A Missouri Lutheran Blasts our Church

Issues, Etc. is the radio show of Lutheran Pastor Todd Wilkens

The blog Episcopal Cafe reports on a radio interview of Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori by Pastor Todd Wilkens of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.  After concluding the telephone interview with our Presiding Bishop, Pastor Wilkens hangs up and comments to his listeners: "Don't even think for a minute there's any way she can ontologically incarnate the office of the bishop", simply because she is a “she”.  This premeditated ambush of our Presiding Bishop took place on January 4th.

Talk about Jerry Springer-like behavior!  To Mainline Episcopalians, Pastor Todd Wilken’s outburst is only to be expected, considering the source.  As a comment to the Episcopal Cafe article recounts, “remember that an LCMS pastor was charged with violation of his orders simply for sharing the stage with an imam at an event remembering September 11, calling for peace.”  And a posting on Facebook states, “LCMS aren't even in apostolic succession! who's he kidding about orders?”

The Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church is not the same as ELCA, the denomination that is in full communion with The Episcopal Church.  The Missouri Lutherans are a conservative, confessional denomination.  Missouri Lutherans are not ecumenical.  They officially endorse creationism and have anti-Catholic tendencies.  Also, not surprisingly, they believe that the ordination of women is contrary to scripture.

This reported incident comes close upon the Diocese of Albany’s announcement of the speaker for this year’s Parish Leadership Conference.  He is to be Pastor David Born, an ordained minister in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.  After a career in the pulpit of Missouri Synod congregations, Pastor Born is now a parishioner at Christ Episcopal Church in Cooperstown.  He is said to be experienced in evangelism, the theme of the leadership conference.

Now, it is not our intention to savage the Missouri Synod.  They will believe those things that their conscience allows.  Still, we must pray that they repent of a misogynistic view that is no longer socially or theologically relevant.  Likewise we must reserve judgment of Pastor Born’s upcoming talk.  Perhaps Pastor Wilkens expressed only his own biased viewpoint.  Pastor Born may well disavow these remarks as representative of of the Missouri Lutheran church.  If so, this conference would be an appropriate time to do so.

But it might be questioned why our diocese would emphasize that the speaker at our Parish Leadership Conference comes from a denominational background outside The Episcopal Church, let alone a denomination that would deny the sacramental legitimacy of our ordination rites.  Pastor Born’s experience and evangelical fervor are not in question.  Yet, The Episcopal Church must have many inspiring speakers willing and able to energize our conference toward evangelism.  Who better to ask to speak to us on evangelizing The Episcopal Church than an Episcopal missioner?  This, apparently, is an invitation our diocese does not consider worth offering.

The Parish Leadership Conference sessions will be held in Malone on January 21, in Oneonta on January 28, and at the Cathedral of All Saints on Feb. 4.

Comments

[Richard Angelo]

Ditto to both Bob Dodd's and Mother Anne's comments.I have said this before but will repeat it: I do not undersatnd inviting someone to speak who represents a denomination that clearly is in opposition to what the Episcopal Church stands for. I attend a parish here in South Florida when I am on vacation here which is busting,active and clearly talks about its evangelistic and social outreach to its community .which has increased not only its numbers but its influence in the Ft. Lauderdale area. It opnly welcoomes ALL people it its life and work.. Evangelism at its best!

[Robert T Dodd]

Brown+: "Any AVM people who know who the real Jeffrey John is will be amused by my mistake."

No sir, not amused but saddened. That Jeffrey John+ and, for that matter, +Gene Robinson would not be welcome in this diocese is a bow to ignorance. It's shameful, not funny.

[Ann Gaillard]

Unlike Fr. Brown, I do not consider this issue to be at all "petty." On the contrary, I think it is of extreme importance. I am one (and I am not the only one) clergy person who has declined to attend the Parish Leadership Conference this year. I am doing so as a matter of principle and conscience.

I do not doubt that Pastor Born has expertise in evangelism; I do not doubt that his presentation will be a good one; and for all I know he may disagree with his denomination on its stance regarding women's ordination.

But what is at issue here is that our diocese, which is part of the Episcopal Church, a denomination that ordains women, has invited someone to lead a key diocesan event who is a member of a denomination that not only refuses to ordain women, but is also quite vocal about it. Would the Diocese of Albany invite someone to lead a PLC who is from a diocese that does not believe in ordaining black people?

In my former life as an educator, I experienced discrimination and abuse because of my gender. Women in the Episcopal Church struggled for decades to achieve full inclusion in church leadership. It wasn't that long ago that women couldn't even be vestry members, much less ordained clergy. For the diocese to invite someone from a denomination that excludes women from holy orders to be a PLC leader is, quite frankly, mortifying, bewildering, and hurtful to many of us women, clergy and laywomen alike. It is likewise offensive and painful to many men in the diocese, again clergy and lay alike.

I realize that some of my clergy sisters and brothers disagree with me. But the diocesan leadership needs to recognize that its actions display insensitivity and/or lack of foresight, to say the least. I wish I could attend Pastor Born's workshop; I would like to attend a good workshop on evangelism. But to quote a theologian whom I admire: "Here I stand. I can do no other."

[Christopher Brown+]

CORRECTION: the priest from the Church of England mentioned in my previous comment was not the Rev. Jeffrey John, but the Rev. Jay John. Any AVM people who know who the real Jeffrey John is will be amused by my mistake.

[Christopher Brown+]

This post about the LCMS seems a bit petty. Yes, the LCMS has a reputation for rigidity, and Pastor Wilkins' comments about the Presiding Bishop after his having just spoken to her on air were inappropriate, unprofessional and uncharitable. But I don't see what that unfortunate incident had to do with Pastor David Born. And let's not forget that Pastor Born does attend an Episcopal Church in the Diocese, which makes him functionally part of our fellowship.

And yes, there are some fine speakers on evangelism in the Episcopal Church, and we have had many come to diocesan events in the past, including Fr. Kevin Martin, Fr. Keith Brown, Bishop Neal Michell, The Rev. Jeffrey John (C. of E.), Bishop William Godfrey (Anglican Church of Peru), and just recently, Bishop Ed Salmon.

The rationale for inviting Pastor Born is that he is already among us and has some significant gifts and expertise to share.

[Whit Brisky]

"Still, we must pray that they repent of a misogynistic view that is no longer socially or theologically relevant."

With all due respect, there are Scriptural arguments to be made in favor of women's ordination as presbyters or bishops, and Scriptural arguments to be made against. But surely the Truth must be determined by an objective examination of Scripture, not by considering whether something is "socially or theologically relevant." The Faith, once delivered, is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow.

And I don't know how much deference Ms Schori is owed given her attitude that she would rather see empty church buildings than that they be occupied by faithful Anglican congregations.

[Father Mike Waverly-Shank]

Let's look at the blast itself - It is false for our diocese - We have over 70 women clergy - at least 20 churches have women pastors - I am assisted at St. Mary's, Downsville by a woman Deacon - Seems to me that Bishop Bill and the leadership of the diocese approve of woman clergy.

And the Lutheran Pastor in question knows all this. Doesn't this mean that he also approves of women clergy. If he didn't, would he preside at the upcoming conferences ? I doubt it!

[virginia manning]

i guess i am simple...but "blasts our church" will bother me...internecine war fare among denominations is not "our church"in peril...Nigerian Catholics being killed is the church in peril

[Dave DiSisto]

It annoys me that the Diocese continues to solely have guest speakers who are of a conservative persuasion. What annoys me even more is that the Bishop continues to ignore anything said in this forum as well as the Albany Via Media forum. Isn't the Bishop supposed to provide pastoral care to all of his flock? Shouldn't he respond to the concerns express in this forum and others?