I.C.M. - SW MN WordAlone

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

-Scott Grorud

I have made several presentations on the “Admonition for the Sake of the True Peace and Unity” of the Church delivered by the Theological Advisory Board of Word Alone last November. At one of those presentations, someone asked what we who oppose a mandated historic episcopate can really do, since it is now the law in the ELCA and there is virtually no chance of rescinding it.

Part two of the Admonition addresses exactly that question. It describes an important initiative we can all support in order to avoid the negative theological consequences of the historic episcopate.

In 2001, the ELCA churchwide assembly approved a by-law amendment allowing pastors to be ordained by another pastor instead of a bishop. However, such ordinations are only an exception to the rule that bishops must ordain, are reserved for "unusual circumstances" and require extensive consultation before they can be approved.

The Admonition acknowledges that this amendment helped to clarify that how or by whom a pastor is ordained is not essential to the Gospel. But it is only a beginning. The Admonition goes on to make two further demands of the ELCA.

One is that it makes the exception an option of equal standing instead, with no consultation or approval needed, rather than an "unusual circumstance." Unless it is an equal option, it is not clear that ordination by a bishop is not theologically necessary, a stance which contradicts the heart of Lutheran theology.

The other demand is that bishops also be given the equal option of not entering the historic episcopate. Currently, there is no exception for bishops and the proposal to grant one would create a great deal more consternation among supporters of the historic episcopate.

But to preserve the freedom of the Gospel, it must also be clear that neither how nor by whom a bishop is installed is a theological necessity. It is not essential to the office and

therefore cannot be mandated to be done in only one way.

A resolution supporting these two changes will come before the Southwestern Minnesota Synod assembly in June. Our synod can only recommend such changes to the churchwide assembly, but a strongly affirmative vote for this resolution will help to present our case to the ELCA.

So here's something all of us can do to make a difference. Make sure the synod assembly delegates from your church are aware of this resolution and its importance, and encourage them to vote for it. Then voice your support for the change to the ELCA and anyone you know who is attending the churchwide assembly in Milwaukee this summer. It may not make a difference immediately, but if the chorus grows loud enough, the ELCA will not be able to ignore it.