tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post2160777615808591747..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: The Ability to Disagree and Still Be Brothers and SistersPastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-23116453087574269052010-09-20T11:30:29.817-05:002010-09-20T11:30:29.817-05:00Chris, I think you stretch my words too far. I am...Chris, I think you stretch my words too far. I am not speaking of theological disagreement but practical disagreements -- budget, structure, how to implement what we all agree upon, etc... I was not speaking to theological disagreements -- even then, however, they need not be rancorous or mean. I mentioned a budget meeting. I could also have mentioned the restructuring of the Synod structure which some have approached as a theological issue (which, mostly is it far from). We can disagree in many of these things without these disagreements endangering our life together as a congregation or a Synod. We can also disagree over major theological issues without this turning us into the kind of enemies who speak and do unChristlike things. That was my point...Pastor Petershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-39275697998335621812010-09-20T09:15:57.479-05:002010-09-20T09:15:57.479-05:00With respect, Fr. Peters, but allowing diversity o...With respect, Fr. Peters, but allowing diversity of beliefs within the church and still trying to bring about a unity is impossible as the ELCA situation has shown. I certainly grant that disagreeing over the budget is not a theological argument, but what is going on in the LCMS is very much what the ELCA is going through. <br /><br />Lutherans use adiaphora as the buzzword to justify anything that goes on in their parish that deviates from the Lutheran confessions. THere are LCMS churches who believe that a quia subscription to the Book of Concord is even adiaphora. Would you still agree that such a radical disagreement be tolerated? I certainly hope not.<br /><br />The Liturgy, private confessions and even the treatment of the Virgin Mary have fallen under adiaphora so much that the diversity of practice makes you wonder whether how two congregations both within walking distance are still LCMS churches, though there is very little of common practice and theology.<br /><br />Adiaphora has been trumpeted as the Lutheran call to freedom, but it has lead to consequences of anarchic proportions.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06200319733737651773noreply@blogger.com