African Joys and Synodical Assembly Disappointments

A Gift From Africa
Last month's time with Bishop Maghina from Tanzania was so much fun! To find a connection in the Gospel with a brother and a church so far away and so removed from our ministries here was quite refreshing. "Thank you" to all who made his visit such a joy for all of us! Over $1850 was raised through the sale of the African crafts, and the work of the church, both in fighting the spread of HIV/Aids through awareness and education and providing water systems so families can grow their own crops more effectively, will prosper through your generosity!

Not to say "I told you so," but...
I, along with many from conservative, scripture-based congregations, was deeply saddened by the outcome of this year's Synodical Assembly. A large part of my disappointment comes because these events should be a gathering of God's people to enrich and enhance the ministry of local congregations, pastors and the laity; instead, they are a primary vehicle for the furtherance of the very liberal, anti-scriptural agenda of the GLBT movement in the church.

GLBT, for those who aren't keeping up with acronyms, stands for Gay/Lesbian/Bi-sexual/Transgendered, and this agenda that I'm concerned about is NOT simply their stated goal of full acceptance of GLBT laity as people in need of the gospel and ministry in the church. Who, after all, would say that anyone is not welcome to receive the ministry of the church? No, that is just the Trojan Horse that the movement has used to get in under the radar of conservative Christians. The real agenda is, and has always been, the full acceptance of openly GLBT clergy in the ELCA.

The "I told you so" part of this scenario played out rather slickly at the Synodical Assembly. It has been a long time since I have witnessed parliamentary procedures so deftly manipulated, and those with opposing concerns so thoroughly out-maneuvered. It was a wonder to behold. I have been saying for several years that there is no point in trying to play the game of making resolutions and sending them to the Synodical Assembly for a vote because, as we saw at this assembly, they are simply moved so far down the agenda that they never see the light of day and are forwarded on to the Synod Council for summary dismissal. Conservative pastors and laity were left scratching their heads in shock and confusion - and anger. They now control the agenda and the process - why bother?

The time for writing letters, making motions and making speeches at these Assemblies passed 10-15 years ago (depending on what part of the country you're from). Those in power have been either replaced with more sympathetic people or fully co-opted by this movement. There is really only one voice that conservative churches have: their benevolence dollars. MANY MORE CHURCHES are now beginning to seriously ask what their only remaining voice should say. And they are wondering if even redirecting their dollars to other ministries (like missions support or the ELCA Hunger Appeal) in a church so deeply flawed in its understanding of scripture and the gospel isn't the equivalent of flushing its money down the proverbial toilet. Might it be better used elsewhere to spread the gospel and do the work of the church, rather than see MILLIONS of it used to co-opt the church's mission and ministry by those with the GLBT clergy agenda?

So, our Assembly voted to send the message to the National Assembly in August that we in the Southern California West Synod support the proposal of the Task Force on Sexuality to 1) Keep the current rules about sexuality in the clergy, which would prohibit openly GLBT clergy, but 2) not enforce them if they are being broken and 3) allow bishops to make decisions to install GLBT clergy where they would be a fit for ministry.

How does this make you feel?

Your delegates - Cathe Erickson, Rich Johnson and I, will be putting together an educational forum together in the near future to share a more complete picture of the Assembly.

Blessings and Peace,

Pastor Larry