Radidio and Ottaia,
I was involved with Word Alone early on and I generally agree with its goal of reform within the ELCA.
When the Episcopal agreement was approved several years ago, I was quite involved. The homosexuality issue (especially ordination of practicing gay clergy) has become another key issue for Word Alone, but one that doesn't bother me the way it does others in the movement.
Many people felt that disagreements over the Episcopal issue were a liberal vs. conservative issue. I disagree with that. The Episcopal agreement forced ELCA pastors to buy into the historic episcopate -- which is contrary to Lutheran theology -- so the Episcopalians would accept our clergy. We never actually agreed to Episcopal theology, the ELCA leadership said we should just go through the motions to placate the Episcopalians.
That's wrong on so many levels, not just from a liberal or conservative perspective -- and the handling of the issue by ELCA leadership didn't help.
Generally, groups like WA presented the Episcopal/Lutheran agreement as a departure from the Confessions, because it forced the ELCA to agree that the historic episcopate was necessary to be considered part of the Church. This is a violation of the Confessions definition of the Church. (I appreciate that, but personally I'm still wrestling with the proper role of the Confessions.)
I think the homosexuality issue IS more oriented to a liberal / conservative debate. However, more fundamentally (and I've heard a number of conservative Lutherans say this too), the gay issue is one that should never have been raised -- it's an issue that can and should be handled locally because it's an emotional issue that can't be legislated for the whole denomination with any degree of thoughful or careful consideration. (Not surprisingly, many said the same thing about the Episcopal/Lutheran agreement -- it wasn't worth bringing up.)
That's my 2 cents on the matter.
Ottaia, can you tell me more about the things that struck you as vindicative in the WA publication?
-Cloy
Radidio said:
I've been to afew LCMC sites but I still don't know what their beliefs are. Is it just ELCA with a mission concept or what?
ottaia said:
My feeling about the Word Alone publication is that it seems very "vindictive." I always feel like at some point the writer is going to say, "And I'm going to take my ball and go home!" Maybe vindictive is not the word. Maybe I should say defensive.