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The Lutheran Churches of the Common Confession and the
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Think of what we're doing as building one big new House of Reform. For the time being, in order to welcome as many as we can into this new house, we have assembled two porches on the side (two "entry platforms" so to speak -- ie. the Lutheran Churches of the Common Confession and the Coalition for Reform). All of us who come to the house are people who subscribe to the Common Confession, and want to work for reform and renewal in the ELCA. But for the time being, as people enter, they will generally come in through one or the other porch. The LCCC was intended to take in congregations, the CFR was primarily intended to take in individuals and organizations.
Of course, there may be some overlap or exceptions, at least for a while (I'm sure someone will try to sneak in the through the windows instead). But I am convinced that we are all still after the same goal of one big house. That house will have many rooms, dedicated to: political reform, mutual ministry, missions, theological education, etc. -- but eventually, it will allow us to coordinate our efforts as one.
The Lutheran Churches
of the Common Confession
Here's a little information for you to go on, more will be coming....
First, let me say that the all the presenters and preachers were very good. The conference was on the topic of "ecclesiology" and what it means to be the church. It led very well to the discussion of the association of confessing congregations, and our cooperative work of reform. On that, Jaynan Egland did an excellent job of setting a vision for the future.
The basic description of our direction is to gather our single witness with two "arms" of cooperative reform (below). The individuals, congregations, or organizations within both will be united in their subscription to the Common Confession. Both elected their own steering committee, which will meet independently, but in cooperation with each other.
1) The "Lutheran Churches of the Common Confession" is the name of the association of congregations, working together primary in the area of mutual/cooperative ministry, but also in grass-roots and local reform. The primary areas of concern identified by the participants of this group were: the authority of scripture, seminary education, and concern over the re-definition of gospel. This group will focus on bringing together congregations from the ground up, and promoting cooperative mission and ministry.
2) The "Coalition for Renewal" is a group of individuals and reform groups, that will work primarily in the area of church reform/politics (on the broader scale). Bringing together many of the WA and Solid Rock allies, this group will be looking ahead toward coming assemblies, and the actions of the national ELCA. The chairperson for this group is Paull Spring.
All in all, there was good conversation between diverse groups (WA and non-WA). I felt a genuine willingness to work together, and a sensible and measured desire not to go too slow or too fast in making that happen.
The Lutheran Churches of the Common Confession
The group that I was a part of was the one representing congregations in association. This group spilt into smaller regional groups for discussion, and met as well in one large group. We talked about needs, goals, and direction for the association.
After presenting a number of suggestions (and having a night to think about it), the participants settled with a strong consensus on the name: "Lutheran Churches of the Common Confession" as the 'working title' of the association (able to be changed later if we wish).
A steering committee for the LCCC was elected from people across the country, roughly corresponding to various regions and synods (listed below in parentheses). Some of these committee members have already been designated with specific area of responsibility; all have been asked to serve as a contact person for their geographical area. They include:
LCCC STEERING COMMITTEE
CHAIR Randy Freund, 335 Main St S, Hutchinson MN 55350
320-587-2093 (rfreund@hutchtel.net)
#1 & 2 Lou Hesse (hesse@televar.com)
250 Road 5 NE
Moses Lake WA 98837
509-765-0321
#4 & 9 Mark Braaten (oslc@cox-internet.com)
4900 Kinsey Dr
Tyler TX 75703-3003
903-561-1865
#5 Bryan Anderson (forbry@hotmail.com)
418 W. 3rd Street
Withee, Wi 54498
715-229-2051
#6 Kurt Borows (KWB@cros.net)
2370 North East Catawba Rd
Port Clinton OH 43452
419-797-4628
#7 & 8 Eric Swensson (ericswe@regent.edu)
30 Lockwood
New Rochelle NY 10801
914-632-4692
ND: Rob Buechler (debbie@stellarnet.com)
PO Box 46
Starkweather ND 58377-0046
701-292-4361
SD: Jerry Merkouris (jmerk@alliancecom.net)
26216 -484th Ave
Valley Springs SD 57068
605-582-3504
Greater MN: Steve King (pastorking@holycrossmaplelake.com)
PO Box 462
Maple Lake MN 55358
320-963-3536
Minneapolis Area: Mick Lee (mlee@plusrelocation.com)
Plus Relocation Services
600 HWY 169 S, Ste 550
Minneapolis MN 55426
952-512-5518
763-522-3694 (H) 612-845-1621 (C)
Committee members will be pulling together the list of names and prospects from their area. Eric S. intends to have a website up as soon as possible -- one that will not only provide information on the association, but will allow for communication from the inside and outside.
The Committee met only briefly, but one point on which we were all in agreement was that the LCCC should be advertised/presented independently -- not directly 'under the auspices' of any single organization. We will however, remain in full cooperation (and net-linked) to other reform and renewal groups (particularly those of the 'Coalition for Renewal', above).
Anyway ... that's what I have for now. I hope it gets you all thinking -- and talking!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Steven King
Maple Lake, Minnesota
The Coalition for Reform
Dear Friends in Christ,
From November 6 through November 8, 2005, the WordAloneNetwork sponsored a theological conference in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. A significant element of that conference was the approval of a resolution on forming a "coalition for renewal." The resolution, as amended, is as follows:
A "coalition for renewal" will be formed, for the purpose of supporting the various renewal movements within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and for addressing selected synodical and churchwide issues.
1. Purpose. More specifically, the purpose of the coalition will be to 1) encourage individual reform-minded congregations, laypersons, and pastors; 2) support and offer coordination for the various renewal groups within the ELCA; and 3) address significant synodical and churchwide issues. Such issues may include, but are not limited to, leadership in the ELCA, global missions and
pioneer evangelism, marriage and sexuality, the orthodox naming of God, and ELCA polity matters (quotas, three-expressions, delegation/representation).
2. Common Confession. The Common Confession (exclusive of the footnotes) will be accepted as a summary of important teachings that are otherwise affirmed in the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
3. Membership. Membership in the coalition will be open to reforming movements, congregations and individual members of the ELCA, who share The Common Confession and are supportive of the purposes of the coalition.
4. Relationship with WordAlone. The coalition will coordinate its ministry within the WordAlone Network (WA) and with the "association of congregations." A serious and intentional effort will be made to integrate the coalition within WA. A representative from the coalition will be invited to attend WA board meetings; in April 2006, a member of the coalition will be elected as a member of the WA board. The implications of this relationship, and the necessary processes for this relationship will be a subject of conversation between the steering committee (see below) and the WA board. This relationship will apply for two years and will be reviewed by the coalition and the WA board following the 2007 churchwide assembly.
5. Steering Committee: A steering committee of seven* persons will be elected. The purpose of the steering committee will be to follow through on any actions taken on the November 2005 gathering, set priorities for the coalition, develop strategies for implementing the priorities, plan an organizing gathering for the coalition, consider a fiscal proposal, select a name for the coalition, develop initial strategies regarding the 2007 churchwide assembly, and arrange for other organizational and structural matters.
*After adopting the resolution, the gathering decided later in the meeting to elect by unanimous consent all ninenominees to serve on the steering committee.
I personally believe that the formation of this coalition within the WordAlone Network fulfills the intention to organize a broad-based confessing movement for renewal. The purpose of the coalition is to support the various renewal movements within our church and to address various issues that are still facing our church. Working within the WordAlone Network, the coalition will itself achieve a certain stability and will still have the freedom to advocate for its own concerns.
A steering committee of nine persons was elected to move the coalition process forward. The resolution indicates the important responsibilities that have been given to this group. On the steering committee are Mark Graham, Scott Grorud, Kenneth Kimball, Eric Midthun, Russell Saltzman, Stephens Shipman, Paull Spring, Paul Ulring, and Erma Wolf.
For the next five to six months the steering committee will work on the tasks that have been given them and will prepare for an organizing gathering that will officially launch the coalition into being.
A particularly urgent need now is to begin planning for the 2007 churchwide assembly in Chicago. You will be hearing more about this after the steering committee meeting in December. In the meantime, if your synod's process for
nominating churchwide assembly members begins this fall or early in the new year at conference meetings, let's be sure that we have good people being nominated. It would be helpful to coordinate our efforts with WordAlone's synod point of contacts, who are already at work on this in some synods. Contact Mark Chavez (wordalone@popp.net) for more information about this.
I am very pleased with what we have achieved thus far in forming this coalition. The goal is to renew and re-focus our church about the Word of God and the Confessions of our church, for the sake of the mission of the Gospel. I ask you to surround this effort with your earnest prayer and with your encouragement and support. I also invite you to be in contact with me, if you have questions and comments.
In Christ,
Paull E. Spring,
Steering Committee Chair
956 Stratford Court
State College, PA 16801
814-235-9769
pastorspring@pennswoods.net