God Called “Mother” in Bishop Elect’s Church Newsletter

08/24/2011

Rev. Dr. S. John Roth is currently the pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, IL. In June of 2011, Rev. Roth was elected to be the next Bishop of the Central/Southern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

In the most recent publication of Rev. Roth’s church’s newsletter, there was an article that had an interesting prayer in it. Here is the first section of the prayer:

“Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven: . . .” (see here)

The notion of “Mother” God continues to permeate the lexicon of ELCA leadership, and this is another example of it, coming from a church under the leadership of the next Central/Southern Illinois Synod Bishop.

Read more about the ELCA calling God “Mother” here and here.

Comments

08/24/2011 10:54pm

Actually, it looks like a complete re-write of our Lord's Prayer, which HE taught us to pray. When we turn from HIm, there isn't anything left .......

09/13/2011 3:46pm

I clicked to read the newsletter, expecting to find the prayer as a part of Pastor Roth's letter or in some other article of his. Instead, the article is written by an Elaine Chapman, who writes that she heard the prayer from an Episcopal priest in the Minnesota area (it comes from the New Zealand BCP, according to the article).
I don't know about Pastor Roth's congregation, but in many congregations - both large and small - the pastor does not edit the newsletter. He may have had no idea that the prayer was making an appearance until he received the newsletter in the mail (or his box in the office).
It may be helpful to do a follow-up and see what, if anything, is written in the next month's newsletter about the prayer, rather than automatically assume that Pastor Roth endorses such a prayer and practice.

Dan Skogen link

09/13/2011 5:17pm

Thanks for your comments KF. I felt the prayer was worth writing about. Someone at that church felt it was appropriate to include in the church publication. I hope you took notice that I did not say the prayer was from Pastor Roth.

I invite everyone reading to check out the next newsletter from Pastor/Bishop-elect Roth's church and see if there are any comments by Pastor Roth about the prayer. I will try to do the same.

I also invite Pastor Roth to write me with his public denunciation of the prayer published in his church's newsletter, if he feels it was not appropriate.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Exposing the ELCA