Colleagues, I received the text below from Steve Kuhl, an ELCA pastor in Wisconsin, on Tuesday. Right now in Mid-USA it’s Wednesday morning. But this is so good that I can’t wait another 24 hours before posting it to you. For one thing there’s Steve’s remarkable “parrasia” [=the NT Greek term for the chutzpah of faith-grounded public …
National Repentance #5. (I wish it were the last one.)
Colleagues, It’s been a month. Also a month since ThTh touched the repentance word for the USA. You’ve seen some of the ping-pong that’s elicited. Not yet passed on to you is dissent from some of our own “brightest and best” from the days of Seminex, and later, Crossings. You can understand why.To wit: “I agree with …
For a Nation to Repent (Continued) #4
Colleagues, I’ve been out of town for most of the week since the last posting. Four of the past 7 days were spent in Minnesota with 250 church-workers (most of them pastors) at the Fall Theological Conference of the Southwest Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. The topic was “Thinking Theologically about Sexuality.” You know what the actual …
Reformation Resources: Law/Promise Hermeneutics & the Godly Secularity of Sex
Edward H. Schroeder [Presentation at the SW Minnesota Synod – ELCA Fall Theology Conference, Sept. 30 – Oct. 3, 2001] 1. Intro: Two background issues, deep background issues, are in the current discussion among Christians about homosexuality: How to read the Bible? Where does sex fit in God’s creation? They come up in all parts of the …
A Letter to President George W. Bush
Colleagues, On Wednesday, the day before Yom Kippur 2001, I sent this e-message to President Bush apropos of national repentance.Peace and Joy! Ed Schroeder President George W Bush September 26, 2001 YOM KIPPUR FOR ALL AMERICANS — CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS TOO! Dear Mr. President, My email to you last week about national repentance was acknowledged by the …
Lutheran Missiology — An Oxymoron? Maybe Not — Especially, Not Now.
Edward H. Schroeder [Presentation at ELCA Mission “Faculty” Meeting, Rosemont, IL, September 21-22, 2001] WHERE ARE WE? 1. If 9-11-2001 was the “Endofawayoflife Day” [Martin Marty’s term] in the USA, then the context for Christian mission in our own land has changed. 2. But America’s civil religion has not changed. Tuesday brought no endofawayoflife to our civil …
Terror and Repentance, Part II
Colleagues, Today’s posting consists of responses from many of you to last week’s offering. The only words from me relate to what just transpired at our breakfast table this morning.First the bad news: On the radio we just heard that the US response planned for our enemies is now named “Infinite Justice.” The sheer blasphemy of that …
Coping with Terror–the Missing “R” Word
Colleagues, It may be too soon to post this to you. Maybe it shouldn’t ever be posted at all. I’m not clear on this. So trepidation goes along with this posting. One “R” word–better, one “re-” word–has been missing in what I’ve heard from our leaders and media voices about the disasters of Sept. 11 so far. Granted …
Getting married in church
Colleagues, In the ELCA folks are debating whether or not the church should “bless” same-sex unions. Some synods have urged that it be done. Our own congregation here in town has put the topic on the agenda for the Adult Education Forum during the month of September. On one of those Sundays I’ve been asked to lead …
The Law’s So-called “Third Use”
Hi Folks, Today’s Thursday Theology is in several sections. First is this quick intro by me and some painful news from Thelda Bertram with a prayer request. Next are Ed’s intro and historical background to Tim Hoyer’s discussions about the third use of the law and what the Bible says about the law’s purpose. Plenty of food …