BISHOPS  &  THE  IRRESISTIBLE C.C.M.

-M. Luther Johnson

               

Imagine that you have just been elected bishop of SW MN.  Ask your yourself, "What's the best strategy to resist and not comply with the ELCA imposition of a mandatory historic episcopate?"  Here's some food for thought:

 

Plan "A")  Run.  Hide.  Resign before you start to be 100% sure  you "resist" the hands of the historic episcopate. 

 

Plan "B")  Bite your lip, ignore your conscience, and participate in CCM's requirements.  You will please those who see this as a symbol of Christendom’s unity (how does this assure the average person in the pew of his or her unity with Christ?).  This "foot in the door" method allows you to work for reform from within the system & pave the way for the next generation of bishops to "resist."

 

Plan "C")  Plan an installation service that few Episcopal bishops would want to attend.  Include:  Lay people in the laying on of hands, no clergy vesting, the title "president" rather than "bishop", a lay person as presider at Holy Communion, and a sermon on Romans 14:13, etc. If the ECUSA folks show up anyway, resort to Plan "B" or Plan "D".

 

Plan "D")  Don't get too attached to the idea of being bishop.  Instead, think "leader," "sacrificial lamb," or "ice breaker."  Schedule the installation during a vacation or sabbatical from your current job.  Tell people what you believe and then step aside (ie:

"duck" the hands).  Expect pronouncements and arm twisting (temporal & theological) from 8765 W. Higgins Rd.  But stand tall, remember Jonah, and repeat the 3rd Petition.  You're not the only one who is cautious — perhaps afraid — to think Lutheran thoughts and perpetuate Lutheran customs in, of all places, a Lutheran church.  Be grateful that religious persecution went out of style with the American Revolution (at least in this country).

 

Plan "E")  Relax.  You worship the living God who is our refuge & strength (Ps 46:1).  Go ahead:  Think, act, & worship like the carefree Lutheran you were prior to January 1, 2001 (date CCM took effect).  We are NOT structured like the Episcopal Church yet;  the congregations, synods, and churchwide organization of the ELCA are still "interdependent partners" (ELCA constitution 5.01c).  For 6 of the past 7 years, this synod has adopted resolutions which consistently say "Yes" to the sufficiency of Christ & scripture, and "No" to the historic episcopate.  True, CCM is a done deal.  But so is SW MN Resolution 00.15, "Regarding Freedom to Receive or Reject an Historic Episcopate," which already claims this synod’s right to support a bishop who accepts OR rejects the historic episcopate.  It’s all about your conscience.

 

Finally, remember that 73% of ELCA members know little or nothing about CCM.  This may indicate that most folks will be indifferent to whatever you decide.  But, since you are this synod's new leader, people of all perspectives will find it in their heart to support you.  Press on.

 

M. Luther Johnson, editor, is pastor of St. John’s and Kongsvinger, Donnelly

 

FURTHER READING on Historic Episcopate:

 

“Meissen Declaration”

An agreement between the Church of England and the German Lutherans that recognizes each other’s ministries without the Lutherans having to take on the Historic Episcopate.

 

Go to

http://www.uni-leipzig.de/~prtheol/Queens/declaration.htm  

 

 

“The Lutheran-Episcopal Concordat and Porvoo”

by Meg Madson [in MS Word]

Published in Lutheran Quarterly, Spring 1999, pp. 21-33

 

Go to

www.wordalone.org/archives/

   Then scroll to title and click.

 

Resolution 00.15 & vote can be found in the “2000-2001 Handbook and Minutes”, p. 204.  Handbooks are given to pastors & congregations after each Synod Assembly.