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A nationwide conference on the Reconciling in Christ program of Lutherans Concerned will be held in San Francisco on March 16-18, 2001. Speakers include Dr. Herbert Chilstrom, former Presiding Bishop of the ELCA; the Rev. Barbara Lundblad, pastor, speaker, and lecturer from New York City; and the Rev. Jeff Johnson, pastor of University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley.
The conference will build on the successful regional RIC conference held in San Francisco in 1999. It will be held at St. Mark's and St. Paulus Lutheran Churches, beginning at 1:00 pm on Friday, March 16. In addition to the main speakers, there will be worship, plenary sessions, and a number of workshops. Workshop leaders include Pastor Corrine Chilstrom and Dr. Robert Smith, Professor of New Testament at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.
RIC2001 is for members and clergy of RIC churches and of churches wishing to know more about RIC. The conference will look at issues concerning the future direction of the RIC program and how congregations can view Reconciling in Christ as more than just a statement of welcome.
Early registration (received before January 31, 2001) is $95 and includes meals (except Saturday dinner on the town). Registration is $110 after that date. The official program concludes on Saturday night---participants will be encouraged and welcome to worship at a number of Bay Area RIC parishes Sunday morning.
Bay Area RIC congregations will be contacted to help and
participate in RIC2001. To request registration information
and forms, send your name and address to:
Click here for more information about the RIC2001 national gathering.
As the new RIC chair for Lutherans Concerned/SFBA, I would like to share with you a couple of goals for this next year.
First of all, in our region, the RIC program has stalled of late. Though many of our congregations do welcome and minister to gay and lesbian people, relatively few have publicly affirmed that welcoming stance and none recently. Since we are hosting a national gathering in March, it would be encouraging to have a much greater proportion of our congregations declared "Reconciling in Christ" or engaged in the process of becoming RIC by the time of the conference. If your congregation is not yet a RIC congregation and you would like information about what it means to become one, please contact me care of the Lutherans Concerned/SFBA office.
Secondly, although RIC status does not bear any financial obligation, contributions are always welcome. Relatively few of our RIC congregations are contributing members of Lutherans Concerned! Please consider a small congregational and/or individual donation as a token of your RIC commitment. It will not take much to make a difference; we are an amazingly efficient and low budget operation (annual budget under $5000, much of which goes to produce and distribute ADVENT). With more funds, we could do much more to fulfill our Gospel mission of affirming God's love for all of God's children.
How can you help?
In a memorandum to the congregations and pastors of the Sierra Pacific Synod, Bishop Robert W. Mattheis advised that he will not file charges against University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley for calling the Rev. Jeff Johnson. Pastor Johnson has been denied a place on the ELCA clergy roster because he does not subscribe to the ELCA's policy requiring celibacy only of gay and lesbian clergy.
Urged by the Synod Assembly in May 2000 to avoid expulsion of ULC, Bishop Mattheis responded that he would not file charges, and would be "revoking the threat of discipline in January 2001." He stated he would "no longer recommend that funding be withheld from [ULC's] ministry by the Tri-Synod Campus Ministry Board." A Letter of Censure, however, will remain in place, and the bishop cautioned that there are constitutional provisions for others to file charges.
Bishop Mattheis acknowledged the "futility of attempting to deal with these issues by discipline and expulsion. The issue is not resolved. It does not go away. . . . We are in a time of discernment as a church body." When faced with a difficult decision, the bishop said he "would always choose to err on the side of grace," and if he "could not decide whether punishment or hugs were the best path . . . hugs win. And grace wins."
The full text of the bishop's September 29 memorandum is below. Lutherans Concerned encourages you to send him written statements of support.
Karl Arasmith recently accepted an internship to be shared
among three East Bay parishes: Christ Lutheran in El
Cerrito, St. James Lutheran and Grace Lutheran, both in
Richmond. Under the supervision of Pastor Sharon Lubkeman
of Christ Lutheran, Karl will share his time preaching and
participating in the ministries of these congregations.
In an October letter to the members of his congregations, Karl wrote:
Photo credit: Arlin Aasness.
"I love a parade," and so did 52 marchers representing Lutherans Concerned in this year's San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade on June 25. Leading the LC group was Richard Copperude in his two-day-old, red, Ford convertible. Signs on the car proclaimed, "Extraordinary Lutherans Support Out Gay Clergy," publicizing the Extraordinary Candidacy Project of Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries.
Special honors go to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland, which provided a substantial part of our contingent. Many other marchers represented RIC churches in San Francisco, the East Bay, and the peninsula, joined by members of the newly organized Lutherans Concerned/Sacramento chapter, carrying their banner.
Applause greeted us many times along the way, making it a great day for Lutherans and a great day for the Lutheran Church. It was our 25th year of marching for the sake of freedom and the Gospel. Near as we can figure though, Joshua only marched seven times around Jericho before the walls came a tumbling down. Maybe next year we'll bring a trumpet!
Photo: Barbara Beery and daughter Gillian marched under the banner of their congregation in the Freedom Parade. Credit: Monica Riner.
Congratulations to St. Francis, St. Mark's, and First United Lutheran, three RIC churches who ranked among the top ten religious groups raising funds for AIDS Walk 2000 on July 16. St. Francis topped the list by raising $38,562, and they were an impressive ninth of all fund raising teams, rubbing elbows with the likes of Mervyn's, Bank of America, Chevron, and Pacific Bell, among others.
The 82-member St. Francis team marked its fifth year as walkers. St. Mark's and First United completed their second year. Thank you to everyone who participated‹let's start looking forward to next year and have even more RIC teams!
September 29, 2000
To: Congregations and Pastors of the Sierra Pacific Synod
From: Bishop Robert W. Mattheis
Subject: University Lutheran Chapel, Berkeley
This summer has gone far too quickly for me. As the days shorten I find myself facing the longer hours of darkness with a sense of foreboding. I like light. I have more energy when nights are short and daylight hours stretch long into the evening. Nevertheless, the summer is past, fall is here, and the winter rains are not far behind. I write today to share with you some of my decisions reached during the more reflective days of summer.
I have decided that I will not file discipline charges against University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley in January. Many of you will have heard this news from other sources since I have announced it to the Synod Council and at several Conference Assemblies. The Letter of Censure remains in place. I am however, revoking the threat of discipline in January of 2001. I will also utilize the resources of ULC as we think through missional issues relating to the pastoral ministry of gay and lesbian persons who cannot subscribe to the Vision and Expectations document of the ELCA. And, I will no longer recommend that funding be withheld from this ministry by the Tri-Synod Campus Ministry Board.
The action of the Synod Assembly in May urged me to do all that I could to "avoid expulsion" of ULC. If discipline charges are filed, expulsion becomes a possibility. Therefore, I have chosen not to file charges against ULC. However, there are constitutional provisions for others to file such charges.
Many of you will be pleased with this decision. Others will be gravely disappointed. Long ago as the parent of young children, I came to the conclusion that whenever I was faced with indecision regarding how I would respond to a child's behavior, I would always choose to err on the side of grace. If I could not decide whether punishment or hugs were the best path, I would always choose hugs. I know that sometimes both are required. I'm referring to those times when you are trying to find your way and you can make a compelling argument both ways. Hugs win.
And grace wins. At least in my decision, I am convinced that we are in a time of discernment as a church body. We are searching the scriptures. We are seeking to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit promised to us when Jesus said, "The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you." Jesus is "the Way, the Truth and the Life," and as we follow him we can be confident that he will not lead us astray.
What is true of us is true of many other denominations. We have seen the futility of attempting to deal with these issues by discipline and expulsion. The issue is not resolved. It does not go away. And, most significantly, it serves to distract us from the missional call which is inherent in the love of God which claimed us in baptism and daily claims for a life of discipleship.
This past summer also brought significant discussion at other synod assemblies around issues related to the full participation of gay and lesbian persons. The Church Council of the ELCA met in special session for the single purpose of having significant discussion about this issue of faith and life. One of our pastors, The Rev. Brian Hughes, was invited to address them on this subject. He was one of four pastors invited to present the perspective of the parish pastor to the Church Council. This was a significant commitment of time and energy by the leaders of this church to this issue. I am grateful for their action.
I am proud of this synod and its commitment to focus our life together on a mission inherent in the love that claims us. I am proud of this synod and humbled to serve here as bishop as we struggle together to be faithful to the "upward call of God in Christ Jesus." We have worked hard these past six years. We have come to new and renewed focus even as we have much work before us. I am confident that we will be able, by the grace and strength of God, to keep "the main thing the main thing" even as we deal with these other questions that flow directly from our missional passion.
Please know that I am willing, even eager, to speak with you and members of the congregations of this synod about this and other matters of common concern. Please call on me as this will be helpful to you and the ministry we share.
May God grant us wisdom, patience, love, courage, boldness and openness to one another and the Holy Spirit as we continue our journey of discipleship TOGETHER!
Editor's note:
It is impossible to overestimate the power of your letters.
Our church leaders do read them and are influenced by the
volume of letters that arrive on a given issue. Please
support LC's mission and LLGM's Extraordinary Candidacy
Project by expressing your thanks to Bishop Mattheis.
This past year Lutherans Concerned/SFBA was again involved in a number of events, some new and some repeats of other years' events. In September we participated in the fall PLTS Seminary Student Night for new students. In honor of Stan and Marylou Olson's 50th wedding anniversary, a reception was held December 5th at PLTS. Sponsored by the Network, LLGM, and LC/SFBA, this was also a fund raiser for those organizations. Over $900.00 was left after expenses to divide among the three organizations. As usual, we staffed a booth at the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly in May and marched in this year's San Francisco Gay Pride Parade in June.
Because the reception of RIC2000 was so successful, we have begun to plan RIC2001. Flyers distributed at the National Convention of Lutherans Concerned will probably bring an even greater number of participants.
It is with regret that I find, due to increased commitments in my personal life, I will not be able to be a part of the LC/SFBA board any longer. I have enjoyed being involved with this organization for the last three years. I wish to thank the rest of the board for the support they have given me as president for the last two years. Although I will no longer be a part of the board, I will continue to be a member of Lutherans Concerned and will keep them and their mission in my prayers.
Thank you...
Lutherans Concerned wishes to express sincere thanks to
outgoing board members Karl Arasmith and Sharon Stellman
(most especially for her two-year term as our president).
Welcome to our new board members and officers.
Executive Board
Gary Wolfe, president
Steven Krefting, vice-president
Mark Showalter, secretary and webmaster
Charles Lewis, treasurer
Joseph Haletky, RIC chair
Judy Streets, ADVENT editor
Max Kirkeberg
Barbara Lembcke
Raymond Vickers-Traft
Address correspondence to: