The Crux of the Matter - From the Executive Chair

The Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Augsburg Lutheran District

Vol. 2, No. 1 (September 2002)

In This Issue:

Top Story:
TRAJECTORY: Set Free on a Faithful Course

District News

From the
District Pastor

From the Executive Chair

Main Page

Return to ALD Home Page

from the executive chair ...

Lenae Rasmussen

The Augsburg Lutheran District was transformed into a "home for churches" at the recent convention in Springfield. We're still a "life boat for confessing Lutherans" but we are also committed to growing our fellowship, and building a brighter future on our faithful heritage–God's Word. For our member churches who have already left the ELCA, we are a "synod," a viable fellowship that can provide a roster of pastors, help educate and train more pastors, and facilitate the camaraderie in Christ that we have had in predecessor bodies.

One of the major challenges we face at this point is finding a way to explain ourselves and Lutheran Congregations in Mission to Christ (LCMC) to people who are not already members. An umbrella organization is a new concept for many within the ELCA. One of the best ways we have found to explain our relationship is to refer back to the Lutheran Council in the USA (LCUSA), which administered specialized ministries for the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) and the American Lutheran Church (ALC). For church historians, reference to the Synodical Conference might be a helpful way to describe a group that gathers for theological discussion and cooperation, while each individual synod maintains its own autonomy.

In this same way, the Augsburg Lutheran District and the Evangelical Renewal District (ERD) of LCMC are more like "synods" as opposed to the geographic districts called "synods" in the ELCA. As a synod within the umbrella of LCMC, the ALD serves our mission by coordinating efforts for our member churches.

What steps did we take in Springfield to become a home for churches? The ALD has applied for its own 501(c)3 number, adopted guidelines for worship, adopted a preliminary teaching paper on the ministry of word and sacrament, established a colloquy process for first call pastors and those who wish to transfer from another roster to the ALD list of clergy, applied to become an endorsing agent for chaplains, and voted to do a preliminary feasibility study on establishing a House of Studies in the Hyde Park area of Chicago. The Augsburg Lutheran District is ready, willing, and able to receive churches, pastors, and individuals who are looking for a new fellowship and church home.