Monday, November 1, 2010

St. Peter, Freedom, Wisconsin. Letter to WELS Officials, pp. 1-3








Click here for pages 4-5.

St. Peter, Freedom, Wisconsin. Letter to WELS Officials, pp.4-5




Click here for pages 6-8.

St. Peter, Freedom, Wisconsin. Letter to WELS Officials, pp. 6-8


Click here for pages 9-11.

St. Peter, Freedom, Wisconsin. Letter to WELS Officials, pp. 9-11








Click here for pages 12-14.

St. Peter, Freedom, Wisconsin. Letter to WELS Officials, pp. 12-14








Click here for pages 15-17.

St. Peter, Freedom, Wisconsin. Letter to WELS Officials, pp. 15-17




Click here for pages 18-20.

St. Peter, Freedom, Wisconsin. Letter to WELS Officials, pp. 18-20








Click here for pages 21-23.

St. Peter, Freedom, Wisconsin. Letter to WELS Officials, pp. 21-23








Click here for pages 24-26.

St. Peter, Freedom, Wisconsin. Letter to WELS Officials, pp. 24-26






Click here for pages 27-29.

St. Peter, Freedom, Wisconsin. Letter to WELS Officials, pp. 27-29









LCMS and WELS Have No Trouble with This, But ELCA Members Are Heading Out the Doors


Guard dogs will be posted to prevent ELCA dissenters from entering the service.


Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod TX-LA Gulf Coast

For Immediate Release September 30, 2010 Contact: Michael Rinehart, 281-873-5665 Lutheran Denomination Receives Pastor Lura Groen onto Clergy Roster On All Saints Sunday,

November 7, Lura Groen will be the first clergy person allowed onto the roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod under new policy regarding LGBT clergy.

Previously, LGBT clergy could serve, but they were expected to remain celibate. "No Longer Strangers," a Service of Reception will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, address 2515 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77006, at 4:00 p.m. November 7, with Bishop Michael Rinehart presiding. Everyone is welcome. In August of 2009, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to make changes in its ministry rostering policies. The ELCA eliminated a policy that precluded non-celibate gay and lesbian persons from serving as pastors. Gay and lesbian people have long been pastors in the Lutheran Church, but the ELCA previously required them to be celibate.

The change in policy removes the requirement that gay and lesbian pastors be celibate, allowing single gay and lesbian pastors, as well as those in lifelong committed relationships to serve as clergy and rostered lay leaders. "Members of our 10,000 congregations are not of one mind about this policy change," said Michael Rinehart, Bishop of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, "however a majority of Lutherans are now willing to leave to local congregations the decision of calling non-celibate gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender pastors, as opposed to that decision being made by denominational policy."

The ELCA's vote enables congregations to make these decisions on the basis of local mission needs. "Our Candidacy Committee enthusiastically approved Lura for reception on the roster," said Bishop Rinehart. "She is an extraordinarily gifted pastor with a great deal of theological depth and a passion for those disillusioned with the church. This church is stronger with her." "Lutherans have a long history of breaking with tradition. We started allowing married priests nearly 500 years ago. We began ordaining women in 1970. Some are disappointed with this decision, but many Lutherans tend to have a Lake Wobegonish, live-and-let-live mentality. The institutional church is human, and therefore under the power of sin. The church has done incredible good, but we have also been guilty of Jewish persecution, inquisitions that targeted anyone who dissented with the official teaching of the church, unholy crusades all errors that brought hurt rather than healing. The post-WWII-holocaust church must be vigilant about combating racism, hate and exclusion. We must constantly be in a state of reformation."

"The Bible has been used to support slavery, racism and the subjugation of women. So many get naturally suspicious when the church is tempted to use Scripture to exclude or marginalize people. Many feel it safer, and truer to the gospel to err on the side of grace, rather than law." The Rev. Lura N. Groen is a graduate of St. Johns College in Annapolis MD and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Prior to seminary, Pastor Lura was a two-year member of Lutheran Volunteer Corps, serving as a case manager to homeless people in Baltimore MD and Washington DC. Groen was active in community life during seminary, including serving as Student Body President. She received the Winters Scholarship for academic excellence and potential for ministry, the Traci L. Maul Award for leadership potential for ministry, active contribution to seminary life, and academic strength the Atonement- Asbury Park Preaching Award, and was on the Deans List.

Pastor Lura completed her internship at Trinity Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, PA. The Church is opening up said Pastor Groen, The Lutheran Church is more welcoming than most people think it is. I am proud of the ELCA for publicly celebrating the ministry of myself and so many other pastors who were excluded by the previous policy. Pastor Groen was ordained at Grace Evangelical Lutheran on July 26, 2008. The service has been called an extraordinary ordination because it was outside the usual practices of the ELCA. Pastor Groen was credentialed for ministry by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries which, prior to the changes in the ELCA ministry policies, supported gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender pastors for ministry through an alternative process, anticipating their eventual inclusion onto the ELCA roster. The ordination was not recognized by the ELCA at the time.

Grace Lutheran Church is located in the heart of Houston’s Montrose neighborhood, long a haven for the citys LGBT community. Founded in 1922 the church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, meaning that they Value and accept all people in the name of Jesus, regardless of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Sundays at Grace include a vibrant mixture of people from all walks of life. Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church was reprimanded in 2008 for calling a pastor not on the ELCA clergy roster. The Rite of Reception on November 7 will indicate the ELCAs official recognition of Rev. Lura Groens ordination and affirmation of her past ministry. At the time of the service, the reprimand of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church will also be removed.
Source

ELCA News - Y'All Might Want To Stop Using That Acronym

ELCA News


 Morning Announcements
October 28, 2010


ANNOUNCEMENTS
Friday is blue and gold day for homecoming.
Friday is Jeans for Missions day.

High School FCA will meet tomorrow morning in the high school Science lab at 7:15.

Middle school FCA will meet tomorrow morning in room 607 at 7:15.

There are several homecoming activities this afternoon starting at 4:10 with the Powder Puff football game.   


The Rough and Tough football game will be played at 5:10. Coach Gess’ pep talk and the band will perform at 6:00. The crowning of the homecoming king will be at 6:30.  

KSAX.com - Five More Churches in Greater Minnesota Leave E.L.C.A. Over Homosexual Controversy

KSAX.com - Five More Churches in Greater Minnesota Leave E.L.C.A. Over Homosexual Controversy


Five More Churches in Greater Minnesota Leave E.L.C.A. Over Homosexual Controversy

















MENAHGA, Minn- Five more churches have left the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Church members at the First English Lutheran Church said the E.L.C.A.'s policy on homosexuals caused a rift between the E.L.C.A. and several local churches.


"We're just having a hard time seeing them as leaders of the church," Church Council member Marie Henstorf said. "Homosexuals are still welcome we just aren't certain about having them as leaders."
The First English Lutheran Church in Menahga along with First Lutheran Church of Roseau, Folden Lutheran Church of rural Vining, Faith Lutheran Church of Mentor, and Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church of Badger left the Northwestern Minnesota Synod which is part of the E.L.C.A.

According to the NMS, 15 churches (roughly five percent) in total have left the organization. Church councils are required to vote twice on separate occasions before they can part from the nationwide church.
THE E.L.C.A. supports homosexuals and allows them to be church members and leaders.
Written for the web by Brian Collins.bcollins@ksax.com

Heavy Metal Bird Feeding



From an occasional reader.


ELCA Does NOT Get Them Pussycats Upset - But Read This





ELCA Seminary Professor Says Much of the Bible Is Not 'Word of God'

by Exposing the ELCA on Monday, November 1, 2010 at 7:27pm
ELCA Professor Ralph W. Klein is Christ Seminary-Seminex professor of Old Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. (see here - http://www.lstc.edu/about/faculty/ralph-klein/#bio)

In an essay called “Reading the Bible as Lutherans in the Twenty-First Century” (read entire essay here -
http://prophetess.lstc.edu/~rklein/Doc9/newjersey.htm) Professor Klein shares with us some of his views on Scripture. He says,

“Our liturgical customs send out uncertain and potentially misleading affirmations about this “Word of God.” When we say at the end of the first or second readings, ‘The Word of the Lord,’ we are stating at best an incomplete truth. For these words just read, however much guided by the Spirit, are also written or spoken by finite men and women, children of their times, with their own limits, presuppositions and even biases, and they addressed the people and the questions of their own times.”

“. . . much of the Bible could be described as (very helpful) words about God rather than ‘the Word of God.’’’
“The affirmation of the gospel, which our predecessors referred to as the material principle, is finally what gives the Scriptures their authority.”

“The canon itself, finally, is not nearly so important for us Lutherans, as what many of the canonical books contain.” (Canon is defined as “the books of the Bible.”)

“As I read various Lutheran essays in preparation for this address, I was often struck by how clear the essays were about the central, gospel-based authority of Scripture and how ambiguous they were when talking about the Bible’s authority on other matters . . .”

“Part of a Lutheran approach to hermeneutics that locates the authority of the Scriptures in their central saving message means that at times we must accept the possibility that a position taken by a biblical writer is wrong or unhelpful.”

Professor Klein doesn’t seem to think God was involved in the writing of the Bible. Scripture says,
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” - 1 Corinthians 2:13

You choose who you want to believe.

--------------
When you read Professor Klein’s essay, keep an eye out for the following: feminine language for God - liberation theology - placing the world’s values over Scripture - dismissing Biblical statements on homosexuality based on his “Twenty-First Century” reading of Scripture/his own opinions.

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Going Galt with Bird Feeding

Bluebird by Norma Boeckler


Providing food and shelter for birds is quite an industry. Duncraft seems to have a product for every species.

Last year I bought their suet, which smelled so good that Sassy, our cattle dog, wanted to eat it. The last two lumps lasted only a few hours, thanks to varmints who stole it from the birds. Left alone, it was an inexpensive way to attract a lot of birds who love bugs. Bluebirds ate from it, and the rarely seen pileated woodpecker came to our yard. I read afterward that hanging suet was a good way to attract the model for Woody Woodpecker.

My inexpensive sock feeders for finches did well for a year, but the greedy squirrels decided to bite a hole in one and let the seed run out to the ground. Niger is over-priced, especially for a weed, but finches are worth it.

My best purchase has been a Duncraft feeder designed to frustrate squirrels. When a heavier creature gets in position to eat, its weight shuts off the food. I saw squirrels defeat two inexpensive feeders by destroying them, get on the new one, and give up.

The feeder is positioned just outside the window where I work. Lately we have seen a steady parade of chickadees and cardinals feeding.

At first the birds scattered when they saw any movement inside. Now they feel so safe that I can put my face near the window and watch them feeding, inches away. Some bushes near the feed provide a perfect reception area for birds getting in line to take their turn at the feeder.

Duncraft's products make me laugh because they have expensive ways to replace the old methods of providing for birds. For example, birds like lint to build their nests. People often hang dryer lint for the birds to use during nesting season. Duncraft sells a kit for doing the same. Our Shelties are so generous in shedding fur that we just let them run on the deck.

Duncraft has many ways to provide water for birds. I bought a ceramic dish to catch the rain. The dogs decided it was their spare water dish anyway, so they normally drained it.

There are many ways to feed the covetous squirrel population. Duncraft argues that their feeders will keep squirrels away from the bird feeders. But we all know that feeding the squirrels will just promote bigger, healthier, hungrier families.

Our grandson Alexander talked me into feeding the squirrels again. The previous resident left a feeder tacked to the tree outside the dining room. Xander enjoyed seeing the squirrel taking his meal from the corn cob (overpriced at the hardware store, as always). He pointed to the empty feeder in September and urged me to re-supply the tree-rodents.

Since we live in the woods, surrounded by oaks, the squirrel population has all the acorns they need. But we will doubtless see Mr. Squirrel on his feeder while we are eating lunch this Saturday.

Earlier we all saw a bluejay family grow up in the bush outside the bedroom office window. They left on Mother's Day.

Our son said, watching the maturing nestlings try their wings in unison, "Imagine that. They flap their wings and think - maybe we can fly with these. And they take off."

When I was little, I used to ask the teachers, "How can they do that?" The answer was always, "Instinct."

Today a teacher might say, "Software." The hardware itself is brilliantly designed. The software answer is good too, as long as no one asks, "Who wrote the software?"

Bird feeding is a great way to enjoy God's Creation. Having them nest, bathe, and feed outside the most-used windows is a rewarding and inexpensive past-time.

PS - Going Galt means to live as inexpensively as possible, to avoid being a slave for the tax authorities.

LCMS and ELCA big donors to The Alban Institute

LCMS and ELCA big donors to The Alban Institute

5 Reasons Republicans Could Do Even Better Than Expected - NYTimes.com

5 Reasons Republicans Could Do Even Better Than Expected - NYTimes.com

Police block sex abuse survivors near Vatican - Yahoo! News

Police block sex abuse survivors near Vatican - Yahoo! News


Members of the Survivor's Voice foundation, an association for alleged clergy abuse victims, with left, Italian deaf man Gianni Bisioli, wearing a sigAP – Members of the Survivor's Voice foundation, an association for alleged clergy abuse victims, with left, …
ROME – Italian paramilitary police blocked a boulevard leading to the Vatican to prevent a march Sunday by some 100 survivors of clergy sex abuse from reaching St. Peter's Square, but later allowed two protesters to leave letters from the abused at the Holy See's doorstep.
The two also left a dozen stones near the obelisk in St. Peter's square to mark a symbolic path so other survivors might know they have company in their suffering.
The candlelit protest was the first significant demonstration in the shadow of the Vatican by people who had been raped and molested by priests as children, and organizers said it would be repeated until the Holy See takes decisive action to ensure children are safe.
"Today what began as quiet whispers are whispers no more," organizer Gary Bergeron told the crowd, which included about 55 deaf Italians from a notorious Catholic institute for the deaf in Verona where dozens of students say they were sodomized by priests.
Organizers had tried to stage the march on Vatican soil but were forced to hold it nearby after the Holy See denied permission. It is standard Vatican practice to ban non-Vatican-sponsored events from St. Peter's Square.