It was only a matter of time. Luther would be apoplectic.
Although I'm not surprised, I am deeply disappointed to learn that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has counseled its leadership not to discipline congregations who call homosexual clergy. I therefore resign my membership in the ELCA effective immediately.
The text of my resignation letter:
To whom it concerns:
With profound sadness and deepest regrets, my conscience demands I part company with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I no longer consider myself a member of the ELCA. Three days of Lutherans talking and voting have done what 450 years of anti-Lutheran rhetoric couldn't do: destroy and discredit Luther's gospel- and Christ-centered message and legacy.
I will not participate in or support any church body that adopts the following statement in a 538-431 vote:
RESOLVED, that in an effort to continue as a church in moral deliberation without further strife and pain to its members, the Churchwide Assembly prays, urges, and encourages synods, synodical bishops, and the presiding bishop to refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining those congregations and persons who call into the rostered ministry otherwise-qualified candidates who are in a mutual, chaste, and faithful committed same-gender relationship; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Churchwide Assembly prays, urges, and encourages synods, synodical bishops, and the presiding bishop to refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining those rostered leaders in a mutual, chaste, and faithful committed same-gender relationship who have been called and rostered in this church (http://www.elca.org/assembly/pdf/E3_Landahl_substitution.pdf).
It says, "Yes, we have a policy, but we don't want you to follow it." I appreciate that this resolution is "merely" a memorial, but it represents the wishes of a majority of voting members at the assembly. I cannot and will not be part of a church that ordains homosexual clergy. I don't believe I need a crystal ball to know where this move leads and how it will end up.
The ELCA is no longer Christ's church; at best, it certainly isn't behaving like it. The ELCA is no longer guided by what is approved by God and what glorifies Jesus Christ; the ELCA is not a light on a stand. Rather, the ELCA is guided by what soothes itching ears and seeks to cloak the light lest it reveal our sinfulness.
The ELCA has abandoned its God-given responsibility to set an example of Christian living and to set the agenda for discussion of morality in public and private life. Instead, the ELCA winks at sin and allows the world to set its agenda.
Accordingly, I resign my membership in the ELCA effective immediately.
Kurt Wall
Formerly of
Zion Lutheran Church (Brentwood)
Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod
Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania
Posted by Kurt Wall at 10:31 2007-11-09 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
Driving in Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)
...or, "You can't get there from here."
Driving in Pittsburgh is an exercise in aggravation. Southwestern Pennsylvania is an area of hills and valleys connected by thin veneers of poorly maintained asphalt and concrete. Then there's the whole fundamental lack of rationality, rhyme, and reason in the naming and layout of the streets. An example will prove the point.
My borough (answering the question "What's a borough?" is a rant for another day) is situated at the south end of Route 51. "Route 51" is a nice, simple, clean name for a road. But Pittsburgh's traffic engineers and city planners have hopelessly complicated what should be an uncomplicated affair, the name of a road. At our end of Route 51, it is also known as Clairton Boulevard. Closer in to Pittsburgh, at a point known to no one save The Almighty, the name changes to Sawmill Run Boulevard. Further up Route 51, the name changes again (or back) to plain vanilla Route 51. It makes no sense to me.
The occasion for this rant is having to describe to my father how to get to the Hillman Cancer Center in Shadyside. He was told, "It's across the street from Shadyside Hospital." That was perhaps interesting information, but useless to him because he's unfamiliar with the area. Never mind that "Shadyside Hospital" is actually "UPMC Shadyside." The latter point bears on the tendency of Pittsburghers to give directions in terms of landmarks that no longer exist (yet another rant for another day). But, I digress.
Giving him directions for traveling from our house to Hillman and back home was not a viable option. Pittsburgh natives and long-time residents might understand "Take 885 across the Glenfield Bridge; turn right to Swinburne; take the Swinburne Bridge into Oakland; then follow Forbes Avenue until you get through Oakland and can cut over to Center Avenue."
Not surprisingly, newcomers lack familiarity with Pittsburgh's landmarks, the maze of back roads and side streets, and alternative routes on which to fall back when the "established" routes are blocked by the inevitable road construction. Sure, I could have given him directions, but the way that road names change here, combined with the manner in which a street will apparently come to an end only to resume several blocks later, makes the directions more like suggestions or recommendations. Ultimately, it was easier to show him how to get to Hillman by driving over and back.
No, unless you have knowledge of the Pittsburgh area genetically imprinted, you can't get there from here, regardless of where "here" and "there" are.
Posted by Kurt Wall at 10:30 2007-11-09 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)