Openness & Transparency
One aspect of Lutheranism that I greatly appreciate is the whole concept/doctrine of vocation. One area where it really helps to clarify things is in the relationship between the laity & the clergy. Polity can be a very divisive & controversial topic — goodness knows it is in the LCMS. Ultimately, however, vocation indicates/shows that clergy & laity have different but complementary vocational tasks.
For the complementary relationship to work, there needs to be trust, openness, & transparency. This is true at the individual level, the congregational level, and the synodical level. It’s also true wrt the organizations & institutions run by the synod. LCMS history is rife with examples of the shame that can arise from secrecy, as well as the benefit that can come from a dose of sunshine — witness the salutary results of the 1970’s era “Battle for the Bible” where needed light was shined on the pernicious practices of non-Lutheran theology that had woven their way into the St. Louis seminary over the course of the 50’s & 60’s.
The laity should always remember that the synodical bureaucracy administers institutions like the seminaries at our behest, and that we need to take an active interest in what our future pastors are learning & being taught during their pastoral formation. IOW, the sems are not black boxes, into which we dare not peer.
Rev. Beisel (of One Lutheran…Ablog!) has given an example of why such interested oversight & constant vigilance is necessary in his post recounting his recent visit to the St. Louis sem. Of particular interest is his rundown of what he read in the student newspaper. The comments thread is also quite interesting & worth a read.
Lay involvement & oversight is not supreme and/or all-powerful — that is, the laity should never feel as if we are dictators who can & should get our every whim addressed. Indeed, we must invest a certain level of trust in the those to whom leadership roles have been given. At the same time, neither must we simply roll over & unquestioningly accept what we are told, particularly if we are told we don’t need, or can’t be given, reasonable details & explanations.
Many thanks to Rev. Beisel for having written such a thorough & interesting posting!
-ghp
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