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Daily Devotions
(These devotions are updated Monday through Thursday each week.)
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WEEKLY UPDATE — 26 July 2010
On July 11, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Whitewood, South Dakota, voted unanimously to join the North American Lutheran Church. The congregation also took its first of two constitutionally-mandated votes to leave the ELCA. Congregations can now express their desire to be a part of the NALC when it is constituted at Lutheran CORE's Convocation Aug. 26-27 in suburban Columbus, Ohio.
| Seeking New Directions for Lutheranism: Biblical, Theological, and Churchly Perspectives | |
| A Theological Conference for all Lutherans | |
| Note: Dr. Gemechis Buba will be the banquet speaker on August 25, not Dr. James Nestingen, who cannot be the speaker because of a family commitment. The banquet has sold out. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please call the Lutheran CORE office at 888-551-7254 ASAP. | |
| August 24-26 - Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, Hilliard, Ohio map | |
 Lutheran CORE Convocation | |
| August 26-27 - Grove City Church of the Nazarene, Grove City, Ohio | |
| Register online for both events here! If you had previously registered for the theological conference or the banquet, please register now only for the convocation. | |
| The registration fees are waived for seminarians for the conference and convocation, and seminarians may apply for a stipend to assist with costs of attending the events. Send a message to Lutheran CORE with a summary of travel costs. | |
| Theological conference brochure PDF download Convocation brochure PDF download | |
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Check for hotels offering a Lutheran CORE group rate for the theological conference here.
Check for hotels offering a Lutheran CORE group rate for the Convocation here |
Congregational Life & Pastoral Support Resources
Lutheran CORE has compiled this list of resources for Christian education, evangelism, discipleship and stewardship as a service to congregations and pastors.
July "Connection" HERE!
READ: Please click here for the potential amendments (PDF file) to the constitution of Lutheran CORE which have been proposed by the Steering Committee for adoption at the Lutheran CORE convocation on August 26 and 27 in suburban Columbus, Ohio. Please check back by the end of the month for a letter from the Constitution Task Force explaining the proposed amendments.
View a timeline of key events in the ELCA's history that led to the crisis of the authority of God'S Word over all matters of faith and life and to the formation of Lutheran CORE. As a companion to the timeline, read "A Reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism," a presentation by Mark Chavez.
Read: “Keeping Our Faith in Difficult Times.” — A presentation given by Rev. Larry Vogel on May 8, 2010 at Camp Hill, PA. . . . .PDF FORMAT.
Read: “Fundamental without Fundamentalism” — A sermon preached by Rev. Mark A. Hoffman of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Millersburg, PA. . . . .PDF FORMAT.
African Lutherans Oppose ELCA decisions: Lutheran leaders in Africa are speaking out in opposition to the ELCA's approval of sexual relationships outside of marriage. Read a news report about statements by the President of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. Read a report about a significant statement from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania affirming Biblical teaching on homosexuality and rejecting the ELCA's actions and news report about remarks by its Presiding Bishop. Read also a message by African Lutheran leaders in preparation for the Lutheran World Federation assembly in Germany this summer.
Read: Prof. Larry Yoder was the lone member of the ELCA's first sexuality task force in the early 1990's who upheld the Biblical norms for marriage and sexuality. Read his reflections on that experience and the subsequent course taken by the ELCA that has resulted in such a tragic crisis over the authority of Scripture.
Read: Theological Implications of the 2009 ELCA Decisions, commissioned and approved by Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Also available for download in PDF format.
Read: Read Paul Hinlicky's latest reflections on the situation in the ELCA, “In Statu Embarassmentionis”. . . . Here
Read: A new paper by Pastor Eddy Perez entitled, "A Time to Rebuild." According to the dictionary, a boundary is the point at which something ends or beyond which it becomes something else. . . .more. . . . Or, you can download this article in PDF format.
NEWS RELEASE: Lutheran CORE releases proposal for reconfiguration of Lutheranism - pdf or html. Read "A Vision and Plan for the North American Lutheran Church and Lutheran CORE, a community of confessing Lutherans" - html or pdf.
"Facing Reality in the ELCA" - Remarks by Prof. David Yeago of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary delivered February 6 to the South Carolina Synod.
Read the remarks of Dr. James R. Crumley, Jr., former national Bishop of the Lutheran Church in America at the January 9 Gathering of Orthodox Lutherans of South Carolina. If you prefer, these comments may be downloaded in PDF format or in Microsoft Word format.
Robert Benne has written a new paper, "Why There Must Be New Beginnings," in which he lists the reasons why he supports Lutheran CORE's new associations as alternatives to the ELCA. You may also download this paper in PDF format.
For our Spanish-speaking friends, we have produced our brochure in a Spanish-language edition (folleto en español). This edition may be downloaded (descargar) here (aquí). You may download the English version here.
Donate your theological books to the Institute of Lutheran Theology and help the students and faculty of this new pan-Lutheran seminary.
Read Paull Spring's letter to Lutheran CORE members and supporters, which addresses the decisions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Read Lutheran CORE leaders renounce ELCA decision to endorse gay marriage and to allow pastors to be in same-sex relationships. Read the news release or the newsletter which could be copied for use in congregations.
Read Lutheran CORE Talking Points...here.
Read Address (PDF) by Ryan Schwarz of Lutheran CORE as a part of election process for ELCA Vice President.
Read James Nestingen's analysis of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly's decisions, "Joining the Unchurched" - PDF or HTML.
Read Carl Braaten's analysis of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly
Read Mark Chavez' commentary on the churchwide assembly - 'Ears to hear'?
Read Robert Benne's review of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly from Christianity Today magazine: "How the ELCA Left the Great Tradition for Liberal Protestantism."
Statement from President Gerald Kieschnick of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in response to the actions of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Read also President Kieschnick's address to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Read Statement of three Presidents Emeritus of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus regarding human sexuality decisions made by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Read Text of videotaped greeting (PDF) by Roman Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Read the March 2009 letter from the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee that outlines Lutheran CORE's vision and plans for the future.
Read A Layman’s Guide to Quantum Physics the Use of Reason: Insights into what Luther Saw as the Proper Role for Reason in Christian Deliberation - Pastor Gary Jepsen, Puyallup, Wash., has provided this short essay to give the average person some tools for understanding the proper role for reason in the faith, life, and proclamation of the church. It is a helpful resource in light of the major issues facing the ELCA.
Read Carl Braaten's presentation to a Lutheran CORE meeting in the Grand Canyon Synod, Theological Issues Challenging the ELCA.
The Lutheran CORE Steering Committee is thankful for the ELCA leaders that are serving on the Advisory Council, which includes former bishops John Beem, James Crumley, George Mocko and Ken Sauer; and other leaders like Robert Benne, Carl Braaten, James Nestingen and more.