By God’s grace and mercy alone, the governance problem at a Maryland congregation is being addressed with Christian intent rather than bylaw commitment.
True enough, which is a very good thing. I think it’s also fair to observe that it is also a bit opaque, at least wrt journalistic transparency regarding the reasons why (aside from the vague “A truce has been called…” meta explanation). That said, it’s likely a churchly middle ground, despite the risk of conspiracy-type speculation filling the void.
The church has withdrawn the property banning order and is no longer attempting excommunication. The SED has offered reconcilers. The complainants are prepared to work through the process.
I remember back when the "reconcilation process" was severely critiqued in light of historic Scriptural practices. I think using this "process" could end up better than an illicit excommunication, but I doubt it will end anywhere we could call "well." We will see. The institution has the power to drag this out, run it too fast, spin, obfuscate, and so on. That's a problem.
I admit it's hard for me to imagine "reconcilers" from that district completely vindicating the innocent and exposing the guilty. Their job and mindset to level everything, not distinguish.
Another problem noted by someone else is the opacity. Much preferred by me would have been a few fiery words backed by procedural action from the SP, to the DP, posted in public. I well could have missed such a post, and will myself unpublish if so.
Yes, I always try to hope for the best, and of course, pray for what is best, but reality and experience should also not be forgotten (although I agree with Ad Crucem‘s decision to unpublish for the time being under the present circumstances). However, one has to wonder about things like whether the truce might conveniently be until sometime after the upcoming convention, or a similar timetable, for similar reasons, and what “reconciliation“ in this case will actually consist of, since, when practiced historically in LCMS institutions, what institutional authorities mean by a “reconciliation“ process may not be what faithful Lutherans generally think it means. As you say, we will have to wait and see.
> unpublished
Hope you held on to an archival copy.
I guess we'll see.
Unpublished, not deleted. I am confident that they will not see the light of pixels again.
I don't see inside anyone, but unpublishing the historical record seems to be evidence of a tender and faithful spirit. May that be rewarded.
Thank you.
True enough, which is a very good thing. I think it’s also fair to observe that it is also a bit opaque, at least wrt journalistic transparency regarding the reasons why (aside from the vague “A truce has been called…” meta explanation). That said, it’s likely a churchly middle ground, despite the risk of conspiracy-type speculation filling the void.
The church has withdrawn the property banning order and is no longer attempting excommunication. The SED has offered reconcilers. The complainants are prepared to work through the process.
Thank you!
I remember back when the "reconcilation process" was severely critiqued in light of historic Scriptural practices. I think using this "process" could end up better than an illicit excommunication, but I doubt it will end anywhere we could call "well." We will see. The institution has the power to drag this out, run it too fast, spin, obfuscate, and so on. That's a problem.
I admit it's hard for me to imagine "reconcilers" from that district completely vindicating the innocent and exposing the guilty. Their job and mindset to level everything, not distinguish.
Another problem noted by someone else is the opacity. Much preferred by me would have been a few fiery words backed by procedural action from the SP, to the DP, posted in public. I well could have missed such a post, and will myself unpublish if so.
Yes, I always try to hope for the best, and of course, pray for what is best, but reality and experience should also not be forgotten (although I agree with Ad Crucem‘s decision to unpublish for the time being under the present circumstances). However, one has to wonder about things like whether the truce might conveniently be until sometime after the upcoming convention, or a similar timetable, for similar reasons, and what “reconciliation“ in this case will actually consist of, since, when practiced historically in LCMS institutions, what institutional authorities mean by a “reconciliation“ process may not be what faithful Lutherans generally think it means. As you say, we will have to wait and see.
Amen