WHY THIS BLOG?
Let’s open the windows man, coz i think someone farted in here!
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Theology…God stuff…is not the reserve of the clergy. It does not sit well on the agendas of representative committees, officially appointed discussion groups, pastors’ conferences or commissions.
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Theology, first and foremost, is something that is done over bbqs, in living rooms, on long drives and in internet random chat rooms. It is done by all of us as we talk argue agree fight listen repent reflect change forgive teach and learn to with by and from each other.
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Earlier this year, a working group was set up by the LCA. It began to consider the question of consensus. How can we find answers to controversial and difficult questions. Is it possible to come to agreement on say…women’s ordination,,,homosexuality…abortion…euthanasia…? I think the idea behind the working group was admirable and i read their report eagerly. And then (sigh) i came across this statement which seemed to kinda sum up where the report was heading (double sigh)….
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Synod (the representative gathering of the church) should not vote on doctrinal change. It should await a statement from the pastors’ conference articulating the consensus of the pastors on the matter under dispute. Delegates should then, after due deliberation and discussion, either refer the matter back to the pastors’ conference, or give their assent to the recommended change by rising.
(Walking in Concensus the Lutheran Way. pg5. from John G Strelan, 2001. Public doctrine. The duties of pastors and people, unpublished paper, 24 Nov 2001. 1,2.)
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Man! that statement sure has an optimistic view of what a conference of pastors is able to achieve. I have only been to one national pastors’ conference and it proved to be an entirely predictable gathering of bald headed men speaking from entrenched positions (speaking, of course, as one bald headed and entrenched pastor). I have no real desire to go to another. So…let me get this straight…when there are questions to be considered… we ask pastors’ conference to do it. The rest of us then sit and wait while they “cast the bones”, ”seek the seer”, “throw spit balls till the last man stands” or however else they decide these things….come back to the synod with their decision and we participate by either rising or not rising?
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OK. 2 problems.
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- try as i might, i have never been very good at rising. it might be a muggle thing but no matter what i do my feet just stay firmly planted on the ground. And…lets not even talk about levitating if i ever DO get to rise. (wingardium leviOhsa, wingardium leviosAh…where is Hermione when you need her? Damn this stupid wand!…)
- (and this is the real issue at stake) the laity..the members of Christ’s body, the church, are not just passive recipients of that which is dished up to them by the pastors? They are theologians, educated, informed, interested in and passionate about what the bible has to say to them in all areas of life. Testing what they know from scripture against life’s experiences. Eager to come to home groups to learn, to teach, to listen and to discuss their views with others. To play a real part in shaping the future of the church.
Of course there is a place for the pastors and specialist commissions. But that place should never silence or disempower the whole people of God in the theological process, particularly on controversial issues. The above statement from the LCA report does exactly that. It is a recipe for alienation.
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Surely a healthier approach is one which attempts to engage as many people as possible in the process of theology, all of us involved in the working out of hard questions in the light of the Bible and our daily experiences. Well, im only one person but I would like to be a part of a much wider (perhaps even church wide) discussion on theological issues. So….here it is….my start…my voice…my opinion. Have a read. agree, disagree but mostly, COMMENT! join the discussion. Maybe you can start your own blog, link it with mine. Lets open the windows a little, maybe get some of the stink out, and see what happens…yeh?
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Just found your blog via via and I find it interesting since I’m a ‘since birth’ member of a reformed denomination in Canada. Although my impression of your quote from the report was that the committee was unwilling to make a decision and would rather run around in circles, I also feel like you’re suggesting that pastors are not people too. You seem to think they’re theological decisions would be as if coming from up on the top of Mount Sinai with no respect for the real world. I hugely disagree since having many pastors in my family I see their humanity and depravity daily! But I also caution letting our ‘daily experience’ influence our understanding of the Bible too much since God doesn’t change so His Word for us doesn’t change either, just because we, as people, feel like we live a different experience than they did 2000 or 200 years ago. But I love the opportunity for discussion, so I agree that the laity shouldn’t be left out of it entirely, so keep up the blogging!
hi.
thnx for stopping by. I certainly dont think pastors are making theological decisions from mt sinai. I think some Pastors i know might like it to be that way :/ . I tink you have hit on THE central question. How do interpret the changeless message of salvation and the Love of God in Christ through different societies in different times? Over the last 2000 years many things have changed in biblical interpretation. The nature of the universe (galileo and copernicus controversies) The role of women, the biblical view of slavery. A strict biblical view on all these things has changed as the centuries have rolled on by. Have a read of my posts on slavery for an example. And yet, the Gospel message has remained unchanged through all f that. I simply believe that the traditional view on homosexuality needs a rethink and a fresh look, just as the changing social structures forced the church into a rethink on women and slavery. Its sad that in these 2 cases, the church was dragged kicking and screaming into a new way of thinking. It looks like we are going the same way with homosexuality…
Anyway…visit again anytime. :)
Neil.
Neil. We know that while bald headed men deliberate and fudge about that young men & woman as yet not follicly challenged suffer…..and yes may even die for lack of what the LCA is supposed to be known for. GRACE……… John
Ahhhh…imagine a church that preaches grace….pure grace… I seem to remember hearing lots of messages of grace… back when i had hair…I also remember being rather critical of all the people who were not as super-powered-Christian as me. Hmmmm… maybe this grace thing is harder than it looks.
Neil. You do not have to apologise for citing “cowardice” I have been involved in a very creditable mental health Org for some years (Grow).
Here is a one liner extract.
‘DO NOT TALK ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM PERSON………….SPEAK TO AND WITH THEM……..
OR JUST SHUT UP!”
jOHN
yeh… but agro just adds to agro…dont you think?
Yes agro does add to agro. What the quote says to me is..if i do not have the courage & honesty to speak directly to the person who is the agent for my problem i should be silent and not gossip about the problem or the person to anyone else.
Another point Neil……I have a question????
Where did the white hat lady disappear to?….perhaps she attended @ Mannum also.
Keep up the website. It is important to me. and I imagine a lot of others seeking balanced opinion..
Will try. Thanks for the encouragement.
Neil. How is it with you?
You are important to the issue of compassion and grace being free to all people.
Others are dedicated to the purpose of compassion and equity too.
Never give up mate.
DLTBGYD
“Dont let the bastards get you down”
SALUTE!
John
Thanks for the encouragement.