From
Living Theology in the Metropolitan Chicago Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church In America
Volume 3, Number 2
Pentecost 1998
Confessional Renewal Movements
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
Just a
brief note of appreciation for the Let’s Talk (Lent 1998) issue devoted to the
important topic of the mission of our Synod and its congregations. It was
interesting to get to know the viewpoints of some key members of our Synod
Council.
I wish
there had been a clearer statement of the meaning of “mission.” Is it defined
by our Synod’s new mission statement, adopted by the 1997 Assembly: Proclaim
the Gospel, make disciples, do justice—in Jesus’ Name? If so, then I’d expect
at least three articles dealing with these three “mission” goals.
What I
especially missed in the Let’s Talk issue on mission was an article on
doing justice as a Synod and as a congregation of it. Does doing justice mean correct
social position and advocacy? What else?
And what
does making disciples mean? Dynamic evangelism and membership growth? Or is it
a matter of raising the “faith temperature of the people in your parish,” as
Bishop Olsen put it?
Finally,
what does proclaiming the Gospel mean? How is it related to our Bishop’s
emphasis on “faith development?” Was Fr. Bob Cross’s article “Common Ground: We
are Sinners” intended as an example of proclaiming the Gospel on the parish
level?
These
questions are not meant to offend or criticize the issue co-editors. I offer
them as evidence that Let’s Talk has encouraged me to think more deeply
about “mission” in our Synod.
Richard
Kaeske
Dear
Editor
Congratulations
on the recent issue of Let’s Talk on “Ecumenism and Us.” I agree the
vote against the Concordat may have prompted more discussion about the
Confessions than approval might have, but miss attention to what the
Confessions actually say on bishops and presbyters. Hope you get something from
within Chicagoland on this.
John Reumann
Ministerium of Pennsylvania
Professor Emeritus
Lutheran Theological Seminary
at Philadelphia