Northwoods Seelsorger

Some years ago I slipped into the back pew of a local Catholic church to see it for myself. And yes, there it was - a local polka band prominently perched on the high altar, ready to 'lead' the worship in a rousing 'oompa' to inspire the faithful. I was aghast at what I saw, observing one denim-clad young mother swaying to the music as if she was at the summer fair. But I was equally disappointed when this 'event' showed up shortly afterwards in a local Lutheran church as well. Now I open my paper and see the advertisement once more: "Church plans polka Mass." And yes, they even call it an "event." Of course it was an article in the paper, and the word may not have been provided by the pastor or the church. But they got it right. Polka and polka bands are musical "events" and not to be mistaken for reverent worship, no matter how one attempts to dress it up. I am embarrassed for these poor people. It must take every o...

In a recent AP article Eric Gorski writes: "America remains a nation of believers, but a new survey finds most Americans don't feel their religion is the only way to eternal life - even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise. The findings, revealed this week in a survey of 35,000 adults, can either be taken as a positive sign of growing religious tolerance, or disturbing evidence that American dismiss or don't known fundamental teachings of their own faiths. Among the more startling numbers in the survey, conducted last year by the the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching. In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion." While this is disturbing news, it is not shocking. Many a p...

In the June 23 issue of Christian News , under the article "Stop the March in the LCMS to Rome and Istambul," Editor Otten states that "Far too little has been said in the LCMS about the significant number of seminarians and recent graduates who have marched to Istambul and Rome" (page 21.) His point was tied to the report of the recent departure of Dan Woodring to the Roman Catholic Church, hardly a "recent graduate." Besides Woodring he mentions a few other celebrated and not-so-celebrated examples of LCMS pastors who have left for either the Catholic church or the Easter Orthodox. Yet beyond this no other names are sited. Still, he states that significant numbers of seminarians and recent graduates have left for these two communions. What constitutes "significant"? But what is this sensationalized charge based upon? Until some solid stats and names are produced, I will consider this statement as one more attempt to drum up fear in a p...

To keep abreast of where certain discussions are at with regard to synodical politics and events, I have found the internet invaluable in the last few years. It has been a window on both sides of the issue, liberal and conservative. For those so interested, here are a couple of public discussion boards with very active conversations on current events and topics that concern the LCMS, but also reference the ELCA as well): ALPB Forum Online (American Lutheran Publicity Bureau) : (http://www.alpb.org/forum/index.php?board=8.0) Luther Quest Discussion Group : (http://www.lutherquest.org/cgi-bin/discus40/discus.cgi) As noted before in this blog, there are also websites that showcase the thinking and theology of where the left side of Missouri is current at. Of the three listed below, one is not really that active, but gives an insight nonetheless: Voices/Vision : http://www.voicesvision.org/ [Not very active, yet a real window on an unapologetic pro-women's ordination group - not...

Don't be misled by the title. It's kind of a rhetorical question anticipating a negative answer. In their latest June issue, the LCMS political group JesusFirst leads off with an article entitled "Participate Fully in the Next Round of Elections." What they are referring to is the round of district elections, the schedule of which is posted on their website . I find it interesting to read their latest advice, especially in light of what I have observed over the years, especially the 2004 Synodical convention. They write: "External - and even internal - efforts to shape the elective process don't fare well." Really? Does this mean they learned from their decisive victories in 2004 and 2007 and their extremely overt efforts to "shape the elective process" in the past, and now want to just let things take their course? You mean the posted schedule of district conventions is purely to keep people informed and they feel no vested polit...

Did the Lutheran church misrepresent and falsely present the Roman Catholic's view on justification? According to Dan Woodring , who recently left the LCMS for Rome, they did. He writes: “As I continued my research, I began to realize that what I had thought Catholic Church taught on Justification, was not what they really taught. I came to understand that the Scholastic Occamist view of justification, which was semi- pelagian , the view criticized most extensively in the Confessions was not what the Catholic Church teaches, now or then. The view presented in the Roman Confutation and at Trent was pure Augustinianism , and was the doctrine that every major Church Fathers maintained. “ Finally, I began to doubt whether the Lutheran teaching was the most faithful to the Word of God. Both sides appealed to Scripture, and although Lutherans are reluctant to admit it, both sides interpret Scripture according to their own tradition. Lutherans start with the believe that we are save...

The departures of a few should not characterize the whole. Nor should it be given undo attention, I suppose. Nevertheless, it's disconcerting to me personally to see yet another so-called "confessional Lutheran pastor" leave the Lutheran church. Recently I heard that former Pastor Dan Woodring had left the Lutheran Church and joined the Roman Catholic communion. After searching the web for some indication, I was finally directed to a new blog that confirmed it. At Beatus Vir you may read Mr. Woodring's story under "How I Became the Catholic I Wasn't" in four parts. Only a few offered comments to his "conversion story," and they may be viewed here . One of those who commented, albeit briefly, was Fr. John Fenton, another former confessional to leave the fold. His own story of how he left the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for the Easter Orthodox communion can be reviewed at his website Conversi Ad Dominum under the heading "C...

Robert Schmidt, a regular contributor to the online DayStar Journal , has written a paper reflecting on the Anglican missiologist Roland Allen (1868-1947), and the recent republishing of his works. Mr. Allen, who became disillusioned with the missionary methods of his day, proposed missionary work that would be far more independent of western influence. Although considered 'radical' in his own time, his views came into their own beginning around 1960. A brief Wikipedia article can be linked to here which will give you some brief initial background. Although I actually used Mr. Allen's books at seminary ( Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours?, The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church ), my ability to critically examine them was lessened by my lack of mature theological understanding. Reading Dr. Schmidt's article and his recommendation of the application of Allen's methods raises in my mind serious questions and concerns. What follows is my response to his ...