Several Yorkers were among a group of midstate Lutherans who left last week for a trip to the Konde Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania in eastern Africa. They'll attend the diocesan assembly there, where a bishop will be elected (or current Bishop Israel-Peter Mwakyolile reelected).
The regional presbytery that includes York County has hired a new executive presbyter, the Rev. Dr. Erin S. Cox-Holmes. She starts Jan. 1.
The Rev. Charlie Gross, associate presbyter, has been acting as head of staff for the three-county Presbytery of Donegal since the departure of the Rev. Roger Uittenbogaard.
Cox-Holmes has served as associate general presbyter in the Presbytery of Kiskiminetas (based in Yatesboro, Armstrong County) for 15 years. She attended Earlham School of Religion, a Quaker seminary, and got her PhD in religion/psychology at Graduate Theological Union and her doctor of ministry from Dubuque Theological Seminary.
Youth in the regional Lutheran synod have spoken out about the recent change in the ELCA's gay clergy policy and the turmoil its causing in some congregations around the country.
The Lower Susquehanna Synod's Lutheran Youth Organization board drafted a letter, urging church unity in a time of disagreement.
"We understand that people have different opinions, and we as a board were very split in our opinions," Sarah Embley, synod LYO president, told the ELCA News Service. "We think it is more important to look past our differences and keep the unity of the church and keep God in main view."
The board donated to the synod a portion of funds it raised during synod LYO meetings and events.
"We aren't happy with the fact that some people are pulling away from the Lutheran Church because of the decisions made. We know that some churches are withholding their money from the synod and the Lutheran Church," Embley said. "We don't think that's right. ... We would like to step up and do what we can to help."
Later this week (Sept. 25-26), conservative Lutherans involved with the group CORE will meet in Indiana to discuss the possibility of creating a "free-standing synod" that would include members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, along with others that have left, or plan to leave, the denomination, according to RNS:
The leaders of Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Reform) are not encouraging fellow believers to bolt from the ELCA for a more conservative denomination, but neither do they want to remain part of one that has "fallen into heresy," they say. ...
"There are lots of congregations that are going to leave, lots of traditionalist congregations that are going to stay, and lots that have already left," said Ryan Schwarz of Washington, a member of CORE's steering committee. "We want to create a churchly structure that gathers all those categories."About 1,200 people have registered for CORE's summit in Indianapolis, according to organizers.
CORE is among those disappointed that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the country's largest Lutheran denomination, voted this summer to lift its ban on noncelibate gay clergy. The church also voted to allow congregations to recognize "publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships."
About 1,200 people have registered for CORE's meeting in Indianapolis, according to the organization. The ELCA has 4.8 million members.
Since the ELCA's decision last month to lift restrictions on gays and lesbians in the pulpit, some Lutherans have worried the move could prompt members or congregations to leave the country's largest Lutheran denomination.
After hearing from local Lutherans and reading reactions from others in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, it's unclear how things will shake out. However, predictions of schism seem premature.
Many Lutherans said the decision won't affect them much, if at all, and don't plan to go anywhere. Congregations won't be required to accept non-celibate gay pastors.
Others welcomed the change. One pastor told me about a gay man in his church who felt God calling him to ministry but wouldn't consider seminary because of his long-time partner. The pastor hoped the man would now reevaluate. Read more at the jump.
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg open its 184th academic year Wednesday with the traditional convocation at noon Wednesday, featuring a lecture by dean emeriti Norma Schweitzer Wood.
The seminary says it's the oldest institution of Lutheran higher education in the Americas.
Wood, who retired in 2003, taught in the area of pastoral counseling and specializes in the areas of marriage, family and group work in congregations. She is a licensed psychologist and certified as a pastoral counseling educator with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
The vote to approve a much-debated social statement that acknowledges, among other things, the validity of same-sex relationships that are "chaste, monogamous and lifelong" came down to one vote on Wednesday evening.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America churchwide assembly is meeting through Sunday in Minneapolis. Here's coverage of Wednesday's vote by the Star Tribune and the ELCA News Service here and here.
Supporting and dissenting groups issued statements reacting to the vote: Lutheran CORE (not happy) and Lutherans Concerned (happy).
Btw, a vote is scheduled for Friday on the proposal to repeal an ELCA ban on gay and lesbian ministers from leading churches unless they promise to be celibate.
