Northwoods Seelsorger

Lois Meyer Voeltz at The Creator's Tapestry posed a question based loosely on Psalm 145: Why are some stories and studies in the LCMS simply passed on unchanged "generation after generation"? Specifically she referenced the Synod's stance on the role of women in the church, a subject she and others would much like to see thoroughly overhauled. The premise behind her question invokes what she claims are the many studies already completed which support a change in the church's longstanding practice and teaching. Ironically, her question utilizes the psalmist's words in a way that would have been unrecognizable to the author. His concern was the passing on of the great and unchangeable truths of the Word, not how we might challenge, once more, the interpretation of those Words. Forgive me, but I am struggling with the need of some to constantly challenge, "generation after generation," the time-honored teachings of my church body. If some people ...

Recently AP reported that the Rev. Paolo Padrini, an Italian priest, developed an application (or "ap" as my iPod savvy son would call it) that will allow Catholic clerics to celebrate the Mass via their iPad on the altar in place of the usual printed Roman missal. For some this development will undoubtedly feel odd and perhaps even improper as technology makes yet another intrusion into our lives. It did, however, make me think about the place technology plays in the worship of the church, and what, if any, limits one might want to impose. For the mega churches with their gargantuan video screens and auditorium sanctuaries (there's an oxymoron), technology in this case already displaced all that was once familiar within the church, or much of it. Lutherans, always a bit behind the trend curve, are slowly catching up as they transform their own sanctuaries into "worship spaces" with cutting edge equipment brought straight from the world of entertainment. ...

Are denominations dead? According to Ed Stetzer in a special article for the June issue of Christianity Today , the answer, for now, remains "not yet." Mr. Stetzer offers an honest and seemingly balanced appraisal of the current health and future viability of denominations. He notes the tensions with the megachurches which see denominational affiliation as a detriment to their growth (as they shed the denominational identity from their signs along the way) and the usual frustration with the bureaucratic wastefulness and arrogant leadership and the perpetual infighting. It is not surprising, therefore, that many of the better-known churches in America today, according to Stetzer, possess no denominational affiliation. A 2009 study of the 100 largest congregations in the US conducted by LifeWay Research for Outreach magazine discovered that half of these parishes refer to themselves as "non-denominational." He goes on to note that two of the three largest chur...

When Helen Thomas made those remarks about Israel recently that led to her abrupt retirement, she discovered that even for established veterans of the media corps, some accountability remains. Her fellow reporters demanded a standard of conduct and held her to it. Whether one agrees or disagrees with her remarks is another issue. My point here concerns accountability. Which, in my opinion, often seems lacking in the church. Now I am not referring here to the clergy, which is a separate subject to my purposes. I am referring to the idea among many that what they believe and how they live is no ones business but their own. They answer only to Jesus. In my ministry this attitude has impacted two areas in particular: sexual behavior before marriage and fellowship at the altar. Over the span of two decades I have encountered many who have believed that their involvement in the church was similar to that of any other club, minus the fact that there are any mandatory dues. Answering ...