About this blog
“They persisted in the teaching and communion of the apostles” (Acts 2:42). What does it mean here and now for those who claim the heritage of the Lutheran Reformation to persist in the apostles’ teaching and communion? After the recent decisions of the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, that question has become pressing. Those who contribute to this blog believe that those decisions are flawed and that those flaws are deeply rooted in theological tendencies that have been present within Lutheranism for decades. They will not be rectified soon. Persistence and faithfulness is our intention; that intention can be met only in the mercy and power of the Spirit of Christ. Where the Spirit will lead, we do not know.
Michael Root will have oversight of this blog. David Yeago will contribute as the Spirit moves him. Others may join us. While those who write here share a common outlook, all contributors write only in their own names and do not speak for the others.
“They persisted in the teaching and communion of the apostles” (Acts 2:42). What does it mean here and now for those who claim the heritage of the Lutheran Reformation to persist in the apostles’ teaching and communion? After the recent decisions of the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, that question has become pressing. Those who contribute to this blog believe that those decisions are flawed and that those flaws are deeply rooted in theological tendencies that have been present within Lutheranism for decades. They will not be rectified soon. Persistence and faithfulness is our intention; that intention can be met only in the mercy and power of the Spirit of Christ. Where the Spirit will lead, we do not know.
Michael Root will have oversight of this blog. David Yeago will contribute as the Spirit moves him. Others may join us. While those who write here share a common outlook, all contributors write only in their own names and do not speak for the others or for institutions at which they teach or work.
Michael Root
On the eve of the Commemoration of St. Augustine, 2009
August 27, 2009 at 7:18 pm |
Thanks for starting this blog. I look forward to future posts.
August 29, 2009 at 8:34 am |
Many thanks for taking the point in this.
August 31, 2009 at 11:39 am |
Dr. Root, thank you for starting this means of dialogue. I am one who has taken an opposing stance on the Churchwide’s actions. I, too, look forward to the up and coming comments. Peace, Melinda Jones
September 4, 2009 at 2:22 pm |
So glad you started this blog. We need to keep the discussion going. We need sound theological reflection on the current state of Lutheranism in America.
September 4, 2009 at 9:05 pm |
Not sure where to post this, but I would request some guidance on Dr. Timothy Wengert’s recent article entitled “Reflections on the ELCA Churchwide Assembly and the Bible” (Journal of Lutheran Ethics, Sept. 09, which can also be found on the ELCA website: http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Journal-of-Lutheran-Ethics/Issues/September-2009/Reflections-on-the-ELCA-6.aspx).
After reading your paper/talk on “20th c. Lutheranism,” it would seem like Dr. Wengert is falling right in line with all that is wrong with 20th c. Lutheranism. We seem to have come to a place where there is only ambiguity and Gospel.
(If there is a place to allow us to conribute requests for topics/discussions, please let us know.)
September 4, 2009 at 9:20 pm |
I’m on the road at the moment and rather tied up. I will look at it in the next few days and see if I have something to say.
Michael Root
September 4, 2009 at 9:07 pm |
Please delete the last parenthesis in the link above, to get to the proper web page.
September 7, 2009 at 7:20 pm |
Thank you Dr. Root and Dr. Yeago for your continued teaching. I look forward to reading more.
David Nuottila
September 9, 2009 at 4:47 am |
Thank you Dr. Root, Dr. Yeago and whoever else might become a contributor. There is a definite need for this.
I heard Dr Root made very good comments on some work of Tim Wengert’s at the CWA. Is that available?
September 9, 2009 at 5:00 am |
No, the comments were made in a hearing and I didn’t write them up. Writing something out on the ‘bound conscience’ argument is on my ‘to-do’ list.
Michael Root
September 9, 2009 at 5:11 am |
Thanks for getting back to me. Actually, I heard that you “took him apart”. But, heck, some seminarians are doing that with the bit he wrote for “Journal of Lutheran Ethics.”
What I don’t get is how illogical it turns out to be. Is it just me, am I so prejudiced against this theological move, or did Esau just trade his inheritance for a bowl of stew again? That is, why, why, why? Such pitiful fig leafs-they cover nothing.
December 7, 2009 at 4:16 pm |
You mention Timothy Wengert and a piece he wrote in the Journal of Lutheran Ethics. He is coming to a forum at our church and I want to read that before hand. Can you link me to it? Or tell me where I can get it? Thanks.
November 11, 2009 at 7:10 pm |
the references to the Holy Spirit acting beyond God’s word are questionable to me. I will monitor this. otherwise, i’d like to introduce myself: i am an ELCA pastor who graduated from Christ Seminary-Seminex. I was a student of both Robert Bertram and Ed Schroeder. I am currently engaged in retranslating works by the Erlangen (Germany/Baviaria) professor
Werner Elert. I am a regular of the Crossings community/St. Louis (cf.
crossings.org) and am building bridges with various Lutheran confessionally based comunities. God bless you in your mission.
December 8, 2009 at 2:03 am |
Here Vicki:
http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Journal-of-Lutheran-Ethics/Issues/September-2009/Reflections-on-the-ELCA-6.aspx
Be prepared!
January 14, 2010 at 10:26 am |
Dr. Root,
I have been following Lutherans Persisting recently and am
interested in any comments you may have relative to the “new” draft
of the Candidacy guidelines and ministry policies that was posted
on the ELCA website on January 4, 2010, especially in the context
of your comments about the first draft of the policy revisions that
came out last November. In meeting with my bishop yesterday (Marsh, Metro Detroit) he said that he understood that the new draft of the candidacy guidelines would allow committee members to vote their bound conscience and decline a PALMS candidate for ministry or transfer them to another synod. Thank you.
Dan Cave
Christ, Warren, MI
January 15, 2010 at 7:01 am |
I have some papers to grade this weekend, but I will make a comment in a few days.
Michael Root