Reformed Evangelical Synod of America

Archive for the ‘Church Government’ Category

This headline has been in the making for years, like a movie star’s obituary awaiting the breaking news of an expected, but suddenly swift demise: New Lutheran body to form after gay pastor vote

Faithful Lutherans within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who had remained in hopes of a turn around have encountered the proverbial straw that promises to break the “camel’s back”. They can no longer let their patience accommodate this new perversity. Yet leaving is not as easy as outsiders think it might be as others within the mainline have found. Lutherans in the ELCA have an irenic bent not always shared by American Lutheranism’s “Fighting Fundamentalists”, the LCMS and WELS. They are desperately seeking a home for their commitment to their irenic evangelical Lutheranism.

Their conciliatory nature in the past means that they have been able to forge agreements like “A Formula of Agreement Between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Reformed Church in America, and the United Church of Christ” that dared to say that Lutherans and Reformed might actually coexist and minister together as reformational Christians. This is a habit of  tolerance is not unprecedented but it has earned them their share of derision over the years as the modern day Melancthons and “Crypto Calvinists” when they only spoke for peace (Ps. 120:7).

Happy reunions with those who’ve spent their days in criticism for one alleged confessional betrayal or another are envisioned by some at this juncture. As a practical reality, those will not be likely for many. Women’s ordination is a barrier for those committed to that practice that will only be accommodated by the formation of a new Lutheran jurisdiction.

Another path may be possible for some, and it is not unprecedented. In the mid-1800’s  Lutherans who felt their similarities with other brethren of like precious Reformational faith outweighed their differences formed the Evangelical Synod of North America. While we are a small body, we welcome those irenic Lutheran brethren who wish to pursue that path. Our commitment to the diaconal ministry of men and women while retaining a male pastorate, our irenic and broadly reformational “Articles”, and our commitment to historic faith and contemporary mission may be the new irenic home some need to find a new place of ministry and service within the evangelical, reformed, and catholic tradition.

The Reformed Evangelical Synod of America is developing Guidelines for Catechesis to guide congregations in the implementation of regular catechesis of both those preparing for baptism and those baptized in infancy.

Your thoughts on the task of catechesis in the Post Modern West are welcome as comments.  Your experience catechizing those preparing for baptism, catechizing youth, and engaging in the ongoing catechesis of entire congregations is welcome.

Let us know your experience and findings.

Let us know the catechism(s) you have used.

Your discussion of how to address issues such as the breakdown of the family in the church, the glorification of “youth culture”, pervasive biblical illiteracy, and other impediments facing the catechist today are welcome.

Why would an ecclesiastical community bearing names like reformed and evangelical seek to practice the historic episcopate? Isn’t that Roman Catholic? In a new article available on our resource page, Father Robert Lyons, a presbyter of our Synod, explores the meaning of the historic episcopate in our fellowship.

You may directly link to this resource by following this link.