Uncategorized
Boy Scouts of America: Why the Proposed Policy Change Matters
May 16th
A statement by the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, President,
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
May 16, 2013
Western culture is at a crucial moment in history. After 103 years of existence, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) may vote to change drastically its membership policy. For those who may be unaware, the BSA, in recent months, has discussed allowing both gay Scouts and Scout leaders into its organization. Recently, however, the BSA has changed its course. Now the vote will determine only whether to include openly homosexual Scouts as members.
LCMS leaders have been carefully monitoring the proposed BSA policy changes. When news of the proposed change was made public, I sent a letter to BSA, imploring its leadership not to make the proposed policy change. And even though the initial proposal to focus on Scout leaders has been shelved, I believe the current proposal still has unknown implications for the future of BSA as well as LCMS support and involvement. The proposed change will highlight sexuality, which has not been and should not be a matter of focus for Scouts. I suspect it will make it more challenging to care for young people struggling with same-sex attraction and perhaps open our churches to legal action.
This vote matters to the LCMS. The proposed change in BSA policy on values and membership to include openly homosexual Scouts adversely affects, even supersedes, the authority of the local pastor and congregation by allowing and promoting a moral position that we as LCMS Lutherans believe is against the will of God and in opposition to Holy Scripture.
This vote matters because, if enacted, the proposed change to BSA policy on values and membership will cause a crisis of conscience for our church leaders, pastors, parents and congregations. Even if the decision of values and membership remains at the local level, Scouts from troops sponsored by congregations of the LCMS will be affected because, as part of the scouting program, they also participate at regional and national scouting activities.
This vote matters because, for more than a century, scouting has sought to uphold moral values at a level greater than that of general society. The capitulation now to societal pressures would mar the long and honorable history of the Boy Scouts to honor the natural law of God, which at least for now, is still reflected in the current scouting membership policy.
For these reasons, I and some 25 other Protestant church leaders have signed onto a statement, copied below, that implores BSA not to change its policy, noting that, “In our current culture, it’s more important than ever for our churches to protect and provide moral nurture for young people and for the Scouts.” The statement will be released in conjunction with its delivery to the BSA office and before the organization’s vote, which will take place May 24.
I share this with you today because it is difficult to know which of our LCMS BSA members will be part of the 1,400 members who will vote on the policy change later this month. I am hopeful that all of you will share this information with those in your congregation who are involved with BSA and even those in your community who will cast votes later this month.
As the church awaits the BSA vote, we still have much to do. We repent, and we pray. We confess Christ and elevate marriage among us. We do what the church does best: We bear witness to Christ, show mercy to those in our midst — including those challenged by same-sex attraction — and care for all in our life together.
Pastor Matthew C. Harrison
President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Statement
We strongly support the Boy Scouts of America current prohibition on open homosexuality and retaining it without revision. Nearly 70 percent of BSA troops are hosted by churches and religious institutions. Upholding traditional morality is vital for sustaining this partnership, for protecting Scout members, and for ensuring BSA has a strong future. A proposal from the BSA board to prohibit “discrimination” based on “sexual orientation or preference” for BSA members potentially would open the Scouts to a wide range of open sexual expressions. In our current culture, it’s more important than ever for our churches to protect and provide moral nurture for young people and for the Scouts. We implore members of the upcoming BSA Council to affirm the BSA’s present policy, which the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed, and which has served BSA well.
Bishop David C. Anderson, Sr.
President, American Anglican Council
Sara L. Anderson
Executive Vice President
Bristol House, Ltd. (United Methodist)
The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey
Chief Operating & Development Officer
American Anglican Council
Dr. Robert D. Benne (Lutheran)
Jordan Trexler Professor Emeritus
and Research Associate
Religion and Philosophy, Roanoke College
Dr. Robert H. Blackburn
Past Chairman, National Association of Covenanting Congregations
The Rev. John Bradosky, Bishop
The North American Lutheran Church
Pastor Mark C. Chavez
General Secretary, North American Lutheran Church
The Rev. Sue Cyre
Executive Director of Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry (PFFM)
The Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison
President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Doug Harvey, Executive Director
Disciple Heritage Fellowship
The Rev. Charles Huckaby
Dean, Western Classis of the Calvin Synod Conference United Church of Christ Term 2010– 2013
Dr. Jeffrey Jeremiah
Stated Clerk
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
John Lomperis
Director, United Methodist Action
Alex McFarland
Director for Christian Worldview and Apologetics
Senator Patricia Miller
Executive Director, Confessing Movement (United Methodist)
Bob Morrison
Secretary, REVIVE! (Iowa United Methodist renewal)
The Rev. Dr. Mary Holder Naegeli
Minister-at-Large, San Francisco Presbytery; Moderator of the Presbyterian Coalition
Rev. Kevin C. Rudolph
National Covenant Association of Churches
Windwood Presbyterian Church
Houston, TX
The Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Schumacher
Executive Director, American Lutheran Publicity Bureau
The Rev. W. Stevens Shipman
Director, Lutheran Coalition for Renewal
The Rev. Paul Stallsworth
President, Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality
David M. Stanley
Director, Institute on Religion and Democracy
Chairman, United Methodist Action Steering Committee
Co-Chair, REVIVE! (Iowa United Methodist renewal)
Bishop Ray Sutton
Ecumenical Officer, Anglican Church in North America
Mark Tooley
President, Institute on Religion & Democracy
The Rev. Dr. David Wendel, Assistant to the Bishop for Ministry and Ecumenism
The North American Lutheran Church
Dr. George O. Wood
General Superintendent
General Council of the Assemblies of God
Read more about the proposed change here.
The Kermit Gosnell Verdict: Implications for Pro-Life Lutheran Christians–A statement by LCMS Life Ministries
May 13th
The Kermit Gosnell Verdict: Implications for Pro-Life Lutheran Christians
A statement by LCMS Life Ministries
May 13, 2013
After a nine-week trial, which included weeks of graphic testimony, a Pennsylvania jury found Dr. Kermit Gosnell guilty of three of four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of babies who were born alive, but who died after their spinal cords were severed in procedures Gosnell called “abortions.” He was acquitted on the fourth murder charge. Gosnell also was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the botched abortion death of one mother. He faced 258 counts total, including 24 counts of performing abortions after 24 weeks gestation, which is illegal in Pennsylvania, and hundreds of charges of violating Pennsylvania’s informed consent and 24-hour waiting period laws. The jury is now in the penalty phase.
Gosnell’s murder trial became the subject of much debate nationally after pro-life activists and others criticized the mainstream media for ignoring the trial early on.
As pro-life Christians devoted to the biblical understanding of the sanctity of human life, we grieve over the tragic loss of these lives and the thousands of other children and mothers who die daily as a result of abortion. Today’s conviction of Gosnell brings justice for the many victims of this horrific abortion facility and demonstrates that abortion is clearly a slippery slope that seeks to deprive the most helpless of their basic human right: life.
The LCMS develops and promotes resources and support for pregnant women so they can avoid seeking abortions. Abortion doesn’t solve — but only masks — problems many women face and leaves many of them grieving the death of a child.
The Gosnell case generated a larger debate and rightly caused people to consider the philosophical issue of why an abortion procedure performed in utero is legal, but also how a similar act a few minutes later, outside the womb, is considered homicide.
Clearly, the case was about the death of five persons and no one can argue against the personhood of these four smaller humans. This case has exposed the ugly underbelly of the pro-abortion movement and it has brought the humanity of unborn children before the public conscience.
We call upon legislators and citizens to examine the brutality of abortion, which takes the lives of 1.2 million children every year, and the mothers who die as well. (The Center for Disease Control reports that about 400 women have died as a result of legal abortions since 1973, and 12 died in 2008, the last time such research was gathered.)
Our church aims to be a place of forgiveness, mercy and healing for all people as we continue to proclaim Christ’s comfort and truth in love. As we move forward following this ruling, we offer up our prayers for women and children in need, for families, that those still participating in the abortion industry would stop, and for our nation.
Additional Information
For more information, contact:
Maggie Karner, director, Life Ministries
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
888-THE LCMS (843-5267)
Mother’s Day
May 13th
This will be brief.
Certainly contrary to the intention of its founders, this has again been a painful day for many. I recognized this early on as a parish pastor, from whom was expected at least a token mention of the day–if not in the sermon, then in the announcements or while greeting worshippers after the service. While a happy and pleasant day for many women and families to be sure, I also knew it to be only a perfunctory-at-best or often painful day for others, because I knew a little about the lives of those women and families in those pews and how this day was once again resurfacing heartbreaks and opening emotional wounds that would never entirely heal.
In short, I knew as a pastor that I had to be especially well-prepared on this Sunday each year, to preach the Law without driving to despair, and to preach the Gospel in a manner that would be truly good news to all–especially those coping with a less-than-happy Mother’s Day.
We are a sinful lot, that’s for sure. But thanks be to God who has redeemed us at an amazingly great price.
Ray Hartwig
Free video, Bible study on prayer available
May 1st
|
Two new resources, a free two-part Bible study and a video, from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod provide an introduction to Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray,” which offers instruction on how to pray. “For Luther … the right way to begin to answer the questions ‘What is prayer?’ and ‘How shall we pray?’ is with our Lord’s own command and promise,” wrote the Bible study author, the Rev. Dr. John Sias, pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Colstrip, Mont. Luther wrote “A Simple Way to Pray” to explain his approach to prayer in 1535 after his barber and friend, Peter Beskendorf, asked for some practical guidance on how to pray. In the tract, Luther explains the “ITCP” method, which features four steps: instruction, thanksgiving, confession and prayer. “Because there are so many unbiblical things said and written about prayer all about us, every Lutheran should l have ‘A Simple Way to Pray’ and read it,” said the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, president of the LCMS. “Luther’s little book on prayer will revolutionize your prayer life.” Harrison translated “A Simple Way to Pray” from German to English for Concordia Publishing House, the church’s publisher. Get Resources
|
Resources for Sunday of Easter 4 in Light of the Boston Marathon Bombing
Apr 16th
Download in MS Word format
Collect:
O Savior, our Good Shepherd, You taught us that the thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy, but that You have come to bring life in abundance. Remember in Your divine pity those who have endured the terror attack in Boston, and comfort them with Your presence and promises. Receive our thanks for the care provided by the first responders and all who have ministered to those suffering. Continue to grant to the afflicted Your healing and to those who mourn, grant the peace that can come only from Your victory over death. Thwart the desires of those who would sow fear and discord among us and lead them to repentance. We make these prayers to You in confidence, for You have known in Your own flesh the irrational hatred and violence and overcome them with divine compassion and love, You who live and reign with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Petition to add to the Prayer of the Church (Series C):
For all injured in the attacks in Boston; for those who mourn their dead; and for all who have been traumatized, that they may each experience the comfort of Your unfailing love and the strength of Your divine life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Petition to add to the Prayer of the Church (One-Year Series):
Lord of life, to Your merciful hand we commend all who have been injured in the attacks in Boston; all who mourn their dead; all traumatized by what they saw and experienced there. May Your merciful love sustain, comfort, and uphold them. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
A Litany:
O Lord, have mercy.
O Christ, have mercy.
O Lord, have mercy.
O Christ, hear us.
God the Father in heaven, have mercy.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy.
God the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, have mercy.
Be gracious to us, spare us, good Lord.
Be gracious to us, help us, good Lord.
From all crafts and assaults of the devil;
From sudden and evil death;
From the seductions of fear and terror: good Lord, deliver us.
By Your holy wounds, suffered freely for us, help us, good Lord.
By Your love’s victory over every hatred and violence, help us, good Lord.
By Your triumph over death and the grave, help us, good Lord.
For all who have been wounded in body or spirit, heal them, O Lord.
For all who have lost those they love, comfort them, O Lord.
For all who labor to bring relief, order, and justice, strengthen them, O Lord.
For all who are perplexed and struggling with fear and doubt, grant Your peace, O Lord.
For those who have died, that we be given grace to commend them to Your merciful hands, grant it, O Lord.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy!
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy!
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us Your peace!
O Christ, hear us.
O Lord, have mercy.
O Christ, have mercy.
O Lord, have mercy. Amen.
Taught by our Lord and trusting His promises we are bold to pray: Our Father . . .
