Missouri in a handbasket
The LCMS is in a handbasket, and you know where that mode of transport takes you…
Per this letter, the St. Louis Seminary (CSL) has jumped into bed with a renegade, conservative/”confessional”, faction of ELCA, WordAlone.
So, what many view to be as the crown jewel seminary of the LCMS (not me — I prefer CTSFW, but that’s just subjective based on my personal experiences at/on the CTSFW campus — I’ve known good pastors who are grads of both sems — and general, anecdotal observations that even in post-Seminex times, some dicey stuff can happen at CSL…) is now going to educate future pastors of the ELCA. Men and WOMEN. Priestitutes. Spiffy.
WordAlone, from what I’ve been able to discern, seems to have been moved into action in response to ELCA’s bedding down with the Episcopalians, as they really don’t like the historic episcopate. And they don’t like ELCA’s move towards blessing same-sex unions & ordaining gays/lesbians. But, they’re cool with ELCA’s focus on social justice, priestitutes, open communion, mindless ecumenism, Biblical errancy, and general disavowal of orthodox confessional Lutheranism (i.e., Christianity). Peachy.
What possible reason could there be for the powers-that-be at CSL to want to jump into bed with a group like WordAlone? Especially when they do so with delusional sophistry like this from Rev. Bartelt’s letter:
“Further, as discussed with your representatives, Concordia Seminary invites students to enroll into our graduate programs of theological studies, cognizant of our traditional, confessional position within the framework of historic and evangelical Lutheran theology. Indeed, we welcome those who are willing to engage in honest dialogue and conversation about controversial theological matters, including issues such as the historical-critical method and women’s ordination. We recognize that, as a denominational seminary, we do not prepare candidates for the Holy Ministry outside of the LCMS and those in church fellowship with her. We are also prepared to continue discussion of the initiatives of WordAlone Network to augment such graduate education as they see fit, including proposals such as a house of studies and the interchange of guest faculty.”
Sorry, but the historical-critical method & women’s ordination are not “controversial theological matters” that are open for “honest dialogue and conversation” — they are issues that have been discredited & debunked as sinful attempts to corrupt God’s clear Word.
And, if the LCMS’s seminaries are not for preparing candidates for those outside of the LCMS, then what could possibly be the purpose/benefit of letting some rogue outfit’s students/candidates take classes as part of their programs elsewhere? Let’s be honest here, in doing so, we are preparing them, for all intents and purposes. The LCMS will be complicit in allowing/enabling women to usurp the Pastoral Office. Stating a bylaw/policy doesn’t change that, not when the practice is so obvious.
This makes me very sad…
-ghp
Comments
3 Responses to “Missouri in a handbasket”
Leave a Reply
-
Analytics & Hosting
Very interesting….
My former church, a 5,000 suburban ELCA church, is an member of the WordAlone network; in fact, it is the church where the annual convention was just held! I was a member there for 30 years before leaving (for a confessional Lutheran church) in complete despair over the change from a grace-based church to a works-based church. They’ve thrown out nearly every teaching based on God’s grace for Baptist curriculum and teaching. I know that for a fact because I watched it happen firsthand. I think they are a very typical WordAlone member. If a church wants to become more Lutheran, they don’t turn to WordAlone. My take on WordAlone is that it is “Evangelical” in nature and not Lutheran at all. Does that mean that it is still a good organization? Well, it really doesn’t matter if you’ve gone north, south, east or west when you’re still traveling a thousand miles away from the truth. It is very sad, at the very least, to think of the harm that the WordAlone candidates will bring to any Lutheran seminary. Since they will be guests of the seminary, how will the seminary deal with them when they insist on keeping their own faith in works?
Thanks for the info, TK. That actually helps fill in quite a bit, unfortunately confirming what I suspected was the case.
There’s just so much about this that looks, sounds, & smells bad to me that it’s almost hard to believe that someone is trying to sneak it into effect. I use the word “sneak” advisedly, but it’s hard to say anything else, considering that this came to light only after it was too late for formal overtures to be submitted for consideration at the upcoming convention.
Anyway, thanks again for the info, and I hope that you’re still well on the mend!
WordAlone is not confessional and I don’t think they even pretend to be. Keep in mind that the ELCA, at least in Minnesota, is what’s left of departing synods - synods that left over confessional disputes. Their claims that they are returning to Lutheran roots must be examined through that lens. The LCA was never confessional in the first place, at least not since the early part of the last century. It is weird how history keeps repeating itself.
And I am on the mend…finally. You should finally see some posts from me!