ZION IS AFFILIATED WITH LUTHERAN CORE
Click here to learn more about Lutheran CORE, a Coalition for Reform in the Lutheran Church. Once you're on the site, go to the tab called "Reconfiguration" on the lower left-hand side of the main page to see the Vision and Plan for the new North American Lutheran Church (NALC). The Vision and Plan contains the four principles around which the ministries of the NALC will be structured. We encourage you to join Lutheran CORE as an individual.
LUTHERAN CORE UPDATE--August 2010
In August, Pastor Riesen and six members of the Council of Elders plan to atten a convocation in Columbus, Ohio. The purpsoe of the convocation is to form a new Lutheran Church. The new denomination will be called the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). The new church will have the traditional structure of a denomination. There will be a national Bishop, and regional supervision by "Deans." The Bishop and Deans will be charged with the ministry of oversight. The Deans are to be pastors who are serving in various congregations within a region. Along with a national Bishop and regional Deans, the NALC will keep a clergy roster and provide for the training and ordination of pastors. The new Lutheran church will be much "leaner" in structure than the ELCA. There will be no big bureaucrazy with a staff of hundreds of personnel. There will also be no synod offices with additional bishops, assistants to the bishops and administrative staff. The NALC will be a church structured to do ministry. As such there are to be four emphases in the new church:
- Congregationaly-focused
- Mission-driven
- Traditionally-grounded
- Christ-centered
We strongly encourage all members to read about the plans for the new church on Lutheran CORE's website at www.lutherancore.org.
After the formation of the North American Lutheran Church, Lutheran CORE will continue as a movement of reform and renewal for all confessing Lutheran Christians. Lutheran CORE will be an association of Lutherans belonging to various church bodies in North America—including congregations that remain within the ELCA.
It is very important to understand that Lutheran CORE is not a denomination, but a networking organization that will be spearheading and coordinating a plan to support confessional congregations and individuals whether they stay or leave the ELCA. Again, the two roles or functions of Lutheran CORE are:
1) To sponsor the formation of a new Lutheran denomination that is grounded in the Bible as God’s Word and shares the traditional beliefs of the Church catholic. This new denomination will be called the North American Lutheran Church (NALC).
2) To work for the renewal of Lutheranism in North America by continuing in ministry as an association of congregations, individuals and church bodies who each share a common confession of faith.
Should we decide to move forward with a vote to leave the ELCA, our Bylaws stipulate that we need to have two congregational meetings which are at least ninety (90) days apart. Our congregation also needs to know that any decision to leave the ELCA is not taken lightly. Nor are we alone in our struggle to discern God’s will. Since the churchwide assembly in Chicago last summer, over 175 congregations have voted to leave the ELCA and affiliate with other Lutheran church bodies. Other churches are already taking steps to join the NALC. The formation meeting planned in August was originally to be held at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, the largest Lutheran Church in Ohio. But so many people have expressed interest in attending that they are now moving to a larger facility that holds over 3,000 people.
We will continue to update the congregation as more information becomes available. Please feel free to call, write, email or speak to me, Pastor Riesen, or any other member of the Council about these issues.
In the meantime, we ask that you spend this month praying daily for God's guidance as we participate in the CORE Convocation on August 26-27 in preparation for a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, September 12 following the 11 AM service. We thank you for your prayers.
John H. Thatcher, Council of Elders President
