The Purple (Palace) See
Glutton for punishment that I am, I like to read reports about what’s going on at the various LCMS district conventions. (I know, I know… “That boy ain’t right!” :roll:)
A nice series of seven reports (beginning with this one) from the OH District convention were posted by Herr Schreiber over at Die Schreiben von Schreiber. While I’m sure it could be easily debated, I think that the OH-D is a lot closer to the middle-of-the-pack in today’s LCMS than many would think (as OH has a rep of being one of more left-leaning districts…), so I fear that much of what Scott reports is actually quite “normal” in/on the larger scene.
I attended the IN-D convention as a delegate 3 years ago, and while the IN-D is blessedly not as left-leaning as OH, I can attest to much of what Scott reports (I still have nightmares about the Ablaze! (tm)(c)(pat-pending)(all rights reserved by The Purple Palace) propaganda film - of which Leni Riefenstahl would’ve been proud…). These conventions can be scary & frustrating places, given the perverse & misguided confusion about, and co-mingling of, the Kingdoms of the Left & Right.
My favorite (in a morbid curiousity kind of way) report, though, had to be this one from Saturday. “Why?” you ask — because it recounts the session held by the SP himself. Quoting from Scott’s report:
- The president also said that the church has had conflict from the beginning, even to the parting of ways, citing Acts where Paul and Barnabas split up. He “hopes” we will continue to “work together” but didn’t seem to worried about anyone leaving.
- A little later he mentioned that we have been distracted by misrepresentation of facts. This general accusation of false witness was not supported or epounded upon, just thrown up in the air.
- He cited examples of the great things we can do when we are united, and cited several examples of giving money. So we can be united in cash flow, but not doctrine or practice.
- During Q and A time, where pre-written, pre-submitted questions, screened by district staff, were asked of him, the interim directorship of CPH was brought up. He said the ball is in the CPH BOD’s court.
- He was asked about rumors of a new non-geographical district claiming orthodoxy. His response was that he heard nothing, but if it did ever happen, he would still be the “ecclesiastical supervisor” of that district.
- “Do you see women pastors in the future?” No…BUT…Synod is helping congregations rewrite their constitutions to allow for women to be elders, presidents, etc.
- At this point he made a very clear cautionary statement: “You are NOT free to preach or teach publicly that Synod is wrong on ANY given issue.” He wanted us to be sure we understand that, so he repeated it. Slowly. No one may publicly preach or teach that Synod is wrong any any issue, ever.
- Back to questions: What about congregations that spit out faithful pastors? He approvingly cited a congregation that “rescinded” the call to the pastor. Sometimes there just isn’t a good “fit,” he said. It is ultimately up to the congregation.
Now, I could write a whole bunch about all of these statements by the SP, and I might at some point in the future. The one that I want to comment on now, however, is the one that I bolded. Let’s look at it again, shall we?
“You are NOT free to preach or teach publicly that Synod is wrong on ANY given issue.”
Wow. That’s… well… disturbing to say the least, no? The first Lutheran response, I think, is to ask “What does this mean?” And one of the things that it means is that we (laity and pastors) are having our consciences bound to a Kingdom of the Left bureaucracy, when the Kingdom of the Right (i.e., the Bible) is clear that error is to be lovingly and clearly dealt with. Not shunted aside, per bylaws and ecclesiastical supervision. Or even by majority vote. Doctrine is not done by majority vote!
Being told we cannot teach or preach contra synodical canon (how Romisch!) demands that we do so whenever necessary, and to do so loudly, clearly, and forcefully. For the Truth must be confessed!
Yup, there’s a firm hand at the rudder. It might not be all that Lutheran, but it is surely a firm one… 
-ghp
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My pastor (WELS) tried a move like that once. He actually had a “repeat after me” section of the sermon once a few years ago where he asked everyone to repeat after hiim that we would not criticize the church (meaning congregation/leadership) for any reason.
I didn’t repeat after him.
It’s so un-Reformation that I was appalled it was coming from the pulpit.
Take care & God bless
Anne / WF