Denominations on the Verge of Division

We have heard in the recent past of the strife currently affecting the unity of the Anglican community. Conservatives within this communion have served ultimatums demanding change from their more liberal counterparts, especially those in the U.S. Episcopalian church who are pushing the envelope on homosexuality. Will this church be able to maintain its unity as is? Stay tuned. The story is still unfolding.

As it is also for the Presbyterian Church (USA). The New Wineskins Association of Churches recently voted on Feb. 7 to "initiate a significant shift in the Reformed world" (Christianity Today, April 2007.) This dissenting group has "voted unanimously to ask the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) to create a transitional, non-geographic presbytery for congregations leaving the PCUSA. The arrangement would run for five years. The EPC's General Assembly will note on the proposal in June."

The EPC is a "small denomination with 185 churches and about 70,000 members."

Could these 'shifts' elsewhere be a foreboding of things to come within Lutheran circles as well? The upcoming convention of the LCMS this summer could well determine future actions of a similar sort if liberally-minded leaders within the denomination are able to secure firmer control on the church body and continue to initiate significant changes to the doctrine and practice of the church. Stay tuned. This summer could be interesting for us Lutherans.....

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hello Pastor,

I just posted on a prior entry that I am returning to the LCMS after a long absence (I attended an LCMS church when Dr. Ralph Bohlmann was president) but with much fear and trembling.

By the grace of God I have found an LCMS congregation that worships according to the historic Lutheran liturgy and upholds the Lutheran Confessions.

I am so bewildered at what has happened to the Missouri synod as a result of evangelical/
charismatic/church growth pressure. How did we lose our moorings over the past couple decades?

We are so blessed as LCMS Lutherans to have the fullness of evangelical/catholic Christianity.

I read somewhere that the inroads of TV preachers and pop culture have had a dire influence on LCMS laity. I don't doubt it. Having seen how poorly some of my Roman Catholic relatives have been catechized over the past couple decades I guess I shouldn't be surprised that many other Christian bodies are suffering the same.

I will, with joy and thanksgiving join the LCMS congregation where I am attending but I hope and pray that the upcoming LCMS convention doesn't force those of us who are struggling to be faithful to our roots to "go into the catacombs", so to speak.

I can't help but wonder if a split did occur how many Confessional Lutheran congregations would be left to walk together?
April 19, 2007 at 1:33:00 PM PDT
Donald V. Engebretson said…
Thank you for your comments, Christine.

I am glad that you are back in the LCMS, and with you I am still hopeful for better days ahead. I have served since July of '06 as a circuit counselor with the conviction that this was a positive way to be involved within the structure and continue to be some kind of influence for good.

In some ways I am glad that I am not attending this year's synodical convention. I was the delegate in '04 and invested myself heavily. It was disheartening at the time to see the developments that transpired then and feel so helpless to really do anything about it. Although I have tended to be somewhat pesimistic in anticipation of this convention, I was recently reminded by a confessionally-minded delegate that there may indeed be more reasons to hope than I have had.

I pray that good things come from Texas this summer. It will be in my prayers.

P.S. Regarding a 'split' and how many confessional churches may follow - That's a good question. There are some confessional organizations that could form a solid backbone to any developing group. One that is public and well formed is the Augustana Ministerium (http://augustanaministerium.org/index.html) I believe that confessional Lutherans could form a solid structure to serve if the need demanded it.
April 20, 2007 at 7:09:00 AM PDT
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Firefighter's Cross

Image
[Note: A similar article to this will be shared with my department at their next meeting. During this Lenten season when we are meditating on the significance and meaning of the Passion of our Lord and the Cross at Golgotha, it seemed like one way to offer a witness to the department that captured their interest and yet was not too heavy.] [Editorial Note: In response to a recent comment on this article I have made some changes to the original version of this article especially in regard to references to the so-called St. Florian's Cross. For any confusion the previous unreferenced information may have caused I apologize. I hope that the changes are satisfactory.] THE STORY OF THE MALTESE CROSS In many ways the familiar symbol to the right requires no explanation. It is the universal insignia of firefighting nationwide. Yet the precise origins of this symbol are less clear. The most popular explanation proposes its beginning in the far distant past of medieval Crusaders fi...
Read more

Historical Roots of the Warham Guild Hood

Image
In doing just a little checking on the internet, it's interesting to see how the Warham Guild hood, which I have as part of my STM degree attire, is actually a throwback to the Medieval hood. One article notes "the work of the Warham Guild in its imaginative renderings of medieval hoods" (reference is from here ). Again, here is my hood: The Medieval hood, which was originally a very practical outer garment to cover a person's head and shoulders, protecting both from the elements, bears striking resemblance to this revived form: This hood was also a part of the garb of monks in that era. The Medieval hood, in some cases, also had what is known as a "liripipe," a long tail hanging from the back of a hood. You can see the modern stylized version of this on my own hood. From an article on "Academic hood development" we read that "By 1463 the favourite dress of doctors was the hood with round bell-shaped cape, and the lir...
Read more

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Image
According to a recent documentary, for all the talk about academic freedom in the world of the large American university system, it would seem that it extends only as far as the system defines it - especially with regards to the subject of origins and science. Noted speechwriter Ben Stein stars as host of the film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. Dr. Angus Menuge, professor of philosophy at CUW, highlights the film in an article included in the Concordia University - Wisconsin magazine Concordian , including some seemingly revealing details about the expulsion of talented scientists who apparently were ‘expelled‘ from their positions for mentioning the theory of Intelligent Design: “In the current climate, even when academicians have a relevant doctorate and a track-record of peer-reviewed publication, their careers suffer if they argue that the scientific evidence points to an intelligent source involved in the creation of the world. In 1992, Dean Kenyon, a biology professor at ...
Read more