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Lutheran renewal group calls for action

The Layman, Posted Thursday, October 1, 2009

FISHERS, Ind. – More than 1,200 Lutherans filled the Holy Spirit Parish at Geist Roman Catholic Church sanctuary last weekend, but there seemed to be a unity of spirit. By a unanimous vote they established a “free-standing synod” charged with the task of recommending within a year how to “reconfigure the Lutheran Church in North America.”  

More than 1,200 Lutherans gathered Sept. 25-26 in Indiana for the annual Lutheran CORE convocation.


 
Compelling them to action was the national body of the 4.63 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voting in August to redefine its standards on marriage and sexual behavior. The specific implementation of those decisions, which include recognizing same-sex unions for church blessing and allowing pastors to be in same-sex relationships, is expected in the coming months. 
 
The new synod is called Lutheran Coalition for Renewal, or Lutheran CORE, and is headed by a steering committee made up of nine pastors and one layperson from at least two groups that have been working for years to prevent the denomination’s approval of homosexual behavior and other deviations from traditional Biblical authority and interpretation.
 
In discussing the way forward, speakers cited three options from which their recommendation next year would be made: Somehow staying within the ELCA, moving to other existing denominations or forming a new Lutheran body. 
 
In the meantime, the newly-created Lutheran CORE synod will seek to provide many of the things ELCA synods already are authorized to do – strengthening congregations, providing resources for worship and education, developing new congregations, supporting global missions and ethnic-specific ministries, forming a candidacy and calling process for pastors, and furnishing theological training. Convocation participants were encouraged to volunteer for one of the several task forces to work on making that possible.

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Throughout the sessions on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26, the group’s message was clear: Lutheran individuals, congregations, synods and other groups are invited to participate in the new synod’s  process of re-visioning the ECLA, whether they intend to stay in or to leave the denomination.
 
“(The gathering) exceeded our expectations in every area,” Lutheran CORE director Mark Chavez said. “On the one hand it’s a healthy reminder that we’re all sisters and brothers in Christ and this is the body of Christ that we’re talking about here and working with. At the same time it’s just a sober reminder of how much damage is done to the body of Christ in any Christian tradition when a denomination like the ECLA does what it did last summer.”
 
About 75 percent of attendees were lay people. Participants came to the suburban Indianapolis gathering from 41 states, Washington D.C., Canada and Brazil, Chavez said.
 
Information about what they could do to help their churches consider the futures in light of the ELCA’s actions was provided and discussed.
 
One suggestion was to send benevolence money only to synods and Lutheran agencies that are faithful to Scripture. Contributions from congregations to support the synods and national body are voluntary. Under the constitution of each congregation, the property belongs to that congregation and procedures for leaving the ELCA are specified, so there seemed to be few concerns about property.
 
The greatest concern, expressed by the opening speaker Sept. 25, and repeated by others, was how they as faithful Lutherans can best spread the Good News.
 
According to an Associated Press report, last year’s Lutheran CORE meeting drew only 300 participants. This year’s response was so overwhelming, the convocation was moved from its original site to a 1,000-seat Roman Catholic church, and the group cut off registrations at 1,200, the AP reported.   
 

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