Stop the March?

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 perceived trend that simply isn't there. Just like the fear that "significant" numbers of pastors are trying to turn ordination into the third or fourth sacrament of the Lutheran church, or that there is a "significant" attempt to abolish the governance of voters' assemblies within the LCMS. Sorry, I just can't get all worked up about this....

Comments

Roxann said…
Thanks for your post. I usually don't get too deep into Lutheran theology, but I do follow a couple blogs throughout the Lutheran blogosphere. They have always seemed very concerned about the number of pastors leaving the LCMS for the Eastern Orthodox. Interesting to get a different viewpoint on that.
June 27, 2008 at 7:09:00 PM PDT
Donald V. Engebretson said…
Actually, in my own way I am concerned as well. Each departure disturbs me greatly. My reaction to Christian News is that their concern seems to the point of being reactionary and exaggerated. It makes it sound like there is a stampede of confessional "hypo-euro" guys heading for the door every day. Many of us liturgically-minded confessional types are still here and have no immediate intentions of going - and certainly not to Rome or Constantinople!

Thanks for your comments!
June 28, 2008 at 8:57:00 AM PDT
Roxann said…
Thanks for the clarification!
July 1, 2008 at 1:03:00 PM PDT
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