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I am a Lutheran Pastor offering reflections on what it means to be faithful in a changing world.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Ecumenism= Evangelism AND Mission

I have been reading a book titled "The New Church Debate: Issues Facing American Lutheranism".  This book, written in 1983 contains a series of essays that spoke to ecclesial, theological, structural and sociological issues that impacted the formation of a united Lutheran church body in the United States.  This united church body is now the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

I came across an essay in this book that was written by the late William H. Lazareth entitled, "Evangelical Catholicity:  Lutheran Identity in an Ecumenical Age."  As American Lutherans were taking bold steps towards unity with one another in the United States, voices like Lazareth were speaking of a Lutheran identity that was Ecumenical.

Lazareth first writes about Christian identity and the significance of unity in an Escahtological Age.

"For Some of the most ardent Christians of our day, any concern for the visible unity of the church appears archaic.  They believe that there are far more urgent tasks to which the churches are called to be involved in.  Ironically, this impatience can arise from two quite different - and often incompatible - kinds of convictions" (p.16)

Lazareth then describes the differences between the conservative right and the liberal left and their ambivalence towards the visible unity of the Church.   For the conservative right, sharing the gospel is the first and foremost priority.  This group seeks to avoid as many stumbling blocks as possible when it comes to effective evangelism in the world.  As a result, they become suspicious of large institutions and structures believing that "organizational church unity...may actually be a hindrance" to their missionary goals.

As for the liberal left, the primary concern is  social justice.  Lazareth describes them as a group that could take or leave visible Church unity.  The liberal left strives and works for true equality, and justice in a broken world.  They seek to break down the dividing walls of race, class and poverty.  "If church unity makes for more effective social action, it is to be welcomed...what really matters, according to this second view, is our effective involvement in the burning societal issues of humankind" (p.16).

Fast forward to 2010 and we still find these struggles throughout the church today.  Perhaps the divide of Christians being "Evangelical" or "Social Justice oriented" is wider today, due to a polarized political landscape.  The reality in the United States is that we are living in a post-modern culture, and this country is once again a mission field.  Unfortunately many Christians identify themselves as either being with the conservative right or the liberal left.  Lazareth locates Lutheran identity and the ecumenical future as neither "conservative" OR "liberal". 

Lazareth points to the World Council of Churches Central Committee document from 1982 entitled, "Mission and Evangelism - an Ecumenical Affirmation."  Twenty Eight years ago both Lazareth and the World Council of Churches affirm that Evangelism and Mission come with being disciples of Jesus Christ.  It is Evangelism AND Mission, not Evangelism OR Mission.  One excerpt Lazareth shares from the WCC document states:

"...A proclamation that does not hold forth the promises of the justice of the kingdom to the poor of the earth is a caricature of the Gospel; but Christian participation in the struggles for justice which does not point towards the promises of the kingdom also makes a caricature of a Christian understanding of justice" (p.22)

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be Evangelical, pointing to the kingdom of God that is here and is to come.  If we embody both Evangelism and Mission, it is only natural then to be Ecumenical, the mission of the church is stronger when Christians receive the unity Christ has given his Church.

Lazareth writes about the 450th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession in 1980.  This world celebration caused Lutherans throughout the world to think about this confession of faith in an ecumenical context.  Lazareth points out that, at this time, Lutherans are in serious theological dialogues with other Christians communities.  Lazareth writes, "...Lutheran Christians, despite their ecclesiastical identification as Protestants, nevertheless define their ecclesiological identity as 'evangelical catholics'; that is, as a confessing and confessional communion within the church catholic" (p.26).

These are just snippets of a fantastic and insightful essay about Lutheran identity in an ecumenical age.  I wonder if Lazareth could have predicted the progress and milestones of the ecumenical movement when this essay was written in 1983?  In 2010, the ELCA is over 20 years old and is now in full communion with six mainline denominations.  Lazareth would probably argue that this has been possible because of our Evangelical Catholic identity.  Lutheran Christians do not believe that the "Lutheran Church" is the one true church but part of the one holy catholic church.  Understanding ourselves to be both Evangelical and Catholic, when we share the good news we point to God's kingdom of justice, and when engaged in social outreach we bear witness to Jesus Christ the bread of life.  We do not have to choose between evangelism, mission and ecumenism because each supports the other in pointing to the Cross of Christ in a broken world.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Reflections on the General Assembly

           
            It was an honor and privilege to serve as a Young Adult Steward at the recent general assembly of the National Council of Churches in New Orleans, Louisiana.  To be present at the table of dialogue, representing not just myself but also the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and how my thoughts and convictions about Christianity, Justice and Ecumenism were shared in light of the tradition of which I belong.  If I could sum up my experience at the General Assembly in one word, it would be “relationships”.  Relationships are the key to embodying the unity God has already given to God’s Church.  At the General Assembly, I was able to form relationships with my fellow Young Adult Stewards and many others who see our unity and diversity as gifts from God, as opposed to stumbling blocks towards unity.

          The time I spent at the General Assembly was a reminder that my own personal faith journey has been an Ecumenical one. My faith has increased and deepened over the years because of the Holy Spirit working through members of the body of Christ; people who gave witness to the gospel through the lens of their faith tradition.  This assembly brought opportunities for fruitful dialogue, by having formal conversations through the Cafe’ and informal conversations between sessions.  I encountered participants who were individuals that took seriously Christ’s command for “all to be one” and the gifts their traditions had to offer to the entire Church.

          The study paper that I choose to engage in during the Assembly was Christian Understanding of Unity in an Age of Radical Diversity.  One of my favorite statements from the paper was this, “The goal of the ecumenical movement is not to unite those who are diverse – that is the goal of political parties and governments.  The goal is to celebrate the wondrous diversity of our God-given oneness as God’s people, Christ’s body, the Spirit’s temple.”  I could see this truth embodied through our holy conversations, when breaking bread together and worshiping as one at the assembly.

          This experience gave me the opportunity to meet new friends, who I have always been in connection with as sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus.  The group of Young Adult Stewards that attended this General Assembly this year came from a variety of Christian traditions.  To be able to form relationships with them that have lasted long after the end of the assembly is priceless.  It is because of the gift of relationship that we have with each other and our Lord that I rejoice and give thanks.  Bonding with my fellow Young Adult Stewards gave me hope, not just for the future of the Church and ecumenism, but for the mission of the Church that we are engaged in right now.

          The paper of Unity in an Age of Diversity also stated that, “the church must turn again to scripture and tradition in order to hear what the Spirit is saying to us.”  I can affirm that across, denominations and generations, this is being lived out.  As a member of the body of Christ, I pray that the experiences and relationships formed at gatherings such as the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches may be more common in local communities.  I know that Ecumenism is alive and well across the country; those of us that gathered together for this Assembly have now been scattered back out into the world. Commissioned to proclaim and witness, with all Christians, God’s gift of unity and diversity that shines a beacon of hope in a broken world.