In order for this election to mean something, we as the Pastors and parishes of the LCMS must agree to be led. That is a tall order. We are a contentious bunch. We each see things from our own vantage points and assume we know it all. We love to paint it all into matters of clear confession when somethings are much more complex. We talk about Synod but we keep our dollars close to home because whether they are our guys or their guys -- they are still bureaucrats (Barry had money problems just like Kieschnick). We love a good speech or sermon but then we get on the planes and had home to do what we have always done (secure in the knowledge that our congregationalism means nobody can tell us we are wrong).
So I would urge a cautious optimism at best. We may have a new President of Synod, but we are the same old Pastors and parishes, set in our ways, certain that "my" way is the best way, and about as hard to lead as cats are to herd. I sensed a moment of grace when Pastor Chuck Mueller took a moment after the election to honor the new President's election. But today we will be winding our way through a myriad of motions, by-law changes, and other elections. We still have a Synodical budget crisis. We still have Ablaze and Fan into Flame baking in the oven but not yet done. We still have the odd circumstance of laymen authorized for Word AND Sacrament ministry. We still have 30 something individually tailored deacon programs out there. We still have different ideas of table fellowship, faithful worship, and appropriate methods of outreach to sort out.
Elections are easy. Leadership and governance are much more difficult. So before we party, let us pray. Before we gloat, let us confess. Before we predict a bold new future, let us pull up our sleeves to sort out the issues and meet before the cross. Before we talk about some prophetic moment, let us affirm our willingness to be rebuked, corrected, reproved, and edified (and not just our neighbor's). Then, perhaps, we may actually see some of the promise of this moment realized. Every week we pray for the man who presides in Synod, for our Bishop, and for our Pastors. Let us start there so that we all know their names and carry them in our hearts close to God for the good work they will do, the mistakes they will make that we should forgive, and the honest disagreement that will continue among us.
4 comments:
Pastor, your site is one of my regulars and always a pleasure to visit. I learn something with every one of your posts. You describe some contrasts between leaders and followers very well here. You also mention laymen administering Word and Sacrament as an odd circumstance. Where it occurs is it primarily because of the need for a congregation to do so? Could you describe what the concerns are with laymen administering Word and Sacrament ministries, please?
Thank you.
Thank you for posting this blog on being cautiously optimistic for there is a lot of work that is yet to be done at the convention and outside. We are all sinners and that includes our leadership. And as President-elect Harrison said in his speech yesterday, he will "fail and disappoint". We, as pastors and congregations will also fail and disappoint him as well, for there is nothing else that we can do outside of Christ.
I'm going to cross-post this on my blog.
Suffice it to say that the Confessions and Lutherans in practice have never before had non-ordained regularly preaching or ever presiding at the font or table. At best this flows from a transference theory of the Pastoral Office which says congregations merely "transfer" the functions to whom they might; at worst it demeans the Office of Pastor which our Lord gave to the Church separate and distinct from the priesthood of all believers. In addition, it raises major issues about the call, accountability, and authority. You will hear more about this in the convention proceedings yet today...
I much prefer ordained ministers do all readings and certainly the precious work at the table. can we do this
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