“Koinonia Project” – Brief Report – October 2012
Purpose: The “Koinonia Project” is a long term initiative of the Office of the President of the Synod developing spiritual and theological solutions under the Word of God for some of our long term spiritual and theological issues in the Synod. The project fosters theological study and discussion groups at many levels designed to bring together capable and respected people to study God’s Word and the Confessions of our church so that, by God’s grace, we come to clear agreement on 1) the points at issue, 1 2) what we confess together, 3) what we reject and 4) what we will therefore do together, on the basis of Scripture and our Confessions. This effort to do so we have chosen to call “The Koinonia Project” because we pray God will build and strengthen our unity in the Word of God and our fellowship, our “koinonia” together.
During the present triennium, we have been developing a number of pilot projects as outlined below. Actually, the “Koinonia Project” will become, we pray, an opportunity for a cultural shift among us, a positive change in our shared expectations.
A Concept Paper for the project is available on the Synod’s website, www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=1041. The effort arises from the work of the “Harmony Task Force” appointed in response to 2007 Synod Resolution 4-01A and from a paper produced by President Matthew Harrison in 2009 entitled “It’s Time.” The “concept paper” has been reviewed a number of times by the Synod Praesidium, by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR), by the Council of Presidents and by an “advisory group” of pastors and district presidents. A final draft will be put up on the website soon.
Advisory Group: Pastor Wally Arp, St. Luke’s, Oveido, FL; Pastor Allan Buss, Immanuel, Belvedere, IL; President Terry Forke, Montana District; Pastor Wayne Graumann, Salem, Tomball, TX; President Dale Sattgast, South Dakota District; Pastor Harold Senkbeil, New Berlin, WI; President Anthony Steinbronn, New Jersey District (chosen while he was a district executive). This group has met several times by phone with First Vice President Herbert Mueller to discuss drafts of the concept paper and communicating the concepts more broadly. More evaluation and expansion are needed.
We Are in a “Pilot Phase”: At present we are trying several different approaches to see what works best. Pilot Projects are active in several districts – Nebraska, Northern Illinois and South Wisconsin. The Council of Presidents and the CTCR are helping with the concept and evaluations. Several circuits in various districts are also developing as “Koinonia Project Theological Study Groups,” circuits in Texas, Ohio and Kansas. We have been speaking in several other districts – Northwest, Wyoming, Rocky Mountain, Minnesota South and are looking to develop groups in those areas. We are working with local district leadership to design what will be most helpful in each context. In so doing, we want to learn as much as we can with these pilot projects.
What About the Future? We are just getting started. Just barely. This is a long term effort. Our theological faculties are being drawn into the process. The Office of the President is involved in Koinonia-like study projects. The Advisory Group will be expanded. Much work needs to be done to take this to the next level. More publicity within the Synod. Receive reports on how the various pilot efforts are doing. Develop a website that can be regularly updated with information about the “Koinonia Project.” Develop more resources, particularly Bible Studies. Develop cross-district efforts. Develop ways to share results of studies across the Synod, ways to collate and bring together these results. Involve colleges and seminaries more deeply. A new draft of the concept paper will be published soon. How will the work of local groups be expanded nationally, or at least more broadly? Watch this space for future information. Keep it in your prayers!
+ Herbert Mueller
First Vice President, LCMS
[1] In concert with the approach of the Formula of Concord, agreeing on the specific points at issue is the first and most important step toward genuine resolution of controversy and the restoration of concord.
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about 7 months ago
Will the ordination of women be included in the Koinonia Project as a topic of study? Will women and men who are favorable or open to the possibility of ordaining women be included in discussions, free to speak their thoughts on the subject without threat of job loss, excommunication, or charges of heresy? The people and leadership of the LCMS are constantly in my prayers. God’s peace be with you and best wishes to you all. Carol Schmidt
about 7 months ago
Herb Mueller Responds:
Thank you for your prayers. There is always a delicate balance between the task of ecclesiastical supervision of doctrine and life (a task given to the district presidents under the supervision of the president) and the need for “safe places” for theological discussion. We note that there has always been a distinction between honest theological discussion under the Word of God in which various opinions may be expressed and publicly teaching contrary to the Word of God and the position of the Synod. Ecclesiastical supervision in general has to do with the latter, not the former. Actually, we have heard folks on both ends of the spectrum in Synod express fears about the Koinonia Project. On the one hand, there are those who believe the Synod has been too lenient with those objecting to its teaching and therefore are tempted to conclude that the Koinonia Project will “take too long” and will only become a delaying tactic to “avoid facing the inevitable.” Others say they are afraid the Koinonia Project is something of a ruse to cover up a plan to “purge” the Synod of “undesireables” like them. We note that the normal processes among us of both ecclesiastical supervision and doctrinal dissent according to the bylaws continue as they do now, separate from the Koinonia Project. However, the Koinonia Project is neither a delaying tactic nor a purge but it must become, we pray, an honest Spirit-guided effort over time to do what it takes to engage one another in theological listening and the discussions necessary to work towards unity, concord and harmony. The Concept Paper describes this in greater detail, but emphasizes the following: Koinonia Project “study groups must be developed as ‘safe places’ for honest theological conversation. While district presidents are always engaged in the ecclesiastical supervision of the doctrine and life of the members of the Synod, people need to be able to participate in the conversations of the ‘Koinonia’ groups without fear of retaliation. Immediate accusations of false teaching within a group, for instance, will quickly lead to the breakdown of the group. At the same time, while remaining ‘safe’ for all involved, groups will want to move toward the ultimate goal of confessing what God’s Word calls us to teach and to do together.”
about 7 months ago
I know what Ms. Schmidt is talking about. I have lived it first hand. Some Lutheran churches do not tolerate those of us who have questions about the role of women, creationism, or the role that the LCMS is taking in focusing on politics. I know what it’s like to hear “my” pastor say that he doesn’t understand how one can be saved unless one believes in a 6 day creation. Can you ensure that those in the LCMS who feel as I do will be heard with respect?
about 6 months ago
Herb Mueller Comments:
I simply go back to what we said above. We cannot guarantee the behavior of all participants. However, the goal is to provide safe places for honest theological discussion under the Word of God for all involved. The goal is that everyone is heard with respect and also that, as the Scripture says, in the end, our thoughts are captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). The proof will be in the doing, in the experience of those in the Koinonia Project study groups. Much prayer is needed – for faithfulness to the Word of God and for all to work with love and respect. Yours in Christ, + Herb Mueller
about 6 months ago
Vice President Mueller,
Seems to be a lot of time, $$$ & focus on the process (concept paper being reviewed & re-reviewed, advisory group meetings, Koinonia study projects, pilot groups, setting up “safe places”) rather than on the issues that are dividing the Synod.
Meanwhile, the errors in the Synod continue to grow and fester, i.e., open communion, no ecclesiastical supervision, dispute resolution system, non-Lutheran worship, lay ministry, unionism/syncretism, pure doctrine pitted against “mission,” confusion on the role of women, to name some of the obvious.
Why can’t our Synod leadership (President & his Vice-Presidents) just get down to solving these issues where the answers are so clear from Scripture instead of focusing on a long drawn out process?
Thanks & God’s Blessings,
Ginny Valleau
about 6 months ago
See my previous comments. Our purpose in the Koinonia Project is to study the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions because we believe that is where God will provide the answers. The difficulty is that it will take time and effort. I understand the impatience, but God has much teaching to do among us by His Word. We work by attraction, attraction to the treasure of our confession in Christ. Blessings, + Herb Mueller