From Norm Teigen:
Preusische Union
I received this meeting announcement in my mailbox this morning. The four Lutheran organizations together are known to some as the Preusische Union.
“Four Lutheran Organizations to Debate ‘Church Government’ in Minneapolis”
(Reclaim News commentary: The subject of who governs a congregation and how a congregation should be governed has become one of the primary concerns in Lutheranism today. We commend the sponsors of this free conference for having the courage to openly debate this potentially incendiary topic and make the conference available to both clergy and lay people.)
On January 30 and 31, 2008 speaker from the
Association of Confessional Lutheran Churches (ACLC) http://reformationchurch.org/ACLC.htm
Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (ELDoNA) http://eldona.org/
Orthodox Lutheran Confessional Conference (OLCC) http://www.olccic.org/
United Lutheran Mission Association (ULMA) http://www.unitedlutheranmission.org/
will address the topic "The Church and Her Government"
The 2008 Winter Confessional Lutheran Free Conference is hosted by:
2008 Winter Confessional Lutheran Free Conference for the purpose of discovering and building fellowship among confessional Lutherans at the Select Inn, River Ridge Banquet Hall, 250 N. River Ridge Circle, Burnsville, MN 55337, 952-890-9550 on January 30 and 31, 2008 9:00AM-5:00PM
The following are scheduled to speak:
Rev. Steven Brockdorf (ACLC)
“The Presence of the Church”
Rev. Jack Cascione (ULMA)
“The Supremacy of the Voters Assembly”
Rev. Martin Diers (OLCC)
“The Bishop's Bequest: human accord or divine decree?”
Rev. John Rutowicz (ELDoNA)
“Episcopal Polity in Historic Lutheranism”
Rev. Roger Fehr (OLCC)
“The Keys, The Confessions, and Consistency”
Rev. Leslie Lanier (ACLC)
“Waltherian Polity in Context”
In keeping with the spirit of the Preusische Union, " the very nature of this conference presupposes that all participants and attendees will listen patiently and carefully, giving the benefit of the doubt, and will not make condemning reports verbally or in periodicals, on list serves, or in blogs. Pejorative language will not be tolerated at the conference."
The prohibition of intemperate language does not apply to Preusische Union members who might want to use such language in going after those church bodies and synodical officials with whom they disagree.
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GJ - This reminds me of a joke. Each nation was assigned to write about elephants for a United Nations global conference. Here are the titles:
1. America - How To Make Money with Elephants
2. Britain - Elephants in the British Empire
3. France - The Sex Life of Elephants
4. Sweden - The History of Sweden.
They should discuss justification by faith. Like the established synods they have left, they are terrified of addressing real issues.
I am surprised Rutowicz did not have the meeting at his favorite Marian chapel.
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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "During the Breaks They Could Discuss Doctrine":
There is little need to wait for Rev. Rutowicz to present his paper at the "debate". He has posted, "An Argument for Lutheran Episcopacy" on ELDoNA's website (http://web.mac.com/hunnius/ELDoNA/Papers.html). Reading it reminds me of the irrefutable scriptural evidence Pres. Moldstad provided in defense (when he cared enough to reply) of the false doctrine of the "Public Ministry of the Word". I quote, "While it is clear that in the new testament the terms for bishop and presbyter/elder are interchangeable, there does seem to be a precedent for bishop-like oversight among some members of the office of the ministry. James, the brother of our Lord, seems to have a bishop-like position in the Jerusalem church. James also certainly seems to have a prominent position at the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15. Further, he seems to have a prominent position with regard to the other "elders" in Acts 21:18. Was James a "bishop" as we think of them? Probably not with all the ideas that we bring to the term, but an office of oversight does seem to be implied." He then goes on to state, "But, it can be said, that while there is no command to adopt Episcopal polity in the new testament, there is precedent for a type of episcopacy in the new testament. To interpret these passages as depicting a type of episcopacy is, probably, the best interpretation of them." Sarcasm overwhelms me.
He continues to attempt to justify adopting Episcopal polity within Lutheran churches. He even points to some aspects of ELCA to use as a possible model. He confuses the Catholic (Rome) Churches sacrament of 'tradition' with the Augsburg Confession defense of Christ's Church the Universal Catholic Church. He states, "The concept of catholicity is indispensable to Lutheran theology. It is necessary to believe that the Holy Spirit works in and through the creation." This is new age and Roman Catholic doctrine. The Holy Spirit works through God's Word alone.
He finally gets to his "Motivating Issues" and states, "The real issue, the unacceptable situation, is the utter lack of clerical authority in the congregation. Pastors who are honest will admit this is a real problem. Parish pastors are essentially hired employees of the congregation. ..... In far too many circumstances the parish pastor cannot be a spiritual father to his flock because he cannot give them medicine they need, but don't want. Congregational autonomy from the district and the synod, even the pay structure for clergy has a devastating impact on the ability of the pastor to do his job effectively. Pastors cannot be helped by district presidents whose positions are advisory, and pastors are too beholden to the sensibilities of the congregation which might cut off his salary at any time. ..... Pastors are constantly told catechesis is the answer. Education is the key to success and happiness, as if the only problem is a lack of knowledge in the church. Once the people know what is correct they will choose it. It seems as if we have abolished the concept of sin. The word "catechesis" is spoken of as if it were an almost magical word. But, if all the pastor has is catechesis, he can always be dismissed as a "flake." ..... The real issue is pastoral authority, not the ability to tyrannize, but the ability to do what is right even if it is unpopular.....Such a pastor must have an authoritative bishop behind him. I am not arguing here for the ability to tyrannize the laity. I am simply arguing for the ability to be a real shepherd, a real spiritual father. To do the right thing by the sheep even when they don't like it. Any father would do what was best for his children even when they complained about it. Think of the absurdity of it, if a father had to rely on simple catechesis to get his children not to stay up until midnight, or eat candy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
Rev. Rutowicz has rejected the Holy Spirit in the Word. The Word is dead to him and incapable of working contrition and faith. No wonder he pleads for authority, the authority to declare and demand his rules and mans rules. He disregards that in Christ's Church God is the authority and the authority of the Office of the Public Ministry of the Word, as instituted by Christ, is from and of the Lord. In my opinion this paper describes an individual who is Catholic, Roman Catholic. I honestly cannot fathom why ELDoNA would be invited to a Lutheran conference. Too bad the attendees must provide the benefit of the doubt when listening to his speech.
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GJ - I hope they sing the original words to Faith of Our Fathers at the conference:
Faith of our Fathers, Mary's prayers,
Shall bring our country back to Thee...
That is a foot-stomper at ELDONA.
Seriously, folks, at a free conference, non-Lutherans like Cascione and crypto-papists like ELDONA can freely mix, share recipes for incense, and go home happy they are not those other heretics.
ELDONA's vision of the bishophric sounds like AMWAY, without the religion. AMWAY uplines are encouraged to enter homes of their downlines and inspect everything, to make sure the brand is on every single item in the house.
