Dual Rostered Church Censured, Pastor De-Rostered By ELCA Bishop

03/29/2012

6 Comments

 
The following is a letter from both the council president and senior pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Marion, Iowa. (elca.org lists St. Mark's average attendance at 961)
--------------------------------------------
March 27, 2012

There is on body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

Dear Partners of St. Mark’s,

As we continue our Lenten journey, we give thanks to God for calling us to the cross and into a deeper relationship with Christ, and for continuing opportunities for faithful service to Him.  St. Mark’s church council last updated you in late November regarding denominational issues.  That update followed the council’s resolution to dual roster with Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  Since then, we have continued conversations with our synod bishop, Michael Burk, in regard to our relationship with the ELCA.

In response to the council’s November resolution, Bishop Burk has placed St. Mark’s under censure and admonishment.  Our council has continued conversations with the synod to fully understand what this means.  The first indication of any change in procedures was that the synod office would not provide assistance to us in the pastoral call process.  Our call committee, however, is continuing its work and has several excellent ELCA pastoral candidates with whom it is moving forward in conversations that may ultimately lead to a call.  Each of the candidates is aware of our circumstances and is pleased to continue the interview process.  

This past week we received word that Pastor Perry Fruhling has been removed from the ELCA clergy roster.  While the ELCA actions are disappointing, we anticipated that there could be some ramifications to our council resolution.  Pastor Perry was called and will continue to serve St. Mark’s congregation for years to come.  Arrangements have been made to ensure continuity of his healthcare benefits and pension.  Since Pastor Perry was called according to our constitution as an ELCA pastor, we have simply extended the provisions of that call going forward.  

What follows remains in the hands of our local bishop and the Southeastern Iowa Synod Council.  In our communication with the bishop, we have made it clear that we desire to continue our current relationship with the ELCA as a dual-rostered church.  We continue as a congregation to generously support numerous faithful ELCA ministries.  

Our application to affiliate with the LCMC has been accepted, and we remain committed to being part of a Lutheran church body.  Regardless of any ELCA actions, St. Mark’s continues as a Lutheran church and ownership of our building remains firmly with our congregation.  Our building addition gives St. Mark’s the unique ability to reach out to the community and continue to serve others.  Our recent Christmas Eve services and Ash Wednesday service had record numbers of people attending.  As a congregation of faithful servants to God’s Word, we will continue to grow.

We encourage you to pray for the ELCA, the LCMC and for all members of St. Mark’s as we move forward in serving Christ.  As always, please call or email council@faith-life.org with any questions or concerns.  

Yours in Christ,
Kurt Beenen
Church Council President
Pastor Perry Fruhling
Senior Pastor
6 Comments
 

Do Not Judge?

11/20/2010

0 Comments

 
"Judge not, that ye be not judged."  I imagine this verse has been said in nearly every ELCA church forum on homosexuality.  But what does this verse really mean?

Below are two "Daily Devotions with Greg Laurie"

Discerning, Not Condemning
“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”
— Ephesians 4:15

It seems as though every nonbeliever knows Matthew 7:1: "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged." Generally, it goes something like this: The Christian approaches a compromising Christian or a nonbeliever and talks about his or her need for Christ. At some point, the Christian will say that a certain thing is a sin. The other person will respond, "Who are you to judge me? Doesn't the Bible itself say, 'Judge not, lest you be judged'? "

So what does this verse mean? Is Jesus suggesting that we are never to speak truthfully to someone, even if what he or she is doing is wrong? Is that indeed judgmental? Does this mean that Christians are never to be critical or make an evaluation? What did Jesus mean when He said, "Judge not, that you be not judged"?

Some people believe that to be a real Christian, you must love and accept everyone. You must be tolerant of everything and never register an opinion. But is that what a Christian is? No, it isn't. That assumption actually contradicts what we read in other passages of the Bible.

People often say that Jesus was a great humanitarian, loving and caring and sharing. He was those things, but Jesus also was a revolutionary. Jesus confronted people. He had some choice words for the Pharisees, calling them vipers and hypocrites and dead men walking. When confrontation was necessary, Jesus would speak the truth to a person.

We must do the same, but we need to do so lovingly. As Ephesians 4:15 says, "Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church." That is what we do with those we love. We should be discerning, but not condemning. (see here)

Is It Ever Okay to Judge?
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
— 1 Corinthians 6:2

Is there a place for judging? Are we to judge one another, and if so, on what basis? Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (Matthew 7:1–2). The Greek word Jesus used for "judge" means, "to separate, choose, select, or determine." In context, we see that Jesus is dealing primarily with motives. You cannot judge my motives, nor can I judge yours. We may have an evaluation of someone, but we can't see his or her heart.

The better translation of this statement would be, "Condemn not, that you be not condemned." I am to make judgments and evaluations, but I am not to condemn. Some people are hypercritical. They are just looking for people to slip up. They are quick to jump to conclusions. As one of my favorite preachers, the late J. Vernon McGee, said, "The only exercise some Christians get is jumping to conclusions and running down others."

Sometimes we are quick to jump to conclusions and quick to believe the worst instead of the best about someone. Jesus is saying we should not do that. So if someone says to you, "Well, doesn't the Bible say, 'Judge not, that you be not judged'?" your response should be, "Yes, but I don't think you understand the meaning of that statement." The reality is that Christians are to make judgments. A judgment is an evaluation, and we make them every day.

We are not in a position to see a person's heart, and we are not in a position to bring final judgment on someone. Our objective is to never to condemn and put down; it is to help and restore. (see here)


 


Add Comment
 

ELCA's God of Many Names/Many Paths

09/01/2010

0 Comments

 
(Todays "Exposed Blog" is written by a pastor from Michigan.)

An ELCA news release today highlights the August 30th "Public Statement on the Islamic Center Proposal" by Bishop Robert Rimbo of the Metropolitan New York Synod.  In his concluding comments, Bishop Rimbo states: "We commend ourselves to the reliable and merciful arms of the God of Abraham, the God whom Jesus calls Abba, the God whom Muslims and Christians in various parts of the world call Allah. THIS GOD (my capitals) promises a reign in which all shall be well."

Am I understanding correctly that the learned bishop is referring here to God almighty revealed in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, as the God of many names, including Allah? Or perhaps, a public acknowledgment of many paths to God. It appears so, at least to me, since the bishop says THIS GOD PROMISES A REIGN...(all singular).

Isn't this yet another example of the "big tent" ELCA which bends over backward to avoid or distort the biblical name of God for the sake of secular tolerance and "political correctness?"

Add Comment