Lutheran CORE... (Lutherans Only)

[RedneckAnglican]

Has anyone heard about this or are fimilar with it?...any impressions or opinions would be helpful...I know that they are a part of the WordAlone network...


Lutheran CORE - Lutheran Coalition for Reform
January 2006

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

This letter is our invitation to you to become a part of Lutheran CORE (Lutheran Coalition for Reform). Lutheran CORE is a coalition of pastors, lay people, congregations and reforming groups. We seek to preserve within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America the authority of the Word of God according to the Lutheran confessions. Our intention is to remain within our church and to work with congregations, individuals, and other reform-minded groups for the reform of our own church.

Among a host of issues within the ELCA today, there are three that trouble us most deeply. These are: the need to affirm the authority of the Word of God within and throughout our church; our concern to elect leaders - both synodical and churchwide - who will guide us in faithful witness and mission; and our profound concern over changes in doctrine and practice regarding marriage and sexuality.

As a Lutheran Coalition for Reform, we are committed to raising up leaders at all levels of our church who share our convictions regarding Biblical authority and confessional loyalty. We are committed to working for a consistent implementation of Vision and Expectations throughout the ELCA, one that will provide a ministry of oversight and discipline for all rostered leaders within our church.

Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Reform) is closely allied with the WordAlone Network for mutual support. However, Lutheran CoRe is a broad based coalition and is open to those individuals and congregations who do not choose to affiliate with the WordAlone Network. Lutheran Core also supports the Lutheran Churches of the Common Confession, whose aim is the renewal of congregational ministry and mission.

Our goal as Lutheran CORE is to work for the reform of the ELCA, and to serve as a channel of cooperation among the various reform-minded groups and with reform-minded congregations and individual pastors and lay people.

We hope and pray that you will be a part of our reforming effort. This letter is, in fact, our invitation to you to do so. A copy of the Common Confession and the purpose statement of CORE is appended to this letter. We seek your endorsement of these two documents, since they are basic to what we are about as a coalition.

We seek your financial support, as you are able. Checks may be made out to the WordAlone Network, with a memo "Lutheran CORE", and may be sent to the WordAlone Network, 2299 Palmer Drive #220, New Brighton, MN. 55112.

Most of all, we seek your prayerful support for our church and its leaders, as well as for our coalition and its ministry.

If you wish to become part of CORE's ministry, we ask that you let us know. All you need to do is to send a note, indicating your intentions, to either WordAlone Network, wordalone@popp.net or to Paull E. Spring, 956 Stratford Court, State College, PA 16801, pastorspring@pennswoods.net.

Lutheran CORE is planning an initial gathering of supporters for April 30-May 2 at Calvary Lutheran, Minneapolis. This gathering wil be a part of the annual WordAlone convention. Next month we will contact you about our plans for this event.

We thank you for your concern for the reform of our church. May God's Spirit nurture us with his Word and sustain us with his power and grace.

Steering Committee for CORE:
Mark Chavez, Andover, Minnesota
Steven Shipman, Watsontown, Pennsylvania
Mark Graham, Roanoke, Virginia
Paull Spring, State College, Pennsylvania, chair
Scott Grorud, Hutchinson, Minnesota
Erma Wolf,Brandon, South Dakota
Ken Kimball, Waterville, Iowa
Paul Ulring, Columbus, Ohio
Russ Saltzman, Kansas City, Missouri


The Common Confession

We are people who believe and confess our faith in the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We trust and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.

We believe and confess that all human beings are sinners, and that sinners are redeemed by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God alone justifies human beings by faith in Christ - a faith which God creates through the message of the Gospel. As ambassadors for Christ, God uses us to speak his Word and build his kingdom.

We believe and confess that the Bible is God's revealed Word to us, spoken in Law and Gospel. The Bible is the final authority for us in all matters of our faith and life.

We accept and uphold that the Lutheran Confessions reliably guide us as a faithful interpretation of Scripture, that we share a unity and fellowship in faith with others among whom the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, and the sacraments are administered in accordance with the Gospel.

We believe and confess that the Holy Spirit makes all who believe in Jesus Christ to be priests for service to others in Jesus' name, and that God desires to make use of the spiritual gifts he has given through the priesthood of all believers.

We believe and confess that the marriage of male and female is an institution created and blessed by God. From marriage God forms families to serve as the building blocks of all human civilization and community. We teach and practice that sexual activity belongs exclusively within the biblical boundaries of a faithful marriage between one man and one woman.

We believe and confess that the church is the assembly of believers called and gathered by God around Word and Sacrament, and that the mission and ministry of the church is carried out within the context of individual congregations, which are able to work together locally and globally.


The Purpose of CORE

1. Encourage individual reform-minded congregations, laypersons, and pastors.

2. Support and offer coordination for the various renewal groups within the ELCA.

3. Address significant synodical and churchwide issues. Such issues may include, but are not limited to, leadership in the ELCA, global missions and pioneer evangelism, marriage and sexuality, the orthodox naming of God, and ELCA polity matters (quotas, three expressions, delegation/representation).

 

[LutherNut]

It's encouraging to see that there are those in the ELCA that understand the authority of Scripture and the sanctity of marriage.

I would be interested to know whether this "need to affirm the authority of the Word of God" means that they will revisit such practices as the ordination of women and open communion. Anything less still dismisses the authority of Scripture.

 

[RedneckAnglican]

It's encouraging to see that there are those in the ELCA that understand the authority of Scripture and the sanctity of marriage.

I would be interested to know whether this "need to affirm the authority of the Word of God" means that they will revisit such practices as the ordination of women and open communion. Anything less still dismisses the authority of Scripture.

I'm wondering about that, too...that's why I'm asking...before I get in to deep...

 

[Protoevangel]

I cannot be absolutely sure, but Mark Chavez in on the steering comittee, and I know from talking with him, that he is a supporter of Women's Ordination.

Saying that, from my time spent with Mark Chavez and others of Word Alone, I do believe that theit intention is to be 100% in line with both Holy Scripture and the confessions. We must remember the "starting point" that this "confessional movement" is beginning. They are working from within the ELCA. It may very well be that their strategy is to work in steps. Once the ELCA (if it ever does) accepts the Word of God as the authoratative and sole rule and norm, perhaps the confessional stand will continue to grow in the Word as well.

The bottom line is that, while not being enitrely consistent or harmonized with the Confessions and Scripture, they are certianly on the right path, confessing what must be confessed for that true understanding to ever exist. This, at the very least, deserves our respect and support.

Much of what Spalatin has written to me in the Lca thread has me questioning my own decision to leace the ELCA. I very much admire the faith that he confesses, and if he can stand by a heterodox LCMS, hoping to work for change, perhaps it has been only my own failure; my own lack of faith that has me working on my exit strategy to leave the heterodox, only moreso by degree, ELCA.

I dunno. Maybe looking outside what currently calls itself the "Lutheran" church is a valid option...

 

[KEPLER]

It seems to me that the useful vaccination against the various diseases within the ELCA is to make sure that these various groups are sponsoring young [men] to go to Seminary. The easiest and best way to get a Church to preach the authority and sufficiency of Scripture is to ensure that the pastor believes it.

So what steps do these groups take to ensure that the coming generation of Pastors are faithful to Scripture and the Confessions?

 

[RedneckAnglican]

It seems to me that the useful vaccination against the various diseases within the ELCA is to make sure that these various groups are sponsoring young [men] to go to Seminary. The easiest and best way to get a Church to preach the authority and sufficiency of Scripture is to ensure that the pastor believes it.

So what steps do these groups take to ensure that the coming generation of Pastors are faithful to Scripture and the Confessions?

This is off of the WordAlone web-site...

The WordAlone Network has a Seminary Debt Relief Fund (SDRF) that is used to assist confessional Lutheran pastors in their first five years of pastoral ministry repay their seminary student loans.

they actually spend a lot of money supporting seminarians...that is one of the main points that attracted me to the movment initally...

 

[KEPLER]

Very good!

 

[SPALATIN]

I cannot be absolutely sure, but Mark Chavez in on the steering comittee, and I know from talking with him, that he is a supporter of Women's Ordination.

Saying that, from my time spent with Mark Chavez and others of Word Alone, I do believe that theit intention is to be 100% in line with both Holy Scripture and the confessions. We must remember the "starting point" that this "confessional movement" is beginning. They are working from within the ELCA. It may very well be that their strategy is to work in steps. Once the ELCA (if it ever does) accepts the Word of God as the authoratative and sole rule and norm, perhaps the confessional stand will continue to grow in the Word as well.

The bottom line is that, while not being enitrely consistent or harmonized with the Confessions and Scripture, they are certianly on the right path, confessing what must be confessed for that true understanding to ever exist. This, at the very least, deserves our respect and support.

Much of what Spalatin has written to me in the Lca thread has me questioning my own decision to leace the ELCA. I very much admire the faith that he confesses, and if he can stand by a heterodox LCMS, hoping to work for change, perhaps it has been only my own failure; my own lack of faith that has me working on my exit strategy to leave the heterodox, only moreso by degree, ELCA.

I dunno. Maybe looking outside what currently calls itself the "Lutheran" church is a valid option...

Dan,

While the LCMS has the problems it has they have not changed their views on things like Women's ordination. My saying I wouldn't leave the LCMS because of what is going on now doesn't mean that I wouldn't leave if they started to approve the things that the ELCA have over the years.

But as I look around at even the ELS and WELS they are also having some difficulty in their synods.

What one has to decide is whether or not the issues of orthodoxy are changing. When a Synod makes a decision to approve women being ordained, is it likely that they will one day come back and say that it was all a mistake? Highly doubtful. Same as when an individual begins justifiying his sinful actions by pointing fingers at other people saying that he is not as bad as they are because he only did this sin and they were so much worse.

If I thought the ELKAH could be saved I would say you should stay and fight for it, but considering the road they have been traveling since their inception in 1988, I don't think they will retreat at this point. Consider the communion agreements they have with the Calvinist PCUSA and the Anglican ECUSA.

Does Lutheran theology expressed in Scripture and the Confessions truly line up with them? While I wish that the LCMS had not allowed congregations to decide for themselves on woman's suffrage in 1969, it is an area that makes me wonder when women's ordination will occur here as well.

But until that happens I hold hope that the LCMS will not ever consider that resolution. I am sure that WELS and ELS will be even slower if never to ever consider those options. Yes we all have to make our decisions on where we will be served by God.

As for the CORE, I have never heard of it. When I was a member of an ELCA congregation back in 2000-03 I asked to receive the Word Alone newsletter (which I still receive) I was heartbroke when I heard that they say they wanted to get back to the confessions, but were still in favor of women's ordination. To me those two things are diametrically opposed.

As I said in the LCA thread, If you stay you are still my brother, but I would like to welcome you to the LCMS as it would be one more person to help fight the forces of liberalism that I feel the ELCA as a whole has gone to far to be saved from at this time.

 

[AngelusSax]

I would be interested to know whether this "need to affirm the authority of the Word of God" means that they will revisit such practices as the ordination of women and open communion. Anything less still dismisses the authority of Scripture.

No it doesn't. It merely dismisses the authority of a human interpretation of Scripture.

 

[SPALATIN]

No it doesn't. It merely dismisses the authority of a human interpretation of Scripture.

Please state that this is your opinion of what he said and not a fact.

 

[Protoevangel]

While the LCMS has the problems it has they have not changed their views on things like Women's ordination.

When a Synod makes a decision to approve women being ordained

it is an area that makes me wonder when women's ordination will occur here as well.

I was heartbroke when I heard that they say they wanted to get back to the confessions, but were still in favor of women's ordination.

Wow, that really seems to be the hot-button issue for you. I agree that it is an issue, but it is an issue based on a faulty premise. It is that premise that must be addressed, otherwise, it will just be like two brick walls talking to one another... Neither will budge. That's where the groups like Word Alone and Lutheran CORE come in... To address the "core" issues, the foundation, and hopefully the specifics will follow.

While I am certian that I must leave the ELCA, I haven't made up my mind about the LCMS. I am sure you are right that the WELS and ELS have their problems, but do they wantonly abuse Holy Communion with impunity, and never expect any disciplining action? I'm afraid it's not going to be a short road, looking for these answers.

Does Lutheran theology expressed in Scripture and the Confessions truly line up with them?

What about the LCMS, and their failure to use church discipline to correct those pastors who abuse Holy Communion? Does this "truly line up" with Scripture and the Confessions? Does this not violate the very marks of the church?

I'm sorry Scott, I really do appreciate your encouragement, and your willingness to acknowledge me as a brother. I too, see you as a true brother, and will continue to do so, even if I decide that the LCMS is not where I need to end up. God bless!

 

[AngelusSax]

Please state that this is your opinion of what he said and not a fact.

But he doesn't have to state what he said is opinion... got it.

It's my opinion (based on the thinking capabilities and reasoning God gave me without the intent of foregoing them).

 

[SPALATIN]

But he doesn't have to state what he said is opinion... got it.

It's my opinion (based on the thinking capabilities and reasoning God gave me without the intent of foregoing them).

Truthfully unless it can be found in a publication it doesn't matter who said it should be stated as opinion, however, if you give information from a source you should cite that source like you would a Thesis paper.

So you are correct he should put the IMO or IMHO into his statement if it is just a matter of that and nothing else.

 

[SPALATIN]

Wow, that really seems to be the hot-button issue for you.

Yeah it is one that get's me going more than others

While I am certian that I must leave the ELCA, I haven't made up my mind about the LCMS. I am sure you are right that the WELS and ELS have their problems, but do they wantonly abuse Holy Communion with impunity, and never expect any disciplining action? I'm afraid it's not going to be a short road, looking for these answers.

Hey if the LCMS is not for you, maybe the WELS or TAALC would work. I would suggest ELS, but right now they are debating an issue in relation to the Office of the Keys that could get touchy. You may have read about it if you lurk around LQ at all.

The TAALC (which Filosofer is part of) is in talks with the LC-MS to having Altar and Pulpit fellowship and sharing the facilities at CTS Fort Wayne.

What about the LCMS, and their failure to use church discipline to correct those pastors who abuse Holy Communion? Does this "truly line up" with Scripture and the Confessions? Does this not violate the very marks of the church?

This is one of the core issues I do have problems with. The office of the district president has become totally political and therefore the DP power has become benign because if he wants to be elected again he has to keep the peace and if that means he doesn't come down on a Pastor for the incorrect administration of the sacraments, so be it. I wish there was a better way for them to serve without having to worry about that.

Maybe if when they were elected it would be to a one-time term of 6 years and that's it. No re-election possible. Then his administration could do it's job without fears of losing votes.

I'm sorry Scott, I really do appreciate your encouragement, and your willingness to acknowledge me as a brother. I too, see you as a true brother, and will continue to do so, even if I decide that the LCMS is not where I need to end up. God bless!

No problem Dan. I was hoping to give you reasons to come to the LCMS, but I think that you will have to weigh the issues yourself and together as a family make whatever change you deem necessary.

You may want to weigh the fact that the LC-MS does allow women to vote in the congregation (at least most of them). ELS and WELS do not.

When you have made your decision in this matter I would like to know what it is if you don't mind of course.

 

[LutherNut]

No it doesn't. It merely dismisses the authority of a human interpretation of Scripture.

Well, if it will "dismiss the authority of a human interpretation of Scripture", then that would be a vey good thing, since Scripture interprets Scripture. Remember 2 Peter 1:20, "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation."

 

[LutherNut]

What one has to decide is whether or not the issues of orthodoxy are changing. When a Synod makes a decision to approve women being ordained, is it likely that they will one day come back and say that it was all a mistake? Highly doubtful.

Did not the Southern Baptist Convention recently revisit the Biblical stance of the role of women and now they no longer ordain women into the ministry?

There is a precedence. Let's pray that this movement in the ELCA sees the error they are making and seeks to correct it.

 

[SPALATIN]

Did not the Southern Baptist Convention recently revisit the Biblical stance of the role of women and now they no longer ordain women into the ministry?

There is a precedence. Let's pray that this movement in the ELCA sees the error they are making and seeks to correct it.

LN,

Highly doubtful does not mean impossible. There is really no reason to believe at this point in time that Elk-ah will do a reverse on it's position regarding this issue.

The Liberals outnumber the conservatives.

In the SBC, the ruling of women's ordination was overturned, however, those that had already been ordained were allowed to continue their ministry.

 

[AngelusSax]

The Liberals outnumber the conservatives.

I remember one time this happened and a doctrine of grace apart from works was established.... Well, I don't remember it... I'm not that old. But I can look at history to see that happened.

 

[LutherNut]

I remember one time this happened and a doctrine of grace apart from works was established.... Well, I don't remember it... I'm not that old. But I can look at history to see that happened.

Hmmm...

I seem to remember reading that it was actually a group of conservatives that went back to what the Word of God actually taught concerning the doctrine of grace apart from works. Someone named St. Paul first mentioned something like that in his letter to the Romans... also mentioned it to the Ephesians... and the Galatians...

It was the liberals who tried to make it faith and works...

Keep trying, though. You'll get it right one of these days.

 

[Protoevangel]

I remember one time this happened and a doctrine of grace apart from works was established.... Well, I don't remember it... I'm not that old. But I can look at history to see that happened.

Ah, but the people you are talking about were extreme conservatives. Their only aim was to reject the liberal errors that had crept into the church.

Inasmuch, then, as our churches dissent in no article of the faith from the Church Catholic, but only omit some abuses which are new, and which have been erroneously accepted by the corruption of the times, contrary to the intent of the Canons, we pray that Your Imperial Majesty would graciously hear both what has been changed, and what were the reasons why the people were not compelled to observe those abuses against their conscience.

But if you knew the Lutheran faith, which you claim as your own, you would already know that.