tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post3480324446958535659..comments2023-11-03T04:50:42.128-05:00Comments on Confessional Gadfly: Thoughts Upon Hearing The Rumor of a Brother Leaving the SynodRev. Eric J Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-50760002857924594562011-07-31T06:25:20.773-05:002011-07-31T06:25:20.773-05:00I grew up in Chicago, still have plenty of friends...I grew up in Chicago, still have plenty of friends in the area - and yep, when something scandalous or strange happens, there is still a lot of "shocked" conversation and flitter and fluster. There is scorn and fear and mockery.<br /><br />If you do not, I commend you. If you have trained your congregation and they are slow to engage in this - fantastic.<br /><br />Of course, posting on a blog to basically say, "No, I'm not... you are! -- that does sort of remind me of school days >=o)Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-65391598880768078912011-07-30T23:41:26.506-05:002011-07-30T23:41:26.506-05:00Well now, I don't know about Oklahoma, but her...Well now, I don't know about Oklahoma, but here in Chicago we most definitely do not carry on like a "gaggle of Junior High girls."Pastor Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04675820871512485953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-84687350788701216862011-07-29T12:14:30.546-05:002011-07-29T12:14:30.546-05:00I think this kind of thing is a call to repentance...I think this kind of thing is a call to repentance to us all---both the one leaving and the ones "left behind." That the Church is divided to this extent that it is possible to leave one communion for another is a shame, a scandal, and a sin for all involved. We have failed one another profoundly.<br /><br />I think our upset is unwittingly appropriate. :-)<br /><br />Pr. Tom FastAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-64023827393804268952011-07-29T03:15:21.812-05:002011-07-29T03:15:21.812-05:00Carl - that is twice you have named names... and o...Carl - that is twice you have named names... and once, when I expressly told you not to.<br /><br />That's two strikes. <br /><br />I general enjoy your comments as they can be over the top - but basically, you now have two strikes... three strikes and you're out.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-28926152949191497122011-07-28T20:44:40.798-05:002011-07-28T20:44:40.798-05:00And as a note to the those using psuedonymns -- we...And as a note to the those using psuedonymns -- we aren't naming names here... especially as I haven't talked to the fellow, and given what I've seen on Luther Quest... no one knows if he has actually left. He's had that job for several months, and when I talked to him a bit ago he was working there but hadn't left yet.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-91301898334118927022011-07-28T20:42:42.667-05:002011-07-28T20:42:42.667-05:00Ben, of course, does give another option -- someti...Ben, of course, does give another option -- sometimes it does become a sincere and honest difference of opinion - in which case, again... while they aren't right, I understand... and if one thinks another fellowship speaks the truth, then I will defend your moving there. <br /><br />I understand. To go against conscience is neither right, nor safe.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-6191578125084694022011-07-28T20:15:06.292-05:002011-07-28T20:15:06.292-05:00"Most every pastor who has left the LCMS that..."Most every pastor who has left the LCMS that I know of ... has some wound, some hurt some pain."<br /><br />Sometimes that pain is realizing that the "purity" you've sworn to teach is really something less than that, something askew. Sometimes the pain is from coming to grips with having to leave what has become part of you in the LCMS for the fullness of Christ that can only be found somewhere else.<br /><br />Pain or hurt may drive a person to seek other options, but a final decision to leave is usually about far more than the original pain. In fact, the original pain would be bearable if there were no other options, but when a person discovers that they should be elsewhere, then a new pain sets in from the conscience itself (though it's hard to be sure at first). Eventually, for those who leave, it is because they conclude that the pain isn't coming from a lack of bishops, or a bad polity, etc., but it's coming from their conscience.Benjamin Harjuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05488550358197684209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-32340021285500033252011-07-28T17:18:16.085-05:002011-07-28T17:18:16.085-05:00Carl, you dead SOB and example of eating our own:
...Carl, you dead SOB and example of eating our own:<br /><br />See, there's nothing productive with this. The passage you site -- do you know what his search for the Church catholic that you mock was? He read the Fathers and said, "Ah, the Lutherans treat the Sacraments the way the Fathers do." That's not a bad or mean thing.<br /><br />This one in particular endured more crap and dirt than most -- lots of being kicked in the teeth.<br /><br />I ain't saying it's right, but I understand.<br /><br />Also... it's sad that we would view a misunderstanding as something dastardly to be unconvered rather than something to be corrected. But then, witch hunts wouldn't be fun if we only restored the witches at the end instead of burning them at the stake.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-71860327812359907152011-07-28T17:12:46.545-05:002011-07-28T17:12:46.545-05:00Anon - I consider the pastoral office like militar...Anon - I consider the pastoral office like military service. There's no shame in only doing a few tours. Returning to the pew is a good, fine option.<br /><br />Sage - Is there support... eh, yes and no. It depends on where you are at. There's a lot of politicicking that goes on, so the structures that should give support and aid often don't. Also, if you've read blogs, you've seen that there can be quite a bit of snark and bile and cruelty amongst pastors in our drive for doctrinal purity. <br /><br />In fact, my very first blog post here notes that: http://confessionalgadfly.blogspot.com/2007/06/eating-our-own.htmlRev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-77569120647789435222011-07-28T17:01:52.595-05:002011-07-28T17:01:52.595-05:00The former LCMS pastor, now a Tiber River Snorkele...The former LCMS pastor, now a <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2782/4080993894_1dd1ca5d19_z.jpg?zz=1" rel="nofollow">Tiber River Snorkeler</a>, had a number of posts on <i>Luther Quest</i>, including one on <a href="http://www.lutherquest.org/discus310f/messages/14717/14851.html?#POST70759" rel="nofollow">June 29, 2004</a>:<br /><br /><i>"I went through the colloquy process and it certainly isn't a short cut. I spent five years at another theological institution. While it was a conservative and respected institution, it served as a theological foil for me in many ways. When I came to the LCMS through my search for the Church catholic, after my second-year at the school, I spent the next three years in constant dialogue between Evangelicals and the evangelicals. Once I graduated, I was accepted into the STM program in St. Louis and applied for certification through colloquy. I was interviewed by the colloquy committee, which is not an easy task, and they set forth the courses required for certification. Of course this also included a year of vicarage."</i><br /><br />His Romish misunderstanding of "the Church catholic" should have been uncovered during the colloquy committee interview.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-35575454392759769322011-07-28T16:36:06.282-05:002011-07-28T16:36:06.282-05:00Just a thought after seeing this discussed a coupl...Just a thought after seeing this discussed a couple of places. Do pastors have a good support group themselves? I mean, if the heirarchy does not support you or your families can you not establish groups within yourselves to do foster that?<br /><br />I see that being a pastor is an incredibly giving job where you truly don't have down time. Someone, somewhere will always be sick or needy. From what I've seen, the only time you get away is when you leave the city on vacation and don't carry your cell with you. You guys have got to take the time to feed and nourish yourselves or there won't be anything left to give.<br /><br />With the internet and all the ways to connect, it seems you could reach out to create groups in your area to minister to each other. Other things I've heard is that a lot really don't take a day off. That's insane. It seems to come back to physician heal thyself.Sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09337019503451500138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-89600631533362360702011-07-28T14:19:06.697-05:002011-07-28T14:19:06.697-05:00Ah, for some it is not East or Rome but just back ...Ah, for some it is not East or Rome but just back to the pew. Still Lutheran-and possibly able to help the new guy without the history yet. We do not know how to take care of our own. Never have-and doubtful we ever will. There are always more coming up from behind who are a hopeful lot. Think it won't get them? It does. Don't believe me? Look at our veterans-they look awful. Going elsewhere gets you no where. But the pew looks mightly attractive and peaceful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com