William Hockin, made some interesting observations on the state of the Anglican church in an article (“Testing the tent poles of Anglicanism”) appearing in the April 2006 issue of the Anglican Journal. According to Rev. Hockin, the “working theology” prevalent in the Anglican church today is “hacking at the ‘tent poles’ - attacking the very beliefs that hold the communion together”.



The Office of Bishop
The April 2006 issue of The Forum, a publication of the Synod of Alberta and Territories, is devoted entirely to articles (by four authors) giving their perspective on the office of bishop and the election of a bishop. These articles should be of special interest given that several synods (including the Synod of Alberta and Territories) will be electing new bishops at their conventions this year.

Emergence of Universalism?
In an article, “Avoid broad road of doctrinal tolerance”, appearing (page 2) in the January-February 2006 issue of Network News, the Word Alone Network’s newsletter, Pastor Dan Delzell (Trinity Lutheran Church, Papillon, Nebraska) notes the emergence of support for universalism within the ELCA. According to the doctrine of universalism, “Rather than only believers being saved by grace through faith in Christ,…all human beings would receive mercy after their deaths because of Christ’s resurrection”, thus removing the need for repentance and saving faith. In the same issue (pages 6-7) renewal leaders in various North American Protestant denominations, in an open letter, issue a warning about a new “strategy to win the church’s affirmation of homosexual acts”, the offering of a false “compromise” (remember the usage of such language to promote the local option motion put forward to the 2005 ELCIC National Convention) or “third way”. According to the authors of the open letter, “The essence of the new strategy is this: to leave in church law books the orthodox standards calling Christians to fidelity in marriage and sexual abstinence in singleness, while inventing procedural devices permitting church bodies and officials to disregard the standards at will”.

RIC is Not Just About ‘Welcoming’
This article by a lay member of the ELCIC questions whether congregations accepting the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) designation from Lutherans Concerned are fully aware of the implications of doing so. [This article was submitted to the Canada Lutheran, but was not accepted for publication.]

The Abuse of Tolerance
In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Brett Cane, an Anglican priest in Winnipeg, explains how subtle but significant transformations have taken place in our definition and view of "tolerance". Unlike the traditional definition whereby one recognizes and respects other's beliefs, practices, etc., without necessarily agreeing or sympathizing with them, according to Cane, a new definition has emerged, which he calls the “new tolerance”. According to the new definition in use today, “every individual’s beliefs, values, lifestyle and truth claims are equally valid”. The new tolerance “demands praise and endorsement of that person's beliefs, values and lifestyles”. Cane then goes on to explain the implications of the "new tolerance" for society and Christians (including the repression of public discourse) and what should be a Christian's response in this new climate of what is really an abuse of tolerance or "anti-tolerance".

Re-affirming the Unity of Scripture
According to a pastor from the Alberta Synod, "We do ourselves and the people of God an injustice if we try to separate what God has joined together. The Holy Scriptures are true as a whole and in all their parts. If we rend them apart and see in them great contradictions and opposing theologies, how can we rely on a sure word from God in the midst of life’s trials and temptations?"

A Nearly 50:50 Split in “Our Church”?
This article by a lay member of the ELCIC concludes that there is no basis to extrapolate from the recent convention vote that “our church”, namely, the various congregations and associated parishioners within the ELCIC, are split about 50:50 on the matter. [A slightly edited version of this article appeared on page 6 of the March 2006 issue of the Canada Lutheran.]

Page Created for Articles/News Related to the 2005 ELCIC National Convention
A separate page was created to collect articles/news related to the National Convention in one place for your perusal.

The Vanishing Law
In this insightful essay, "The Vanishing Law", retired ELCIC pastor Rev. Dr. Lothar Schwabe observes that "An old heresy has reappeared among Lutherans. The Lutheran Confessions dealt with that heresy, but that has not prevented it from rising again in our midst and leading some of the faithful astray."

A Sermon on Two Theologies
The first delegate to lead off the debate with respect to the ELCIC National Church Council's resolution concerning same-sex blessings and speaking in favour of the local option made the observation that "There are two theologies in the hearts and minds of our people". The situation described by this delegate is no different in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Upon return from the recent ELCA Churchwide Assembly (national convention), an ELCA pastor preached a sermon which sketches out the two theologies in existence in the hearts and minds of our people.

A House Divided against Itself Will Not Stand
In this article, Dr. Robert Benne, Director, Roanoke College Center for Religion and Society, Salem, Virginia, responds to the ELCA church council’s efforts to strike an acceptable “compromise” in a conflicted church. His comments have possible relevance to the ELCIC church council’s local option “compromise” resolution.

Living Faithfully in the New Birth
In this address by Rev. Glen Johnson (Ascension, Calgary) to the Saskatoon Conference convention on April 22, 2005, he concludes that "A Church that stands on biblical and confessional authority cannot maintain its identity and mission with two opposing and irreconcilable views on an issue (same-sex blessings) of such importance".

An ELCIC Bishop Offers His Reflections on the Resolution Concerning Same Sex Blessings
Recently, Rev. Stephen Kristenson, Bishop of the Alberta and Territories Synod, circulated a document to the congregations in his synod which offered “Some Reflections on the Resolution Regarding the Blessing of Same Sex Unions”. (March 2005)

Five Myths in the Bible and Homosexuality Debate
The decisions made by the Episcopal (U.S. Anglican) church in 2003 to confirm the election of a non-celibate homosexual as a bishop and to authorize a "local option" for parishes and dioceses to bless same sex relationships have created deep divisions within the Anglican world-wide communion. In this article, Dr. Gerald McDermott, professor of religion at Roanoke College, a Lutheran-related college located in Salem, Virginia, speaks to the myths that may have guided the Episcopal church (and, presumably, the ELCIC's National Church Council, as well) in its recent decisions.

Responding to the Pro-Homosex Lobby
This document, prepared by Solid Rock Lutherans, provides a simple list of answers to common arguments advanced by those who favour the gay lifestyle. Although written with an ELCA context, the document reads equally well by replacing "ELCA" wherever it occurs in the document by "ELCIC".

Why an Eastern Synod Pastor Resigned
In the December 2004 issue (pages 2-3) of The Forum, the newsletter for the Synod of Alberta and the Territories, Doug Kranz, the pastor at St. John’s, Waterloo, until his resignation in June 2004, explains why he made the difficult decision to resign from his church and the ELCIC. As well, in the editorial on pages 7-8,Pastor Brad Everett provides an interesting analysis of the National Church Council’s decision to act on the Eastern Synod’s petition to initiate a study of a parish-based local option to perform same-sex blessings. He raises an insightful question that warrants consideration: “Does this petition…come from the Word of God or society?”

Caring Conversations - The Untold Story
November 30, 2004. This article, which describes how the Caring Conversations model has been transformed by the Kitchener/Waterloo conference into a vehicle to support a political agenda, is a must read for congregations thinking about holding a Caring Conversations event.

Canada's Making Religious Recovery
According to a report by Ted Byfield in the Calgary Sun, there are encouraging signs of a religious comeback of sorts in Canada. However, according to Byfield for this recovery to be a sustained recovery and not just a "blip" depends upon which one of two possible paths that the churches choose to travel. Which path do you think that the ELCIC is currently on?

A Pastor’s Comments on the Synod Assembly
A pastor who attended the Eastern Synod Convention offers his reflections on the motions related to homosexuality that were passed by the delegates.

'Take Yourself as the Starting Point' - Controversy Over Sexuality in the ELCA
Dr. Walter Sundberg is Professor of Church History at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, the largest of eight ELCA seminaries in the United States. In this article Professor Sundberg provides his reflections on the "very difficult subject of what the church should affirm and bless as permissible sexual expression, and what it should reject as impermissible". According to Sundberg, a strong force at play today within the ELCA affecting its attitude with respect to sexuality is a modern re-emergence of a heretical movement called Gnosticism which flourished from some time before the Christian Era down to the fifth century. Gnosis is a Greek word that means "knowledge". Gnostics were those who claimed that they had special or even secret knowledge that revealed the truth of what was required for the fulfillment of human life in relation to God. A Gnostic from the late second century, Monoimus, counseled his followers to take make faith a reflection of one's needs and desires, that is, "take yourself as the starting point".

Selling Sex in the U.S.A.
In this article, David Kupelian, vice president and managing editor of WorldNetDaily.com and Whistleblower magazine, starts by documenting the evidence of society's rampant "sexual dysfunction", which some are calling a "sexual holocaust". He then proceeds to answer his question, "Exactly how and when did we 'buy into' wanton sexual anarchy disguised as freedom?" According to Kupelian, it all started on January 5, 1948 when Indiana University zoologist Alfred C. Kinsey released his book, "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male". Today, more than five decades later, Kinsey is universally referred to as the "father of the sexual revolution". Kupelian then provides some shocking revelations about Kinsey's life and the unethical and fraudulent 'research' that underlies his book. Kupelian concludes his article by responding to his question, "why in the world we ever bought into the Big Lie of 'sexual freedom'?" According to Kupelian, our prideful, lower nature - in rebellion against the Creator and His plan for mankind - bought into a phoney notion of "freedom" that really delivers exactly the opposite - bondage, addiction and misery. To summarize, Kupelian writes: "When all is said and done, Alfred Kinsey led the nation in the ultimate devaluation of something precious - love, marriage, children and the difficult but fantastically rewarding personal growth that couples experience when they walk down that road of love and fidelity together."

Homosexuality: Fact and Fiction
Joseph P. Gudel, a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod pastor, in the first of a two-part series of illuminating articles on homosexuality, provides a convincing case for homosexuality being neither a normal nor a healthy lifestyle.

That Which Is Unnatural: Homosexuality in Society, the Church, and Scripture
In the second of his two-part series on homosexuality, Joseph P. Gudel, a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod pastor, examines the homosexuality issue from the standpoint of society (particularly, the gay rights’ political agenda), church and Scripture.

The Place and Authority of Scripture and The Church’s Response to Homosexuality
These two articles appeared in the October 2002 issue (pages 4-6) of The Forum, the newsletter for the Synod of Alberta and the Territories, which asked the question, “What is the biggest issue/question/challenge faced by the ELCIC?” In the editorial on page 8 of this issue of The Forum, Pastor Brad Everett identifies the place, or lack thereof, of the Lutheran Confessions in the life of our church.

The Only Source of Doctrine – Scripture and Same-Sex Unions
In this article, appearing in the November 2003 issue (pages 4-6) of The Forum newsletter, the editor, Pastor Brad Everett, points out that Article II (Confession of Faith), Section 3 of our church’s constitution, which states, “This church confesses the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, through which God still speaks, and as the only source of the Church’s doctrine and the authoritative standard for the faith and life of the Church”, has often been ignored or overlooked in the current debate about homosexuality and the church. This same issue of The Forum, includes an article (pages 7-8) by retired pastor Irvin Hohm entitled “Same-Sex Unions – Blessed or Not?”

Serving Two Masters
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is currently engaged in a study of homosexuality with specific reference to the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of people in committed same-sex unions. To aid local churches in their discussions, the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality has provided a study guide entitled Journey Together Faithfully, Part Two: The Church and Homosexuality. (Recently at its March 2004 meeting the ELCIC’s National Church Council, after sampling the Journey Together Faithfully study, commended its use to assist ELCIC members to engage in discussions on the homosexuality issue.) This illuminating article provides one ELCA pastor’s critical reflection on the study guide. His analysis reveals that with this study guide those in the ELCA today are “being confronted by a change in methodology, that is, a change in how one arrives at truth”. He demonstrates how the study document artfully moves authority from Sola Scriptura to Scripture and human experience.

Welcoming Gays and Lesbians
In this article, James Culver, Jr. Pastor, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Stendal, Indiana, critically examines the issues involved in becoming a “Reconciling in Christ” (RIC) congregation or synod and what it means to “welcome” gays and lesbians.

The Oxford Declaration of Faith and Order
A consultation on the Future of Anglicanism, held in Oxford, England in July 2002, concluded with a declaration that blasted what it called “a serious breach of Anglican order” in recent decisions to bless same-gender relationships, action that has created “a widening circle of scandal and distress.”

The Homosexuality Question and the Church
A statement from Pastor Phil Gagnon (St. Albert Lutheran Church, St. Albert, Alberta) concerning the issue of homosexuality.

Limits of Tolerance
Dr. Robert Benne, Professor of Religion, Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia, http://www.roanoke.edu/crs/director.htm argues that the way that the ELCA is addressing the homosexuality issue in the U.S. is indicative of a “liberal protestant drift” that is approaching the limit of tolerance.

8 Reasons to Say No to the Synod Council’s Substitute Motion
This article advances eight arguments for voting against Synod Council’s recommended substitute “welcome” motion - a motion which was adopted by the 2004 Eastern Synod convention.

11 Reasons to Say No to the Synod Council’s “Local Option” Motion
This article advances eleven arguments for voting against Synod Council’s recommended “local option” motion - a motion which was adopted by the 2004 Eastern Synod convention.

Response to Synod Recommendations
In response to the Eastern Synod Council’s recommendations to the 2004 Synod Convention distributed in March 2004, Solid Ground and its supporters wrote a letter to Bishop Michael Pryse expressing their concerns about the Council’s recommended motions and the direction that they were leading the church.

Implications of Adopting the “Affirmation of Welcome” of the RIC Program
In this article, Kira Onysko, a member of St. John’s, Waterloo, describes the implications of adopting Lutherans Concerned’s “Affirmation of Welcome” statement, a welcoming statement which, “ties us to Lutherans Concerned whose purpose extends far beyond a welcome”. Although the “Affirmation of Welcome” was central to a motion forwarded by the delegates to the 2002 Eastern Synod Convention for consideration at the 2004 Convention, this motion never came to a vote at the 2004 convention. Instead, a Synod Council substitute “welcome” motion, bereft of any mention of Lutherans Concerned and RIC, was adopted by the 2004 Convention.

Response to Lutherans Concerned and Motion 2004
Pastor Harry Vibe (retired) provides an in-depth response to the 2002 Synod Convention motion that petitioned the 2004 Synod Convention to consider adopting the Lutherans Concerned / North America “Reconciling in Christ” (RIC) “Affirmation of Welcome” statement. His thoughtful, well-documented essay was motivated by his “concern over the erosion of the traditional Christian values concerning marriage and family that have stood the test of time” and by “what appears to be a growing erosion of the traditional authority ascribed to Scripture as per our Confessions”.

Sexuality Task Force
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is currently in the midst of studies on human sexuality http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/ which may result in changes in the ELCA’s position on the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians. Dr. Robert Benne, Professor of Religion, Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia, provides questions and responses with respect to the current studies underway.

Theological Reflections
This page is meant to be a venue for those who wish to share personal theological reflections on the issue.