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06 Mayjune Newsletter For NETWORKNETWORK NEWSNEWS ® Volume 7, Issue 3 MAY - JUNE 2006 Convention okays establishing Lutheran house of studies by Betsy Carlson, editor TheWordAlone Convention authorized the institution to "keepthe distance necessary" board of directors to implement a proposal to be a prophetic voice. Accreditation for an "autonomous and accredited" Luth- would provide external pressure for eran theological house of studies on excellence. Bielfeldt is a member of the May 2 in Golden Valley, Minn. WordAlone Board and professor of philosophy and religion at South Dakota The 2005 WordAlone convention started State University in Brookings, S.D. the planning for a Lutheran theological house of studies when it called for study St. Paul, Minn., Luther Seminary Prof. of creating an institution whose teachers Gracia Grindal, a WordAlone board mem- would be faithful to Scripture and the ber, said the statement was not detailed Lutheran Reformation. The proposal, enough for her to support it and that sup- which came from a task force formed last porting it would be a conflict of interest year, was forwarded to the convention by for her as a WordAlone board member and the WordAlone board. Luther Seminary professor. She said she The words "autonomous and accredited" could support it if "autonomous and accre- drew fire from some at the convention but dited" were dropped. She said Luther Sem- efforts to remove them from the resolution inary had produced confessional pastors. failed on a voice vote. Luther graduate Pastor M. Luther Johnson, Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt, who leads the Luth- Donnelly, Minn., said he agreed with eran theological house of studies task force, Grindal and moved to delete the words. said he thought the words "autonomous and He said another seminary was not needed accredited" were very important. He re- and that a house of studies could stand minded the convention that since the Word- within an existing seminary. Alone Network began, it had been auto- Pastor Kurt Borows, Jr., Port Clinton, Ohio, nomous within the Evangelical Lutheran said he was against Johnson’s amendment Church in America. He said the board of because he was "scared stiff when kids directors wanted to keep that autonomy for today" said they wanted to go to seminary the Lutheran theological house of studies. because he had "seen what seminaries do He added that autonomy would allow the to them." He said he (Continued on page 2) Convention okays Lutheran House of Studies (Continues from page 1) didn’t want the proposal watered down or In other action, the convention elected Formal theological stance its credibility reduced. Bill Drew, Spokane, Wash.; Pastor Scott Grorud, Hutchinson, Minn., and liaison proposed for WordAlone y Another Luther Seminary professor, Steven from Lutheran CORE; Jennifer Mason, Paulson, said he was against the amend- Crystal, Minn.; and Pastor Dan Storvick, ment. He said he thought a new Lutheran Prescott, Ariz., to the board of directors. theological house of studies could partner by Mark Chavez, director with Luther Seminary but that he would not Elected to the nominating committee were: In his essay "WordAlone fundamentalism? essay also addresses big issues that have want it under the auspices of a seminary. Pastor Chuck DeHaven, New Braunfels, No, fundamentals!" Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt led to a theological crisis within North Texas; Pastor Gerald Miller, Annapolis, proposes an in-depth, but concise, formal American Lutheranism: ambiguous and Bielfeldt was asked if Lutheran house of Md.; Quie, Minnetonka, Minn.; Pastor studies graduates would be able to be statement of the WordAlone movement’s shifting meanings of theological and Dan Selbo, San Jose, Calif.; and Pastor theological position. certified by ELCA candidacy committees Tony Stoutenburg, Hayward, Wis. biblical language, differing positions on and to serve in the ELCA. He said he Bielfeldt is a WordAlone board member the authority of Scripture and the didn’t have an answer but that he wanted After the convention, the board met and re- and chair of the Lutheran theological house Lutheran confessions and the denial of that to happen. elected its officers: John Beem chair, of studies task force. absolute truths and of God’s causal Pastor Fred Baltz vice-chair, Irv Aal "We are hopeful for certification and will relationship with creation and His creatures. treasurer and Grindal secretary. Pastor The WordAlone board asks that pursue it," Bielfeldt said. Jaynan Clark Egland was re-elected WordAlone members, chapters and Bielfeldt has said his paper is intended to Al Quie, former WordAlone board WordAlone president. churches study and discuss his paper. help all within the Evangelical Lutheran member, said he thought the Lutheran Responses and feedback may be sent to The board members finishing their three- Church in America and in other Lutheran theological house of studies should be the WA office at [email protected] or year terms were Doug Bahr, M.D., denominations to recognize the depth of autonomous because of the tendency to McQueeney, Texas; Diane Eaton, directly to Bielfeldt at [email protected]. the crisis facing Lutheran churches. He become like what one was near. Deephaven, Minn.; Clark Egland; and The theological issues outlined in wants to assist Lutherans doing theological He said WordAlone needed to "speak the Pastor Randy Freund, Hutchinson, Minn. Bielfeldt’s paper will be the main theme work to begin with presuppositions that truth" and not be "just a private little place John Beem and the convention thanked of WordAlone’s fall theological conference fundamentally are not in conflict with the next to an institution." them with applause for their service. this year. Dr. Fred Baltz, another WA Scripture and the Christian faith, so that board member, is writing a study and theology more fully serves the discussion guide for the paper that will be proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Index Order tapes, CDs, DVDs available soon and will be an excellent Christ. p. 1-2 Convention okays House of Studies resource for use in chapter meetings and p. 3 Formal theological stance proposed from adult forums. Bielfeldt has said that the aim of his paper is very much in line with the 2005 WA p. 4 Pulpit is everywhere, Wendt says 2006 WordAlone Network The dates and location of the fall annual convention’s request for a house of p. 5 Nestingen says, 'Word produces faith' Annual Convention conference will be announced soon. studies in which "theological education is p. 6 Resolution conflicts with church rules There will be further discussion and NOW! firmly grounded in the scriptural truth p. 7 LC3 outlook is positive consideration of WA’s fundamentals at Dr. Harry Wendt and the hermeneutic of the Lutheran p. 8 'ELCA scriptural fidelity needed' the 2007 annual convention. Dr. James Nestingen Reformation," and with the 2006 p. 9 Churches asked to share resources Dr. Steven Paulson The essay first was distributed at the convention’s approval of establishing an p. 10 Behold the new! WA President, Jaynan Clark Egland annual convention in Golden Valley, "autonomous and accredited" house of p. 11 Lutheran Clergy Connect Lutheran CORE reform group Minn., and may now be downloaded from studies "that focuses on the [Lutheran] Lutheran Churches of the Common the WordAlone web site at: www.word- Confessions, is competent in relating the Network News is published six times yearly alone.org/docs/wa-fundamentals.shtml. Confession renewal association Confessions to the world in which we live by the WordAlone ¤ Network. Though written as a proposal for and that recognizes that proper authority Jaynan Clark Egland: President, www.wordalone.org Mark C. Chavez: Director, Betsy Carlson: Editor WordAlone’s theological foundation, the can be located in the Word alone." - Please photocopy & distribute - 651 633-6004, 888 551-7254 t w o t h r e e Pulpit is everywhere, Wendt says Nestingen says, by Betsy Carlson, editor 'Word produces faith' Think about this statement: "It is all too His focus started to change to teaching easy to understand professional church adults, in particular. And to making By Betsy Carlson, editor workers as those whom we pay to do God’s parents aware of their God-given work for us. To put it a little crudely: ’We responsibility to understand God’s Good "My faith is never my work, but my about relationships. Say, ’Okay, bring ’em pay you to work your butt off while we News and to equip them to share and neighbors’ through the Holy Spirit," Prof. over, but then they’re ours. If you don’t sit on ours.’" model Jesus with their children. Emeritus Jim Nestingen told the audience give ’em Bibles and tell ’em the stories and at the WordAlone Network Convention, bring ’em to church, we’re gonna speak So said the Rev. Dr. Harry Wendt at the Later, he encountered expectations for "Pulpit, Pews and Parents," in May in the Word. That’s our job.’ annual WordAlone Network Convention, legalistic preaching and virtually no Golden Valley, Minn. "Pulpits, Pews and Parents," in early May congregational Bible study for adults. "I suggest that congregations appoint two in Golden Valley, Minn. His address was "The ’Word’ never approached Christians godparents for each child baptized in the "In that challenging situation," he said, "I called, "Jesus the Radical Servant abstractly but came to them in relationships, congregation, with two responsibilities to had to develop materials to help turn things Messiah," but he didn’t mean that Jesus came from the lips of persons who loved those kids: speak the Word and show up at was to be the only radical servant. around. The end result is that the materials I began to develop in New Zealand have them enough to call them to the Word," their ball games.
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