United Methodists Elect First Openly Homosexual Bishop - Defying Their Own Rules

The Rev. Karen Oliveto accepts her election by the Western Jurisdiction as a United Methodist bishop. Oliveto is currently the senior pastor at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco, Calif. Her wife, Robin Ridenour, stands behind her.

By Kathy L. Gilbert
July 15, 2016 | SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (UMNS)

The Rev. Karen Oliveto, senior pastor of Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, has been elected as the first openly lesbian United Methodist bishop by delegates at the Western Jurisdictional Conference.

Oliveto, 58, was elected July 15 at the jurisdiction’s quadrennial meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. She was elected on the 17^th ballot with 88 votes after the Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank and the Rev. Walter “Skip” Strickland withdrew from the election. The Rev. Frank Wulf, another openly gay candidate, had withdrawn earlier. 

“I think at this moment I have a glimpse of the realm of God. I want to thank the candidates who I have journeyed with these past few days, for the grace with which we walked with each other. And know I stand before you because of the work and prayers of so many, especially those saints who yearned to live for this day, who blazed a trail where there was none, who are no longer with us, and yet whose shoulders I stand on,” Oliveto said after her election.

She especially thanked the delegates of the Western Jurisdiction “who dared to live into this Kairos moment. Today we took a step closer to embody beloved community and while we may be moving there, we are not there yet. We are moving on to perfection,” Oliveto said.

She said as along as people “walk by our churches and wonder” if they belong, because of race, sexuality orientation, ethnicity, social class or immigration status, then “we have work to do.”

“Are we able? Yes. Amen,” Oliveto said.

Bishop Melvin Talbert, retired from the Western Jurisdiction, said he wasn’t sure he would ever live to see the day when the church would elect an openly gay bishop.

“This means our church — at least part of our church — has finally come to the realization that there is no longer any place for exclusion. We are all children of God regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or abilities. We would be blessed to invite all God’s people to their rightful place at the table.”

In a statement issued following Oliveto’s election, Bishop Bruce R. Ough, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, said, “This election raises significant concerns and questions of church polity and unity.”

Ough clarified that the Council of Bishops does not have constitutional authority to intervene in the election, but “is monitoring this situation very closely.”

He acknowledged that some in the church will view this election as a violation of church law and a significant step toward a split, while others will consider it a milestone toward being a more inclusive church. 

“Our differences are real and cannot be glossed over, but they are also reconcilable,” Ough said. “We are confident God is with us, especially in uncharted times and places.”

The Book of Discipline, the church's lawbook, bans "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from ordination, but many gay clergy came out before General Conference 2016. Several annual conferences in 2016 passed resolutions not to conform with any church laws seen to discriminate against LGBTQ people. 

On the heels of Oliveto’s election, members of the South Central Jurisdiction voted late on July 15 to ask the Judicial Council for a declaratory decision regarding same-sex church leaders.

There was some immediate negative reaction to Oliveto’s election.

The Rev. Rob Renfroe, president of Good News, an evangelical United Methodist organization that upholds the church’s current stance on homosexuality issues, said the election and other actions by annual conference this summer ignored the Council of Bishops' proposal for a commission to examine all church law dealing with human sexuality. Renfroe said that proposal called for a “pause for prayer to step back from attempts at legislative solutions and to intentionally seek God's will for the future.”

“Instead, these conferences have moved ahead with legislative enactments pledging non-conformity with the Book of Discipline, culminating in the election of a practicing homosexual as bishop,” said Renfroe. “If the Western Jurisdiction wanted to push the church to the brink of schism, they could not have found a more certain way of doing so.”

But the reaction at the Western Jurisdiction was a celebration.

“We just blew the socks off the denomination,” said Lynn Magnuson, laity from the Pacific Northwest Conference.

Wesley Hingano said, “It is a beautiful day.” His father, the Rev. Sisofina Hingano, was also a candidate for bishop. When Hingano withdrew his name from the ballot, he said he was doing it so people like his son could walk through the doors to freedom in the church.

“I want to see gay and lesbian people walk freely,” he said.

The social media messages in the last few days have been full of fear, said the Rev. Jeremy Smith, minister of Discipleship at First United Methodist Church, Portland, Oregon.

“All I have heard today are messages full of hope. I have two girls under the age of 4 and I am excited they will grow up in (a) United Methodist Church that tells them whatever they are, they can follow God's call at every level of our beloved church,” Smith said.

Lonnie Brooks, Alaska Conference, said the election of Oliveto was the Western Jurisdiction declaring its independence from The United Methodist Church.

“A lot of folks will look at it and think that is what they intend. What they haven’t given much thought to is that this will also cause a split in the West. We have some of the strongest red states here,” Brooks said, sounding a note of caution.

The Rev. William Lawrence — former president of the Judicial Council, the church’s top court — said before Oliveto was elected that if an openly gay person were elected bishop, anyone in the denomination could file a complaint. Some evidence, such as a wedding license, would be needed to merit processing of the complaint, he added.

The Rev. Thomas Lambrecht, vice president of Good News, said the Western and Northeastern Juridiction’s actions “effectively renouncing their connection to the rest of global United Methodism” mean that  evangelicals and traditionalists within the church will be conferring in the next few days to agree upon responses to what he called “this grave breach of unity.”

“If our covenant is no longer in force, we will be forced to live into a new reality in our denomination,” he said.

Reconciling Ministries Network, an unofficial United Methodist organization that advocates for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) “celebrates with great joy the election of the first openly lesbian bishop in The United Methodist Church.”

“This is an historic moment in the movement of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) persons for spiritual and civil equality both in the church and the public square,” the group said in a statement.

With the retirement of Bishop Warner J. Brown Jr., the Western Jurisdiction only had one bishop to elect. Oliveto was elected by the 100 delegates, an equal number of United Methodist clergy and laity, from the 12 states that form the Western Jurisdiction. The assignments of bishops in the Western Jurisdiction for the next four years will be announced later in the week. Her four-year term of service begins Sept. 1.

Oliveto is married to Robin Ridenour, who is a deaconess in California-Nevada Conference

Oliveto, nominated by the California-Nevada Conference, began her ministry as pastor of Bloomville (N.Y.) United Methodist and has served as a campus minister at San Francisco State, pastor of Bethany United Methodist in San Francisco and a faculty member at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. She is a two-time General Conference delegate, a five-time Jurisdictional Conference delegate and serves on the board of the United Methodist Council of Finance and Administration. She is also an adjunct professor of United Methodist Studies at the Pacific School of Religion. She has been at Glide since 2008. She is a graduate of Pacific School of Religion and Drew University.

A consecration service for the new bishop will be held Saturday, July 16, at 2 p.m. at Paradise Valley United Methodist Church. The ceremony can be watched live at the Western Jurisdiction’s website.

Within the United States, local United Methodist churches are organized into increasingly larger groups: numerous districts, dozens of annual conferences and five jurisdictions (regions). Five active bishops now lead the eight annual conferences that form the Western Jurisdiction.

A United Methodist bishop is elected for life. Typically, a bishop will serve in a specific annual conference for eight years. The United Methodist Book of Discipline, the denomination’s law book, directs each bishop to “guard the faith, order, liturgy, doctrine and discipline of the Church” and to “lead all persons entrusted to their oversight in worship, in the celebration of the sacraments, and in their mission of witness and service in the world.” Bishops also are to be “prophetic voices and courageous leaders in the cause of justice for all people.”

The states represented in this jurisdiction are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Herman Otten, the Accidental Editor. From 2008

Jack Preus is on the far left (for once), cousin David Preus, ALC President, on the far right (for once). Robert Marshall, LCA president, is standing next to David Preus. I met all three men.

Herman Otten began a mimeographed newsletter to inform his fellow believers about covert changes in their synod’s doctrine. But he ended up changing the denomination, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, electing new and more conservative leaders, and splitting its largest seminary, Concordia in St. Louis.

Otten was a young pastor in a small town, New Haven, Missouri, when he decided to start a newsletter called Lutheran News. Using some extra Christmas money from his wife Grace, about $40, he sent out the first issue of the newsletter on December 15, 1962. Since then the mimeographed newsletter has changed into a tabloid newspaper with a circulation of 11,500. The non-profit Lutheran News Corporation has published the Beck Bible (An American Translation) and many books related to Christian doctrine, such as the first translation of C. F. W. Walther’s Pastoral Theology.

Otten has published 2, 154 weekly issues of Christian News, its name changed from Lutheran News to include more denominations. Otten volunteered in one conversation that his paper broke ground by photocopying controversial material. Liberals would claim, “We never said that.” Otten countered by photocopying their exact words for the paper. This alerted many people to the changes in the LCMS that his opponents joked, “Otten was not born – he was photocopied.”

Otten began his career heading toward teaching. He earned a master’s degree in history from Washington University, located conveniently near the St. Louis Seminary. His accidental career in journalism nixed all possibilities of advancement within his denomination. His congregation stood by him as the liberals tried to remove him from preaching. The liberals even kicked the congregation out of the LCMS more than once. Except for his annual vacation, Otten kept publishing the paper, laying out the columns by hand each week.

Otten said, “I don’t even have to go to town on Thursday for layout. They send it all by computer. Can you imagine that? Oh, you can.” When I told him I teach and take classes on a computer at home, he said, “On a computer? I don’t even know how to turn one on.”

Otten is now 75, healthy from a lifetime of athletics. His wife and children help with the computer side of publishing. Otten often fields calls from all over. Although he is officially a pariah in the Lutheran groups, the same officials who shun him also want their spin on news stories. Christian News offers a cafeteria selection of stories from the Religious News Service, official denominational news, and independent stories.

John Warick Montgomery, another conservative Lutheran outcast, said, “Reading Christian News is like opening one of those old police gazette magazines. You wonder – what is he going to shock me with.”

Otten was instrumental in turning out the liberal administration and electing Jack Preus to the presidency in 1969 (Time Magazine, 1975). Preus gave Otten information to leak in Christian News. Once elected, Preus began working on the liberals at Concordia, St. Louis. The result was Seminex, a melodramatic “Seminary in Exile” and the religious news story of the year. Preus consolidated conservative control of the synod, with the help of Otten and voting lists at conventions. Preus also moved away from support of Otten to outright antagonism. This process was continued with the next two presidents, Ralph Bohlmann and Al Barry. Bohlmann and Barry sought Otten’s support, worked with him covertly, and then became antagonistic once they were elected to the president’s office. The current LCMS president, Jerry Kieschnick, belonged to the liberal faction in the synod. Kieschnick made a major effort two years ago to get rid of Otten, but that also failed.

Has Otten been influential? The editor responded, “People don’t read anymore. We have a website, but I never bother with it. Lutheran pastors have all these conservative blogs, but they never quote books. They just offer opinions and respond back and forth. They are not reaching people. They are just reaching the elite.”
Otten discussed the decline of printed newspapers, so I mentioned the slippage of the Arizona Republic in Phoenix. He is opposed to putting Christian News online. “If they want my wisdom, they can get a subscription.”

Reference
Time Magazine, (1975, July 21, 1975). Preus' Purge. Time, , . Retrieved December 16, 2008, from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,913312,00.html

***

GJ - For my class in print journalism, I had to interview a journalist about his job, so I phoned Herman Otten. We had a long talk about a variety of topics. God willing, I will write my MA thesis on Otten and Christian News. I expect to have all the credits earned by the end of 2009. He was a bit shocked that I was working on a journalism degree.

Update - I got tired of journalism school after 20 hours of credit toward an MA.

"Let me sing - The Ballad of Herman Otten,"
by Matt Harrison.

LCMS Synod Convention Votes To Work More Closely with Fuller Seminary, ELS, WELS

Luther clearly defines Justification by Faith in this book,
commended by the Book of Concord editors
for all additional study of the topic of Justification.

When Matt Harrison was elected the first time, the LCMS convention voted by an even larger margin to work closely with ELCA - and they have.

Through Thrivent, which is really the Mother Church, giving $50-60 million per year to LCMS alone - and heaven only knows how much to ELCA - Thrivent has established a pre-merger merger of all four:

• ELCA
• LCMS
• WELS
• ELS.

The CLC (sic) is still whining about their widdle feelings being hurt in college. so do not expect their dying sect to join the glorious train of apostles linking up together. OK, that was Dan Fleischer raging at the CLC (sic) convention, but he is head of their comical Doctrinal Committee, aka Diseased Pietism Task Force.

107,000 views

Everyone crying about the decline of their sect's doctrine, worship, and practice should take a look at their self-styled Chief Article. I have looked at every variation of General, Objective, or Universal Objective Justification in print. The versions all agree - God pronounced the entire world forgiven, though He neglected to record that peculiar Chief Article in the Scriptures.

Attempts to find it in Scripture, Luther, and the Book of Concord remind me of the man looking for an item at Walmart where I worked there. He kept pointing at various places and saying, "There it ain't!"

That is the best three-word description for the labors of the UOJ Stormtroopers today. They have been savaged by laity so many times that they would rather not bring up their Helen of Troy in public, let someone point out the plain words of Scripture.

Nor do they want to bring up the history of their precious dogma. The clearest expression came from a Calvinist who translated a series of German Pietistic lectures from Halle University, that school which trained the founders of American Lutheranism and absorbed Wittenberg University.

And who attended Halle University?

1. Martin Stephan, the syphilitic founder of the LCMS, who took his mistress with him to America, but left his dying wife and children at home.
2. Muhlenberg, the founder of the General Synod, which became the ULCA in the 1918 merger.
3. Hoenecke, the main theologian for WELS (almost the only one).

To paraphrase Hamlet, "History doth make cowards of us all." (Earl of Oxford, Hamlet)

Doctrine is a railroad track that takes us in the direction we are going. As Luther pointed out, one mistake can lead to the fall of an entire nation. America is the best example of UOJ at work. Everyone is forgiven. Nothing is wrong, bad, or sinful, except questioning this great insight. History is troublesome, so let's bypass that completely.

This spirit of cooperation will take the Lutheran sects farther and faster along the same track. WELS already has its own Reconciled congregation, a node in the Lavender Mafia - St. John in Milwaukee. Congratulations to Mark Schroeder and Mark Jeske.

One in Thrivent, one in dogma,
one in the spirit of Fuller-ELCA Universalism.

From a Reader - Someone Finds the Book of Concord Relevant and NOT Out of Date

Here are two jewels:

Augsburg Confession, Article IV, Justification:

Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for 2] Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. 3] This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight. Rom. 3 and 4.


Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Law and Gospel, paragraph 21:

For everything that comforts, that offers the favor and grace of God to transgressors of the Law, is, and is properly called, the Gospel, a good and joyful message that God will not punish sins, but forgive them for Christ's sake.

What's the gospel? 
A good and joyful message of forgiveness to transgressors of the law.

How and when are said transgressors of the law freely justified? 
When they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins.
It's pretty clear what Book of Concord Lutherans believe.  At least according to the Book of Concord.  And the Scriptures.

---

Here's a copy of Schmid's Doctrinal Outline in Microsoft Word format,
https://community.logos.com/forums/t/49680.aspx

May be of use to you.

After a century of ministry, the once largest Methodist church in Virginia comes to an end | Faith

After a century of ministry, the once largest Methodist church in Virginia comes to an end | Faith:



GJ - Could this be a reason? Methodists are far from Wesley now.

NORFOLK

Thousands of souls once worshiped at Park Place United Methodist Church. Only a dozen or so gray-haired holdouts are left – the vestiges of what was once the largest Methodist congregation in Virginia.

Mortality and white flight claimed the rest of the flock. The remnants abandoned the 1,000-seat sanctuary long ago – they gather in a tiny chapel, down the hall from all that stained-glass stillness.

Now, the elderly congregation is calling it quits; Sunday was the last sermon for its retiring pastor, Steve Wall-Smith. Title to the property is being turned over to Methodist missions. Members will shuffle off into the sunset.

'via Blog this'

Proof That Someone Reads This Blog - From 2009. Enhanced with New Graphics

Oops, wrong graphic. This one is for all the comments from Church and Chicanery zombies.

Lesli Frank has left a new comment on your post "The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Stealth Con...":

I would personally like to thank you for your thorough investigation of these churches and pastors. Often times when my family and I go on vacation, other than sound emphasis on God's word, we don't really know what we are going to experience when we go to a WELS church. Because of your reporting, we now know that if we are in the areas of these churches you have highlighted here, we will most certainly attend them. We are always looking for the congregations that are looking to preach and live out the gospel message that Christ died to give us the freedom to follow Him. While most churches claim that and may very well do that, it seems that those that are willing to acknowledge that God himself gives no preference over traditional or contemporary, and He certainly doesn't state that either is wrong and that really appeals to us. May all of these churches and their pastors be blessed according to God's promise to those persecuted for His namesake. To God be all the glory.



GJ - Clearly this family thinks worship is an adiaphoron. Now they can have snacks and softdrinks at many WELS churches, like Victory of the Lamb, and Bible study with booze, too. See the links in the left column.

***

GJ - Once I told Doctrinal Pussycat Robert Mueller what a church member related to me. She said, "When my husband and I worship at WELS churches in Florida, the only way we can tell they are Lutheran is from the sign outside." That was 20 years ago. (27 years ago now)

Mueller glared at me. He claimed I was the "only one having problems with the Church Growth Movement." When I mentioned Pastor Stern's problems with CG, Mueller and Oelhafen immediately began making fun of Stern. I thought, "So this is how the Wisconsin leaders act?" And that was not the most disgusting moment by far.

WELS Pastor Jon Stern does not seem to be feeling fabulious
when posing with Scott Barefoot. Thanks to WELS' new
direction under Mark Schroeder,
they can say "Bottoms up!' with conviction.

I hear positive comments from a wide variety of people, included ordained pastors with some clout. No ELS, WELS, or LCMS pastor is allowed to be caught thinking. The officials remove the pastor by any means possible (since the officials reject the Means of Grace) and spew their venom on him and his family. I have seen it many times over. Next they justify their criminal behavior as saving their beloved Holy Mother Synod from harm. The results speak for themselves.

So I get a lot of positive remarks from all over, by phone, email, and even in person.

And there is this one:

"A friend alerted me to your slander. Please remove my name and image from your web site. I did not attend the Exponential conference. Get your facts straight.

Sincerely,
Ben Golisch"

I am checking it out with my source. I will make the correction if it is correct. The comment was anonymous and could have come from anyone, including Gunga Don. I do not think people have control over their published photos.

Pastor Ben fails to mention his co-pastor Stelljes being at Exponential. Stelljes is directly related to VP Gunga Don Patterson's Church and Change Network. Daddy Stelljes is a member at Holy Word, an ironic name for Patterson's nest of Enthusiasts.

CLC Pastor David Koenig is a big fan of Church Growth, false doctrine,
David Valleskey, and Larry Olson - but I am repeating myself.
Gutsche has been a pastor in ELCA, ELCiC, WELS, and the CLC,
but ELCA kicked him out when he was arrested and charged.

For years Valleskey peddled the lie that he never went to Fuller. He even claimed that his study of Church Growth was forced upon him when he gave his Figs From Thistles paper (which WLQ subsequently published). He had been teaching CG at The Sausage Factory for some time already, and his class notes clearly showed that he was completely smitten by Church Growth. When CLC (sic) Pastor David Koenig got him to admit going to Fuller, Valleskey was furious that Koenig told me the truth in writing. Of course, Koenig was also mad as a hatter about my publication of the truth. Church Growth never advanced by being honest with anyone.

Yet Valleskey denied going to Fuller when I asked him after he gave his horrible paper at the Ohio conference.

Later, Valleskey even claimed I never spoke to him, a common WELS accusation aiimed at any public criticism of their published false doctrine. Of course, that was also a fabrication. I had to corner Valleskey, who tried to escape my probing questions. That claim about never speaking to Valleskey was passed on by Doctrinal Pussycat Nitz, whom Frosty Bivens called "the second most spineless DP in WELS."

A Midland circuit pastor asked, "Who is the most spineless?"

Frosty said, " Robert Mueller."

Later, Tim Buelow related his shock at Bivens openly criticizing an official. Normally the officials all treat each other as infallibly led by the Holy Spirit. One pastor even said, "I am not going to argue with the Circuit Pastor. The Holy Spirit appointed him." When ex-convict DP Ed Werner was choosing CPs who would wink at his criminal behavior, was that the work of the Holy Spirit?

DP Ed Werner was known for molesting girls in his congregation.
WELS did nothing until he was convicted, thanks to a new generation
of victims and their mothers.

---

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Proof That Someone Reads This Blog with Discernmen...":

How ironic that the Doctrinal Pussycat is now filling a vacancy in Florida! He'll fit right in there.

Getting the Long, Drenching Rain Promised

Roses and grapes respond to pruning the same way.
These are Europeana roses.

We had a combination of relatively little rain - plus grass encroaching the roses. We solved the second issue by pulling some Bermuda grass, placing newspaper and cardboard, and adding another layer of cypress mulch where needed.

The fence roses were looking lean, so they received almost all stored rainwater in time for the initial rainstorm, which did not last long enough for a generous rain. I gave the roses plenty soaker-hose water under that mulch, so they perked up right away. Mr. Lincoln roses began producing more roses.

Our helper, when he got a vase of roses for his wife, asked, "What is the name of that strong smelling roses?"

"Stinkin' Lincoln," I said. He laughed.

Our helper said, "That rose fills the whole room." I said, "Yes!" and made a choking sound.  Mr. Lincoln has everything going for it - spectacular growh, perfect buds, classic rose fragrance, and beautiful roses in full bloom.

Our chiro's secretary loves rose fragrance, so they get some Mr. Lincolns each time. We were low on Mr. Lincoln blooms, but now they are back. Mrs. Gardener also loves them. Weather permitting, she will get some today.

The falling KnockOut petals show that some branches need pruning
to make them even more fruitful.

KnockOut Roses - 50% Off
Readers may recall that my video of the front garden showed KnockOut rose blooms peaked and even dropping petals. I am glad that showed up, because I have been pruning the blooms all the time. The heat made them bloom and finish fast.

Unlike most KO owners, I execute the 50% prune in early spring and mid-summer. Our helper cut them in half.

"Cut all of them in half?"

I said, firm in my conviction, "Yes, 50% off all the KnockOuts. Leave no blooms. This will encourage new growth and they will all bloom at once."

Once again, this is John 15:1ff at work. The deadwood is pruned away while the fruitful branches are pruned to make them even more fruitful.

Peace roses remind us that
peace is the chief attribute of the forgiven believer.

The True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes (GJ - cleanses), that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Mr. Lincoln is the classic rose
that delivers beauty, abundance, and fragrance.

With yesterday's rain and today's soaker, the KnockOuts will be especially hydrated and fertilized for a new bloom cycle and display of color. Even now the drenching rain is pouring down, one of those rains that will soak a person running to the car, no matter how fast he runs.

Like the Matthew 7:15-21 lesson coming up on Sunday, this parable illustrates the difference between faith and unbelief.

People do not face the fact that deadwood on a rose will never get better, and they act as if pruning roses will hurt the plants. This parable illustrates the reality of deadwood being taken away, withering, gathered up, and destroyed. We piled up the KnockOut cut branches and put them in the garbage, because that helps prevent the spread of disease.

The pruning to allow more fruit is a bit obscured in translation. The Greek word is "cleanse" and it is used again when Jesus says, "You are already cleansed by the Word I have spoken to you." I not only studied Greek for years but also wrote out a translation of the entire Fourth Gospel, Mark and Revelation as well, plus Galatians. I have the Greek text for this passage open at the moment.

Like most parables, this one seems obscure at first. That was Jesus' intention. As we study it in time, each phrase takes on more meaning.

Like Matthew 7:15-21, this passage encourages the use of the Word and trust in the  Word. What does this mean - 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" - except to remain in the Means of Grace?

The fruitful believer is not defined as one who is on 15 parish committees and a synodical board or two. He is not described as a "disciple-maker." The fruitful one dwells in Christ through the Word and Sacraments. The abundant fruits of the Spirit come from the abundance of God's Word, which inevitably have an effect, both in converting and damning, in enlightening and damning.

No wonder that Scriptural sermons make people so upset they call the district president to "remove this stone from our shoe" as the mobsters say. But Scriptural sermons must bear fruit, whether in pruning away the unbelievers or in refreshing and encouraging growth in the believers.

Falling in Love roses offer white and pink petals,
fragrance, and a mean set of thorns.

Big Storm Arriving

We kept preparing for the big storm, and it just arrived, although it may peak in a few hours. I was outside talking to Mr. Gardener over the fence. We were both identifying flowers back and forth, discussing hummingbirds, which are fairly easy to find around here.

He told me what a disaster his honeysuckle was, threatening to take over several properties. I told him I planted it too, but he said, "That's fine with me. I just let mine go too long." Mine is barely started in its second year but promises to be beautiful when it spreads out. I planned the Wild Garden to let it spread across the back area as it saw fit, using the old tree trunk as its initial display.

Thunder and lightning encouraged us to go inside.

Our helper arrived earlier with another load of cardboard. We weighted it down with mulch and manure bags. In the back yard, with the wind kicking up, I had all kinds of weights on yesterday's cardboard, which now covers 1/2 of the Hosta Garden. Apart from some Blackberries and Wild Strawberries, that garden will be all Hosta.

The Blackberries and Wild Strawberries surprise me with their tolerance for shade. The Wild Strawberries bloomed with yellow flowers in the deepest shade in the early spring and have been bearing fruit ever since. They are a good cover crop, filling in wherever they are planted and watered.
The birds are engineered by God to spread their favorite foods, so the popularity of the Jackson Bird Paradise has led to an abundance of Pokeweed, Wild Strawberries, and unknown weeds.

Sassy saw me take some extra rolls out to the bird-feeder, a waste of food from her point of view. I gave her a little bit of cornbread and the corner of a biscuit. Yesterday I caught her with stale bread from the backyard, as if she had to scrounge food from the birds. Sassy dropped it fast.

Cardboard Effect
I first learned about using cardboard from a Kindle book on mulching. Secondly, I learned that Jessica Walliser covers an area with cardboard in the fall and plants tomatoes in holes in it in the late spring. Voila - almost no weeds.

We had two gardens that had been mulched with newspapers and shredded wood mulch. In time the weedy grass began to take over where we had no plants. Two areas were mowed and therefore coated with grass. That would suppress weeds for a time, but feed them as the dried plant material feeds the soil creatures - earthworms, bacteria, protozoa, slugs, nematodes, and fungi. With cardboard on top, the composting takes place faster and keeps almost all weeds from breaking forth into freedom.

Power-packed Purslane.

Weeds are God's Creation to hold, build, and improve the soil. Many so-called weeds are great food sources too. I had tons of Purslane in Midland, Michigan, and despaired of pulling it all out from around my sweet corn. I read it was good to eat raw - and crunchy. So I ate Purslane and another nutritious weed - Goosefoot. Dandelion is probably the most nutritious of all the weeds.

I never pull out Dandelions and caution our helper to leave the plants alone. They have not taken over the garden. We usually leave clover alone. even in patches in the garden, especially early, because the plant is building nitrogen and feeding the bees. If the clover gets mixed with the hated Bermuda grass (aka Wire Grass), we cover it up with cardboard and mulch.

Bermuda grass is pervasive and plants itself in octopus fashion, in every direction.

The lawn areas are now about 80% clover, so the bees are well fed.

Weeds lose their ignominy when they are useful. Around here, Pokeweed is used by old-times for salad and by the birds for their food. I once heard of two elderly brothers who raised Dandelions for their leaves and made wine from the flowers. The brothers were known for their excellent health.

The Gospel for this coming Sunday is clear about the distinction in plants. The Creating Word used His own Creation to illustrate His truths.

Matthew 7:15-21King James Version (KJV)

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

This Passage Above, When Illustrated as Figs From Thistles, Drove WELS-ELS Wild with Anger

I published a critique of David Valleskey's odious Church Growth essay, because WELS Pastor Steve Spencer asked me to address it. No WELS pastor had the guts to write any criticism, but some wanted the false doctrine of Mequon addressed. (So convenient it is, to call me nasty for doing what the timid cannot - write against false doctrine.)

Bethany Supposedly Lutheran Seminary took this out on LI, because - like WELS - they did not have the guts to phone, write, or email me. The great heroes of the Faith at Bethany - Gay Schmeling and future Pope John the Malefactor - thought they were justified in their rude, unethical bullying. I suppose if I allowed myself to be whipped on the posterior during initiation at Northwester College (WELS), as Schmeling was, then I would still be a scared little yes-man.

By the way, no one in WELS in the Little Sect on the Prairie ever wrote a letter or article agreeing with anything I wrote against false doctrine. Like bunnies afraid of thunder, they hid in their warrnes and drank their booze to calm their nerves.

Luther's distinction about this passage is clear to anyone who has gardened, farmed, or walked outdoors.

The good tree is the believer. Only good fruit can come from the good tree.

The corrupt tree is the unbeliever and false teacher. Only evil fruit can come from that.

Valleskey's argument in his absurd essay is this - Fuller Seminary - where he studied with F. Bivens - is the thistle that produces figs, delicious fruit that grows on the thorny weeds of false doctrine and unbelief!

Borrowing from Fuller Seminary is "spoiling the Egyptians, using the gold and jewels of C. Peter Wagner and McGavran."

One good example thistles growing on thistle plants is the way Valleskey and Bivens denied their study at Fuller and also bragged about it. Timorous retailers of teaching against Luther are bound to deceive, instead of saying,

"We reject Justification by Faith. We ignore the Means of Grace. We do not trust the efficacy of the Word of God."

The LCMS and ELCA are just as bad about promoting false doctrine because they reject Justification by Faith in exactly the same way.

F. Bivens - proud but furtive Fuller Seminary alumnus.

Three out of four promoted Church Growth -
one went to state prison for molesting little girls in his parish.

Jay Webber on the far left, Synodical Conference specialist in unbelief.

Why Is Faith Trampled by the UOJ Stormtroopers? From 2010

Forget that "must have faith as a child," kid. You were already forgiven. But to be really forgiven, you have to sign your name to Kokomo. Not the song. Look, if you only went to seminary and knew Greek like me, you would understand.

L P has left a new comment on your post "Justification by Faith Alone":

To the UOJers, faith is an idle thought. It does not produce new life. They hate it with utmost hatred.

Imagine, they hate the one whose author and finisher is Jesus.

LPC

***

GJ - UOJ suffers from mission creep. Each generation wants to outdo the previous ones in making forgiveness without faith more radical.

KJV Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The fanatics are not studious, as they admit in weak moments. They simply repeat slogans.

Krauth pointed out the motto - "Young Calvinist, old Unitarian." We can update it with "Young UOJer, old atheist." I have already experienced that with WELS Shrinker pastors. Every UOJ advocate is well on his way to atheism, because Law and Gospel are both obliterated by their Enthusiasm.

Did you notice that the WELS Kingdom Worker message started with UOJ and finished with febrile Church Growthism?

Another side of this turning away from sound doctrine is weakness and apathy about the efficacy of the Word.

Once Isaiah 55 and many other similar passages are grasped, there is no problem with the Holy Spirit creating faith through the Word. Nor is there a moment's hesitation about the Real Presence and Consecration by the Word. Nor about baptismal regeneration.

KJV Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

KJV Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

KJV 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

The Biblical emphasis upon faith is based upon the Holy Spirit's exclusive work through the Instruments of God's Grace - the Word and Sacraments. The Concordists understood this as well as Luther. The breakdown came after the era of Pietism, when the rationalism and emotionalism of Reformed doctrine crept into the Lutheran Church on little cat's feet.

Now we are cursed with the filter of Pietism's watery dogma whenever someone discusses justification by faith alone.