Truce Called in Southeastern District

By God’s grace and mercy alone, the governance problem at a Maryland congregation is being addressed with Christian intent rather than bylaw commitment.

To acknowledge the progress, Ad Crucem News has unpublished all previous articles related to this case, and will not publish new articles about it until there is a resolution.

Providentially, today’s epistle reading from the Lutheran Missal is James 1:17–21:

Dearly Beloved: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

The Gospel reading is John 16:5–15:

At that time Jesus said to His disciples: “Now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”

Almighty God and Father, from whom comes down every good and perfect gift, and who of Your own will brought us to saving faith by the Word of truth: grant unto us, we beseech You, the meekness to receive Your gracious Word, that we may be swift to hear and slow to speak; and send forth upon us the Spirit of truth, the Helper whom Your Son has promised, that He may dwell within us, take of what is Christ's, and declare it unto us, leading us into all truth and confirming in our hearts the good promises and gifts of Your grace; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

We commend everyone involved to the care and comfort of God’s eternal promises. Please make the LCMS proud in adversity!