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TRAJECTORY: Set Free on a Faithful Course

Lenae Rasmussen

I thank God for His rich blessings as we gathered at Resurrection Community Church, to share God's Word and receive a faithful course for our fellowship.  His Hand on the Tiller, featured dynamic speakers that helped us address many of the important issues we face at this critical juncture of our fellowship's life.  We reached consensus on several issues, but most importantly, we reached consensus on moving ahead to become a viable home for churches.  The Augsburg Lutheran District (ALD) is still a "life boat for confessing Lutherans" but it is also becoming a "church home"  for mission starts and those who have left other church bodies.

Anyone who sails knows that trajectory is the primary factor. If you're not going in the right direction it doesn't matter where you are or how fast you're going! If you are on course, following the planned trajectory, you'll arrive at your destination whether you have a little wind or a lot. The assembly of believers is a lot like sailing—if God's hand isn't on the tiller, the speed and location of the ship doesn't matter—its going the wrong way! Following God's faithful Word, our trajectory will be on course and we won't be led astray.

Sailing can also be the most exciting 5 knots you'll ever experience. It isn't a fast ground speed, but when the boat is keeled at 90 degrees and the wind and splash is in your face, it is extraordinarily invigorating. Similarly, building a church home for confessional Lutherans may not "go fast" in the eyes of the world, but God's trajectory is even more challenging and exciting than sailing at 5 knots! The tension between human organization and individual gifts is like water and wind—God provides both, but we put our trust in the Giver not the gift.

Since direction is the most important gift of all, our gathering this summer was very important lest our efforts "go no where" or take us in the wrong direction.  Confessing Lutherans were looking for some leadership and coordination so as to work effectively in Christ's service.  Ever mindful that as God's creatures we are sinners and saints, and all our structures are broken by our sinfulness, we saw the need to set a direction focused on our purpose and mission to bear witness to the gospel.  In the belief that God has called us through the Lordship of us his Son Jesus Christ and the guidance of his Holy Spirit to confess the gospel in its purity, we assembled to discern and follow God's direction.  Our theme was chosen to remind us that we are not in charge, God is!

The dialectical poles in a church organization are clear: Individual freedom in Christ and corporate service in Christ. If we lose hold of freedom we fall into the ditch of individual abuses and injustice; if we lose hold of service we fall into the ditch of corporate tyranny and legalism. Hanging on to our freedom in Christ and the common priesthood of believers is complicated, as the New Testament shows.

We were blessed with much fruit in Springfield. Over the course of three days of worship and consensus building, the Augsburg Lutheran District was transformed by the Word of God from a voice crying in the wilderness to a "home for churches" and a fellowship for God's children today. We are committed to being a viable alternative to church bodies going astray from God's Word of the cross. We adopted guidelines for worship, and made plans to help educate and train pastors, provide resources for new starts, and "grow" our membership. We set aside what may look wise to the world and looked to the cross for our direction. As Rev. Mike Williams declared, it is not "what" we are that matters but whose hand we are in. In Christ, we know that God will get us to our destination, for He has plans for us for a future with hope, and His hand is on the tiller, not ours. 

Lenae Rasmussen is the Executive Chair of the Augsburg Lutheran District, and a member of Peace Lutheran in Orange Beach, Alabama.

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