"In a culture that values consumerism, fears diversity, seeks unity, demands certainty, shuns ambiguity, accepts deception and is often defined by arrogance and
dominance, how do churches today work together to live out their mission? That question was the focus of a sermon by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), who addressed more than 200 Lutherans and Episcopalians here Jan. 18 at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church,
Manhattan.
Hanson preached during a service that celebrated the relationship between the churches....Today's times are filled with challenges for Christians, Hanson said, and they are best embraced by "our understanding of the authority and interpretation of the Scriptures," Hanson said."
Help us, Lord! Somehow the crooect understanding of Scripture and interpretation of Scripture is tied to embracing divirsity? And what, pray tell, deception are we under? Would that be Republicanism or Fundamentalism? Just who is arrogant? Is it the "millenial-fundamental-apocalytic" among us? Or would it be those men in white dresses in the pupit and behind the altar who say they know what new bold things God is doing today?
The pr release is here.
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The good ship ELCA...
Or the Shellfish blog...
6 comments:
It's very discouraging to read the stuff that comes from the mouths and minds of Hanson and others. In his view, the only problem are those unenlightened neanderthals (like me) that still think Scripture is to be over us, and that Christians are supposed to submit to its teachings in their daily lives. To say that Christians who think that the Scriptures have more wisdom than people do in terms of daily living, behavior in terms of relatiosnhips and sexuality, are against diversity is a dead give away that Hansen himself supports a diversity that does NOT include people who hold Scripture as authoritiative. It reminds me of my seminary experience; Be inclusive or wwe will exclude you. In fact Hansen and the leaders of the ELCA are anything but open minded and diverse in their opinions. In their view diversity is fine as long as you agree with them.
Dan, you have a good point. I would say that my seminary experience mirrored yours. However, it became apparent that while diversity was "the" doctrine one had to agree with in order to move on, that diversity of opinion was allowed from those who were utter revisionists and pagans. If one was orthodox, then you were a problem.
Peace in the Lord!
Rob Buechler
Ve vill ezclude you
Actually, maybe it is not a bad thing to be excluded by these folks. Biblically, I associate them with Ahab/Jezebel and the Laodicean church in Revelation. I am ambivalent about remaining in the ELCA; our two congregations are dually affiliated with LCMC, with which I ( and the congregations) are much more comfortable.
We don't know where all this revisionism will end, but it will keep coming, just like global warming.My guess is that the more orthodox folks in the mainline will experience more and more persecution/rejection/exclusion and perhaps go for other alternatives
Just who is arrogant? Is it the "millenial-fundamental-apocalytic" among us? Or would it be those men in white dresses in the pupit and behind the altar who say they know what new bold things God is doing today?
Methinks that Shrimp has hit the nail on the head! Arrogance and dominance seem to be the operative words for those at the helm of the ELCA, at least from this humble member's perspective.
Anybody know where I can find the full text of Hanson's speach?
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