Lutherans Concerned/North America Becomes ReconcilingWorks

[The Rev. Steven P. Tibbetts, STS]

Tuesday, 12 June 2012 08:56 
Lutherans Concerned/North America Becomes ReconcilingWorks

It's a new day and we have a new name!!

For decades we've worked among Lutherans for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the life of the church.

In 2009, a major milestone was achieved when  the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to allow ministers in lifelong, same-gender relationships to serve in the church.  In 2011, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada established policies that permit the legal marriage or blessing of same-gender couples and that sexual orientation is not an impediment to ordination.  But, the work for full inclusion continues... In the United States, there's work for marriage equality...  And overall there's the difficult task of turning policy change into practice.

Though the name Lutherans Concerned served the organization well in the years following our founding in 1974, today, a name change is needed to describe our current ministry. 

“ReconcilingWorks is a statement of faith and effectiveness,” said Emily Eastwood, executive director of the organization.

“Reconciliation is central to the ministry of the church which follows Christ into the world.. The name ReconcilingWorks is a clear response to the biblical injunction to all Christians to be reconciled to God and to each other. The name instantly testifies that reconciling, indeed, is successful as the means to build a fully inclusive church and society.  And, like motorworks and waterworks, it is what we do.

“Included in the new logo is the phrase ‘Lutherans for Full Participation.’ Our mission is still to work for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Lutherans in the life of their church, for full recognition of their equality as children of God. The work continues unabated.

"Today, full participation in the church is inextricably intertwined with issues and concerns present in the larger society. Reconciling Lutherans are working hard to love their neighbors—all their neighbors.  ReconcilingWorks follows Christ who ministered at the crossroads of life and the intersection of oppressions. When obstacles are placed in people’s way based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, economic status, disability, immigration status or other realities deliberately used to marginalize whole groups of people, ReconcilingWorks stands to challenge discrimination, to educate, to embody a community of welcome, to work together with others to help the church and society at large unite in valuing the gifts diversity brings.”

The new email addresses for ReconcilingWorks end with @reconcilingworks.org. Our website is now www.reconcilingworks.org.  Phone numbers are unaffected.

More information about our name change and the meaning and development of the new logo is available at www.reconcilingworks.org and in the issue of Concord on its way to you.

[George Erdner]

To paraphrase the Bard, garbage by any other name would still stink.
 

[Confessional Lutheran]

To paraphrase the Bard, garbage by any other name would still stink.

They were never Lutherans to start, just in name only!  Garbage In, Garbage Out. Martin Luther wouldn't want his name attached to such Garbage either.

[Team Hesse]

Not helpful gentlemen. These too remain people for whom Jesus died.

Lou

[Lutheranistic]

Well and pastorally said, Lou.

[Charles_Austin]

Amen.
Once we place these labels on people, we lose every chance of maintaining a Christian relationship with them, winning them over to our point of view or understanding theirs. And I am surprised that the moderators let the "garbage" remarks stand.

[Confessional Lutheran]

Not helpful gentlemen. These too remain people for whom Jesus died.

Lou

All depends in what context they want to believe in.  I can believe in Jesus, but continue in the lifestyle I chose, or I can Believe in Jesus, follow the teachings of Scripture, repent, and trun away from my sins, and put my complete trust in him.

Of course we also have to deal with the true church or the false one.  Those who proclaim the Gospel of Christ Correctly, and those who push the culture acceptance, and proclaim a false water down version of the gospel, without the need of law.

Which context of the Gospel do you approve of Lou?

[Lutheranistic]

These too remain people for whom Jesus died

does not

depend in what context they want to believe in

[Team Hesse]

Which context of the Gospel do you approve of Lou?

There is only one Gospel--"while we were yet sinners Jesus died for us." To speak of "contexts of the Gospel " is to make the unconditional conditional. To do that is to become every bit as much of a Christ denier as those so often disparaged.

Jesus died for me a SINNER.

Lou

[Team Hesse]

These too remain people for whom Jesus died

does not

depend in what context they want to believe in

Agreed and thank you, Steve.

Lou

[Keith Falk]

To kind of steer this in a different direction...


A day after Steven introduced this thread, a staff person here at Peace asked if I knew about a move in the LCMS to change their name.  Evidently he has family in the Texas District and one of the items up for discussion is a proposal from a congregation there to send along to the next national gathering to change the name of the LCMS to the Lutheran Christian Church of North America.  I immediately threw together the letters - LCCNA. 

Weird timing - and, no doubt, a huge coincidence - that the LCNA changes their name when LCCNA is being proposed for the LCMS.

[Mike Gehlhausen]

To kind of steer this in a different direction...


A day after Steven introduced this thread, a staff person here at Peace asked if I knew about a move in the LCMS to change their name.  Evidently he has family in the Texas District and one of the items up for discussion is a proposal from a congregation there to send along to the next national gathering to change the name of the LCMS to the Lutheran Christian Church of North America.  I immediately threw together the letters - LCCNA. 

Weird timing - and, no doubt, a huge coincidence - that the LCNA changes their name when LCCNA is being proposed for the LCMS.

That overture was turned down as a resolution and packaged in an omnibus resolution for rejection as already handled.

Resolution B

WHEREAS, A number of issues have been presented through overtures to which the Synod in
convention has previously spoken; and

WHEREAS, After careful consideration of these matters, there appears to be no valid reason to
change or alter the stated position of the Synod; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That petitioners offering the following overtures be referred to previous convention
action as indicated.

Number                           Subject                                                                          Previous Action
Overture 02-05-12     Change Name of Synod                                             2010 Convention of the Synod
Overture 01-08-12      Avoid Politization of the Church's Mission             2010 Convention of the Synod

Mike

[Keith Falk]

Ahh, gotcha, thanks, Mike...

[DCharlton]

It don't think it's unfair to point out what "reconciliation" means in the name.  We will be reconciled when the days comes that all agree fully with the platform of ReconcilingWorks.  Their vision of reconciliation is one of "full inclusion" and "respect for diversity".  That requires the recognition of the equal legitimacy of Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Bi-sexual relationships, etc...   For this to happen, the compromise put forward by HSGT would need to be overcome.  Whether the goal is to do this voluntarily, by changing opinions, or by adoption of a new policy is unclear. 

This is not to accuse ReconcilingWorks of dishonesty or bad faith.  On the contrary, they are making their principles and goals clear and are planning to act on them.

[Confessional Lutheran]

Which context of the Gospel do you approve of Lou?

There is only one Gospel--"while we were yet sinners Jesus died for us." To speak of "contexts of the Gospel " is to make the unconditional conditional. To do that is to become every bit as much of a Christ denier as those so often disparaged.

Jesus died for me a SINNER.

Lou

It is, accordingly, necessary to know and to teach that when holy men, still having and feeling original sin, also daily repenting of and striving with it, happen to fall into manifest sins, as David into adultery, murder, and blasphemy, that then faith and the Holy Ghost has departed from them [they cast out faith and the Holy Ghost]. For the Holy Ghost does not permit sin to have dominion, to gain the upper hand so as to be accomplished, but represses and restrains it so that it must not do what it wishes. But if it does what it wishes, the Holy Ghost and faith are [certainly] not present. For St. John says, 1 Ep. 3, 9: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,... and he cannot sin. And yet it is also the truth when the same St. John says, 1 Ep. 1, 8: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.