2014-04-23 - Update on Dr. Timothy Quill

In this season as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, it is with thanksgiving to the God of all mercy and comfort that we are able to announce that the Rev. Dr. Timothy Quill has been discharged from the hospital.  His road to recovery will continue in Adelaide, Australia


Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and The Office of International Mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod continue to give thanks for the marvelous care, both physical and spiritual, that the Quill family is receiving.  We further encourage all to keep the Quill’s and those providing care for them in your prayers.

While a date has yet to be set for Dr. Quill’s return to the United States, we pray for his continued recovery and look forward to his homecoming.

2014-04-11 Update on Dr. Quill

Timothy Quill Update

Adelaide, Australia, April 11, 2014

The Rev. Dr. Timothy Quill, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTS) and Director of Theological Education for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Office of International Mission (OIM), remains in the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia, where he underwent surgery for a brain aneurysm on April 3.

Quill’s condition has improved over the past several days. He has been released from the Intensive Care Unit and is now being cared for in the Neurology Ward. While he remains in serious condition, his condition is slowly improving.

Although the physicians have yet to provide a prognosis regarding Quill’s ultimate recovery, they have indicated that he is in the category of a more positive outcome for people who have suffered such an aneurysm. While physical therapy has begun, it is likely that Dr. Quill will remain in Australia for some time in preparation for his return to the United States.

Annette and Kati, Quill's wife and daughter, are in Adelaide, lending invaluable emotional support. OIM staff and pastors from the Lutheran Church of Australia will remain with the Quill’s throughout the recovery period to provide spiritual and logistical support. The CTS community is also actively engaged in supporting and caring for the Quill family during this challenging time.

Updates on Dr. Quill’s recovery will be provided as information becomes available. Please keep Tim, his family, and his medical and pastoral care teams in your prayers.

Update on Dr. Quill in Australia

Dr Quill at Ghana Seminary Dedication (Collver and Rothemeyer in background) courtesy of Erik Lunsford

Update on Dr. Quill in Australia

5 April 2014 — For Immediate Release

The Rev. Dr. Timothy Quill, Dean of International Studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne (www.ctsfw.edu) and Director of Theological Education for the LCMS Office of International Mission (www.lcms.org), fell ill on Wednesday, April 2, in Adelaide, Australia. Quill was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm (subarachnoid hemorrhage). An immediate procedure (craniotomy) to relieve the pressure was followed within twenty-four hours by surgery to repair the aneurysm (surgical clipping). The first week after the surgery is critical and he is being carefully monitored by the medical team. Quill remains in the Intensive Care Unit.

Dr. Quill was traveling with Mr. Darin Storkson, LCMS South Asia and Oceania Regional Director, to visit Australian Lutheran College (www.alc.edu.au ) in Adelaide. After Australia, Quill along with CTS Professor Robert Roethemeyer, Director of Library and Information Services and Director of Institutional Planning and Assessment, were to travel to Papua New Guinea to visit Timothy Lutheran Seminary in Birip and Martin Luther Seminary in Lae for the Chemnitz Library Initiative.

Mr. Storkson, along with Rev. Neville Otto, Secretary and Mission Director for the Lutheran Church of Australia, found Dr. Quill unresponsive on Wednesday before Lenten Vespers and called the ambulance. Professor Robert Roethemeyer, who was enroute to Australia, joined them on Thursday morning before the surgery. Rev. Dr. John Kleinig, professor emeritus of Australian Lutheran College (ALC), prayed with Quill before his surgery. Rev. Dr. Gregory Lockwood, professor emeritus at ALC, and Rev. Dr. Andrew Pfeiffer, Director of Pastoral Education at ALC, also visited Quill in the ICU. Pastors of the Lutheran Church in Australia (LCA) have been wonderfully supportive and helpful during this trying time. Quill’s wife, Annette, and daughter, Katie, arrived in Adelaide on Friday morning after the surgery, followed by Dr. Albert Collver, LCMS Director of Church Relations/Regional Operations, and Missionary Jeffrey Horn, Papua New Guinea.

Quill remains at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Doctors are currently establishing a timeline for his convalescence and his return to the United States. Dr. Quill, his family, Concordia Theological Seminary, and the LCMS Office of International Mission are grateful for the care provided by the Royal Adelaide Hospital, by the Lutheran Church of Australia, and the many people around the world who have expressed concern and offered prayers on his behalf.

An Important Resource for Thinking about What Universities Should Be and Do

In preparation for the CUS Think Tank meeting, we were encouraged to read Dr. Reinhard Hütter's "Polytechnic Utiliversity."  Like all of his work it is dense and demands much from the reader. However, it is worth the effort.

You can find the link at the following link: http://www.firstthings.com/article/2013/11/polytechnic-utiliversity

Dr. Dean O. Wenthe Installed as President of the Concordia University System

It was a real delight to be present at the installation of my predecessor and mentor as president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Dr. Dean O. Wenthe, as president of the Concordia University System of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.  As President Harrison stated in his sermon, Dean is the right man for this position, called to it for this moment.  What a blessing he will be!

The bulletin for Dr. Wenthe's installation follows:

A New Lutheran Journal for Missions

For the original post of this, click here

Is there really a uniquely LCMS approach to mission?

 That question is at the heart of the Journal of Lutheran Mission, a new e-publication available for your use from the Synod’s Offices of National and International Mission.

The scholarly journal, published digitally, exists to encourage discussion between you and those you serve, pastors, colleagues and social media friends on the interwoven nature of mission and Church.
Why take the time to read this journal? “The journal matters because mission matters,” said Rev. Bart Day, executive director of the Office of National Mission. “Christ has given all things to the Church, and the Church shares those gifts with the world.”

In addition, “The desire of the Journal of Lutheran Mission is to move beyond words (a missiology of rhetoric) to reflect the work of Christ through His Church globally,” explains the Rev. Randy Golter, executive director of the Office of National Mission. “His words are performative, and so the mission exists, is ongoing and is accomplishing His purpose. In this lies the confidence of Lutheran mission and every Lutheran missionary.”

The journal’s list of contributing editors is extensive, including faculty from both seminaries; clergy from Germany to Madagascar, Ethiopia to Siberia; Synod staff as well as two district presidents. Day and Golter serve as executive editors.

The debut issue of the journal features papers from the Synod’s Summit on Lutheran Mission, held in San Antonio, Texas, in November 2013. A first-of-its-kind event, the conference served as a venue to discuss the question, “What is our Lutheran identity when it comes to mission?”
Published three times a year, the journal can be downloaded in a variety of formats at www.lcms.org/journaloflutheranmission. Individual articles from the journal are also available so that you can share them – and continue the conversation – through social media.

“It is our desire to follow the tradition of mission that led to the founding of the Missouri Synod, to highlight and expound good examples of Lutheran missiology and to raise the height and breadth of discussion on mission so that every member of the Missouri Synod prays for the mission of the church, engages in it him/herself and supports it each according to their vocation,” explained LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison.

We hope you’ll join in the discussion. Download the journal, share it with your friends and email your thoughts to the editors at journaloflutheranmission@lcms.org.

Kantor Resch Announces Retirement

I announced this to the faculty last week with great joy for the marvelous contributions and central role that Kantor Resch has played at Concordia Theological Seminary over the last 30 years.  But I did so with sadness, admitting to Richard that this was the one retirement that I never wanted to think about.


Thank you, Richard, for all of your faithful service over the years!

Dr. Al Collver's WMLT Blog Post on Ghana Seminary Dedication

The original of the following may be found here
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LCMS President Rev. Dr . Matthew C. Harrison and the ELCG Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn dedicate the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption] On 2 February 2013, approximately 650 people gathered for the dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Accra, Ghana. After the dedication service, President Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS President, and Bishop Paul Fynn, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, cut the ribbon, officially opening the seminary for use.

   

Pastors and Evangelists process to the service and dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption] More than 50 Ghanian pastors attended the dedication service, praising God for the completion of a seminary building where more pastors can be trained.

 

The ELCG Rt. Rev Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn addresses the audience during the service and dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption] Bishop Paul Fynn spoke how the construction and completion of the seminary has been his dream for more than 25 years. When the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana began in 1957, there was only one pastor. Today, the ELCG has more than 150 pastors with more needed. Bishop Fynn said that as each seminarian graduates, he is tasked with planting at least one new congregation. Bishop Fynn described the many challenges that delayed the construction of the seminary. In fact, Bishop Fynn identified how Satan hindered the seminary at every turn because he hates the gospel and wants to prevent its preaching in the world. (Dr. Lawrence Rast reflecting upon Bishop's Fynn's clear identification of the seminary delays as "Satanic," noted that Western Christians have been so influenced by rationalism that they are unable to see building delays, funding problems, land title issues, and such as anything but "normal" delays or the cost of doing business. Dr. Rast noted that like Bishop Fynn, Dr. Martin Luther, would have regarded all of these events as troubles, trials, and hinderances caused by the devil to prevent the preaching of the Gospel.)

 

LCMS President Rev. Dr . Matthew C. Harrison gives the sermon at the service and dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption] President Matthew C. Harrison preached at the seminary dedication. His sermon theme was, "Jesus ye oudia," or "Jesus is for you!" Harrison noted how Jesus taught because we need to be taught the truths of God because they are not obvious or knowable to our natural nature. Jesus taught his disciples for 3 years. This is the purpose of the seminary -- to teach men to become pastors, to teach men the Holy Scriptures. That Jesus is the God-Man, who became incarnate in the flesh must be taught! That babies need to be Baptized must be taught! That Christ gives his true Body and Blood in Holy Communion must be taught! The Creed, the Catechism, worship must be taught! Saint Paul says that a pastor must be apt to teach. This is what the seminary does, teaches men and assesses their aptness to teach. Jesus also taught with authority and not as the scribes and the pharisees. Pastors must only teach from the inspired Word of God, which is the source of their teaching's authority. Nothing must ever be taught which would contradict the inspired Word of God. Nothing should come out of a pastor's mouth that causes his hearers to doubt the Word of God. Pastors are to proclaim the Word of God. The seminary teaches men to proclaim the Word of God. The Word of God is not mere information, rather it delivers forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. How? Did Jesus say, "Lazarus, I've done all that I could for you! If you want to rise, come out!" NO! Jesus called out, "Lazarus, Come Out!" by the power and authority of the Word of God. When the Lord proclaims, it happens... "Behold, a virgin shall conceive.. The Word shall become flesh... Your sins are forgiven. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers who proclaim that Jesus is for you.



 After President Harrison's sermon, the Ghana Lutheran Church Mass Choir

 

The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast, Jr., president of Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Ind., gives the Old Testament reading during the service and dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption] Dr. Lawrence Rast, President of Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, participated in the Ghana Theological Seminary dedication. Dr. Rast, Prof. Roethemeyer, and Dr. Quill greatly assisted the completion of the Ghana seminary by providing library and accreditation consultation through the Chemnitz Library Initiative, a joint partnership between Concordia Theological Seminary and the International Luther Council.

 

The Rev. Dr. Timothy Quill, director of International Studies for Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Director of Global Seminary Education for the LCMS Office of International Mission, gives the Gospel lesson during the service and dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption] After the service, Dr. Timothy Quill, Director of International Studies at Concordia Theological Seminary and Director of Theological Education for the LCMS, gave an address for the dedication of the seminary. He told a story about his time in Nigeria when Pres. Fynn was a young seminary student. One day Quill's four year old brother was riding his little bike down the big hill behind the seminary and did a complete summersault. Paul Fynn picked him up and carried him home in his arms. Today's celebration of the new seminary campus in Ghana also experienced a sever bump in the road when construction was halted. Someone needed to pick things up and bring the task home to completion. This was done by the joint efforts of Dr. Fynn, the generous donors from the LCMS, the LCMS Office of International Mission. Quill encouraged the members of the ELCG to now care for their seminary and their dedicated faculty, including sending their finest young men to study theology and be prepared as pastors for their churches and missions.

  

Interior photograph of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford[/caption] Inside the seminary after the dedication, guests gathered for a tour and for refreshments. The Ghana Lutheran Theological Seminary is among the best Lutheran seminaries in Africa. The Ghanian seminary fits into the theological education strategy for West Africa. The theological library at the Ghana seminary is among the best in Africa, along with Nigeria and Kenya.  

 The program for the seminary dedication and the service participants.

ELCG Seminary Dedication Feb 2, 2014 by brandy99

 Posted by Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver, Director of Church Relations / Regional Operations on 3 February 2014.

Ghana Lutheran Church Mass Choir

Ghana Seminary Dedication

The following is the most recent newsletter of my colleague and friend, David Erber, longtime missionary in West Africa.  It features some pictures from the wonderful service of celebration and dedication of the Lutheran Church of Ghana's new seminary, which occurred on February 2, 2014.

The Wittenberg Project

A group of us just completed a series of meetings in Wittenberg in the run up to the Reformation celebration of 2017.  One key element of the International Lutheran Council's recognition of this event will be the opening, in advance of 2017, of the "Old Latin School" as a center that will resource Lutheran and Christian visitors to Wittenberg, as well as reach out with the Gospel of Christ to those who have yet to be incorporated into the Body of Christ.

It was good to work with colleagues like Bruce Kintz (of CPH) and David Mahsmann (of the LCMS OIM).

What is coming should be an incredible blessing, under God's grace.  You may view the entire slideshow here.  

The Value of Seminaries

We are incredibly blessed in the LCMS with two of the finest Lutheran seminaries in the world.  Here's some video shot at last summer's LCMS convention that underscores this fact. 

A New Theological Library for Ghana

LCMS Presidential Elections

The announcement today of the reelection of the Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison to the presidency of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (http://blogs.lcms.org/2013/harrison-elected-to-second-term) got me thinking about presidential elections over the course of Missouri's "modern" history (1973 to present.  I use 1973 as the date, because in that year the LCMS changed its nomination procedure).  With the disclaimer that this is a first run through and I need to do some fact checking, here are the results showing the top two vote getters, without note or comment.

1973

1^st ballot, JAO Preus 606, WIliam Kohn 340. 1,055 total votes.  57%

1977

2^nd ballot, JAO Preus 596, Charles Mueller 330.  1,083 total votes.  55%

1981

4^th ballot, Ralph Bohlmann 722, Charles Mueller 338.  1,110 total votes.  65%

1983

1^st ballot, Ralph Bohlmann 844, Lloyd Behnken 95.  1,079 votes.  78%

1986

1^st ballot, Ralph Bohlmann 576, Robert Sauer 447.  1,029 total votes. 56%

1989

1^st ballot, Ralph Bohlmann 589, Robert Sauer 433.  1,124 total votes.  52%

1992

4^th ballot, Alvin Barry 580, Ralph Bohlmann 568.  1,148 total votes.  50.5%

1995

1^st ballot, Alvin Barry 754, Richard Kapfer 290.  1,162 total votes. 65%

1998

1^st ballot, Alvin Barry 657, Glen O’Shoney 343.  1,161 total votes.  56%

2001

4^th ballot, Gerald Kieschnick 600, Dean Wenthe 582.  1,182 total votes.  50.7%

2004

1^st ballot, Gerald Kieschnick 653, Daniel Preus 391.  1,237 total votes.  53%

2007

1^st ballot, Gerald Kieschnick 644, John Wohlrabe 514.  1,231 total votes.  52%

2010

1^st ballot, Matthew Harrison 643, Gerald Kieschnick 527.  1,170 total votes.  55%

2013

1^st ballot, Matthew Harrison 4,262, David Maier 1,906.  6,432 total votes.  66%

 

Revised D.Min. at the Fort Wayne Seminary

Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!

Getting Ready for Conclave

There are plenty of websites out there to keep up with the latest news on the election of the next pope.  http://www.aleteia.org/en/special/the-papal-election-322001?gclid=CP3jzcL88rUCFaI-MgodQzoAHQ offers a Roman Catholic perspective on the central players. 

I always heard "you can't tell the players without a program," and that brought this to mind.

LCMS Lutheran Withdraws from Consideration for Luther College Presidency

It looked like Dr. MarkHagerott, military professor and senior military officer of history at the United States Naval Academy and candidate for the presidency of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, was on his way to be elected to the top position of that school.  The presidential search committee had narrowed the list of candidates to two, and the Board of Regents appeared to have moved toward consideration of only Mr. Hagerott. Decorahnewspapers.com reported the Board of Regents as follows:

After receiving the report from the Presidential Search Committee, the Luther College Board of Regents charged the committee to further explore the candidacy of a single finalist, Dr. Mark Hagerott, and to report back to the Regents no later than April 30, 2013. Â We look forward to additional engagement with Dr. Hagerott. Any decision about the election of Luther's next president will be deferred until after the receipt of the committee's subsequent report to the Board.

A clarifying statement appeared a few days later, which delayed the presidential election to later in the Spring.

How had the train gone off the tracks?

Some discomfort in the Luther community on Hagerott's affiliation with The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod emerged.  One example of this in the Luther College student newspaper, CHIPS, published an opinion piece titled "Lutheranism and the Luther Presidency."  The article's bottom line was straightforward: "The ELCA and the LCMS are both Lutheran, but only one denomination represents the Luther College community."  

On Tuesday, March 5, Dr. Hagerott withdrew from consideration for the office.  Decorahnews.com has an article on Hagerott's withdrawal here.  Hagerott's own "Reflections on a College Search" may be found in CHIPS.  A couple of quotes from Hagerott's reflections follow.

It was with sadness that I withdrew from the Luther College search. My wife and I found it to be a wonderful place. People we met were so genuinely friendly. But in light of articles published in this paper and the college paper that used a very narrow lens to interpret who I am and what I stood for, I feel it now necessary to explain why I withdrew from consideration. Moreover, how I was portrayed and judged in the articles holds implications for Luther's future hiring and promotion practices.

Despite my record, the debate as framed both in the school newspaper and the community paper became one sided, portraying a requirement for theological conformity. Counterpoints were conspicuously absent. Such a demand for conformity surprised me, because as I read on the website, the Luther family was "...of all backgrounds, we embrace diversity". At Annapolis I worked with, hired, mentored, and led persons of all faiths, genders, sexual orientations, and political persuasions, and I maintained an impeccable record of tolerance.

Perhaps it is fitting that these questions come to the fore now, as we approach the 500 year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther challenged the reigning orthodoxy of his time. Perhaps the orthodoxy today is “political correctness” on college campuses across America? My hope is that Luther College will be a source of a new reformation, one that encourages persons, from liberal to moderate to religious conservative, to participate with confidence in the mission of educating the next generation of undergraduates. It was to that end, and is my hope now, that my decision to end my candidacy will allow this important debate to continue without distraction at Luther College.

A Prayer of Justus Falckner

Students in my Church History IV course at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, all learn the hymn "Rise, Ye Children of Salvation" (TLH 472).  They hymn's author, Rev. Justus Falckner, was the first Lutheran to be regularly ordained in North America (November 24, 1703).  In preparing for an upcoming section of Church History IV, I came across this little prayer of Falckner's, cited by Henry E. Jacobs in "Justus Falckner," Lutheran Church Review 23 (January 1904): 171.

"O God, who has thrust me into this harvest, be Thou with me, Thy lowly and very feeble laborer, with Thy special grace, without which I must perish under the burden of trials that often overwhelm me.  In Thee, O Lord, have I trusted; let me not be confounded.  Fit me for my calling.  I did not run, but Thou didst send—Thou didst force me into this office.  Do Thou forgive whatever wrong a corrupt nature hath unconsciously wrought within me; pardon me, humbly praying through our Lord—yea through my Jesus Christ. Amen."

Obama Nominates Gard for Navy Reserve's Highest Rank

President Barack Obama has nominated the Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Gard, an LCMS chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserve and professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., to serve as a rear admiral (lower half) in the role of deputy chief of chaplains for Reserve Matters, U.S. Navy.

Gard's nomination as rear admiral, the highest rank for a chaplain in the Navy Reserve, must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta announced the promotion, along with several others, Feb. 14.

Gard said he is humbled by the opportunity that awaits him.

"To be a pastor is the greatest honor a person can have and then to have been sent in uniform to minister to America's magnificent men and women who risk all for freedom is a privilege beyond what I deserve," he said. "All I can say is 'Soli Deo Gloria' -- to God alone be the glory!"

Gard is completing a tour of duty as Joint Task Force Guantanamo chaplain, Joint Task Force, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He will resume his seminary teaching duties during Holy Week. He also is the dean of Military Chaplaincy Programs at Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS).

"Dr. Gard's service to this seminary, the church at-large and to his country has been exemplary and provides an excellent example of a good and faithful servant of Jesus Christ," said CTS President Rev. Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr. in a seminary news release.

Gard asked for prayers that he be a "faithful servant of our Lord."

"God has blessed me with a wonderful wife and family and with the support of a unique community of faith, study and prayer at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne," he said. "There we have a mission that is unequaled in this world -- to form servants in Christ Jesus to teach the faithful, reach the lost and care for all."

To read the U.S. Navy's release about Gard, click here.

Posted Feb. 21, 2013

http://reporter.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=20882

Ethiopian Lutherans Break Fellowship with ELCA

Significant news that affects world Lutheranism.

 http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=5276


ELCA NEWS SERVICE
February 7, 2013
Lutheran church in Ethiopia severs relationship with ELCA
13-8-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is severing its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Church of Sweden and “those churches who have openly accepted same-sex marriage.”
     The action for “all Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus departments and institutions (at every level) to implement this decision” was ratified at the denomination’s general assembly, which met Jan. 27-Feb. 2 in Addis Ababa. The denomination’s church council took action at its July 2012 meeting to initially sever these relationships.
     “The ELCA is very saddened by this decision,” said the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director for ELCA Global Mission. “The ELCA and its predecessor church bodies have been walking with the people of Ethiopia for more than 50 years, and our sister church, the Church of Sweden, for more than 150 years. In this journey, we have learned from one another, we have deepened and extended the bonds of fellowship and partnership in the gospel.” Malpica Padilla was in Addis Ababa for meetings with program and ministry partners of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.
     To ensure that the decisions by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus are implemented, members of the denomination “will not receive Holy Communion from the leadership and pastors of the (ELCA and the Church of Sweden). The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus will not distribute communion to these churches,” as stated in the minutes of the denomination’s July 2012 council meeting.
     “Representatives of these churches at national level or leaders at every level would not be invited to preach or speak at the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus congregations or other gatherings. They should not be invited for any spiritual ministries of this church,” stated the minutes, which also reflects that leaders and pastors of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus “at every level will not visit the synods, dioceses, congregations and national offices of churches that have accepted this practice without proper permission from the head office of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.”
     While the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is “closing the door to this partnership,” Malpica Padilla said that the ELCA and the Church of Sweden “are not locking the doors from our side. It is open for when you decide it is time to resume this journey together. It is my hope that in the near future, we will again walk together in Christian love. We will do this not because of doctrinal agreements or consensus, but because the gospel compels us to do so.”
      The ELCA has consistently kept its Lutheran companion churches informed about the ELCA’s process that led to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly decisions, which included the adoption of a social statement on human sexuality, said Malpica Padilla.
      “We shared the study documents and invited their input,” he said. “When decisions were made, we wrote to (leaders of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus) expressing our commitment to not impose our actions and to respect the policy and practice of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus in the assignment of mission personnel,” he said.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, said the actions of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus are “deeply troubling.”
      “Our own statement on human sexuality acknowledges that the position held by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is also held by members of the ELCA. We are not of one mind, but we are one in Christ, in faith and in baptism,” said Hanson, adding that the relationships between Lutherans in North America and in Ethiopia “has been sustained through periods of oppression, divisions within the Ethiopian church and in times of turmoil among Lutherans in North America. The action of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus church diminishes our capacity together to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to serve our neighbors and to care for the creation.
      “As the ELCA, we are always standing ready to open the door of conversation for the sake of reconciliation and our shared commitment to proclamation and service,” Hanson said. “Reconciliation is not an option. It is given in Christ, and we stand ready to engage with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus on what this gift of reconciliation might mean for us now.”
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with more than 4 million members in nearly 10,000 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God's work. Our hands,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper
773-380-2956 or Melissa.RamirezCooper@ELCA.org
http://www.ELCA.org/news
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Living Lutheran: http://www.livinglutheran.com