Luther bobblehead sold separatelyThis just in from Synod... In honor of our DCEs This year marks the 50th anniversary of the office of Director of Christian Education, which was established by the Synod in convention on June 26, 1959. I am therefore proclaiming June 26, 2009 to be "National LCMS Director of Christian Education Day" in the LCMS. For the full text of my proclamation, please click here. |
So much for sola scriptura. According to 1 Tim 3:2, who is the Director of Christian Education in the congregation, anyway?
Was there a synodical proclamation in honor of St. John the Baptist's nativity (June 24) or the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession (June 25)? The Missouri Synod is becoming Initech. I just can't wait for other inevitable LCMS ecclesiastical feast days, such as Aluminum Foil Appreciation Week and the Commemoration of the Invention of the Popeel Pocket Fisherman.
And some people claim the reason people leave the Missouri Synod is that such people have turned their backs on the doctrine of justification. Yeah. Right.
Lord have mercy! In times like these, I like to pray LSB hymn 666 (perhaps the only hymn in the hymnal that uses the word "joke"). In spite of appearances to the contrary, the Church Catholic in its fullness can indeed be found in parishes of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.
We can take great comfort in 2 Cor 5:7. Deo gratias!
I agree with you, as usual; but I laughed when I looked up the hymn you mentioned. Verse 3 makes it a very appropriate hymn for people superstitious about 666...a real stroke of genius on someone's part, I'd say. :o)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed one installation sermon some years back where the pastor mentioned "the Bobs at the district office."
ReplyDeleteHaving a national DCE day is kind of well silly. However, do you not think the church can create auxiliary offices to assist the pastor? Ideally, isn't DCE an auxiliary office to assist pastors. Frankly, I'd prefer to have deacons and deaconesses.
ReplyDeleteWas there really nothing about the presentation of the Augsburg Confession yesterday?
Matt
Dear Matt:
ReplyDeleteOf course I believe congregations can create various jobs. We have a part time secretary who is valuable to our church. We also have school teachers and a principal, a gym coach and a janitor - all important vocations of service to our church.
I'm not fond of the whole DCE thing. Christian Education needs to be *directed* by the pastor. Having an *Assistant* for Christian Education might be a little better. I have heard enough horror stories of folks in these "auxiliary offices" working against their pastors instead of reporting to them.
Also, the unchurchly terminology used for these various church jobs makes the church sound like a software company.
Our curse in the LCMS seems to be a desire to adopt the ways of the world - complete with slogans, corporate logos, blue ribbon committees, handbooks, and parliamentary procedure - instead the doing what the church has simply always done.
If President Kieschnick sent out an e-mail to commemorate the Augsburg Confession, I didn't get it. However, any kind of "presidential proclamation," however, sounds more like something mayors do rather than churchmen.
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ReplyDeleteThe Missouri Synod is becoming Initech.
ReplyDeleteCheck out the sign over the window.
"And some people claim the reason people leave..."
ReplyDeleteWell, I never did like bobble-heads but that was a completely separate issue. ;)
Love in Christ,
Emily
I'm not fond of the whole DCE thing. Christian Education needs to be *directed* by the pastor.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. In the ELCA congregation I left the pastor was fond of pushing lay people into leading Adult Education classes. Problem was too many times they weren't sufficiently knowledgeable about the topics they were supposed to address.
In the ten years I spent in the Roman Catholic Church before coming back to the LCMS the laypeople who served as DCE's often used that position to push their pet agendas. Another one of those fine "reforms" of Vatican II.
Christine
Well, I could be back in WELS, where teacher and pastor are considered the same call, just with different parametres determined by the congregation!
ReplyDelete