The Crux of the Matter - From the Executive Chair

The Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Augsburg Lutheran District

Vol. 2, No. 2 (November 2002)

In This Issue:

Top Story:
A Future and A Hope

District News

From the
District Pastor

From the Executive Chair

Viewpoint

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from the executive chair ...

Lenae Rasmussen

It is official–the Augsburg Lutheran District is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt church body in America. The IRS sent us a determination letter on November 6, 2002. While our status as a "tax-exempt" entity was never questioned–it is a constitutional right for churches–formal recognition enables us to endorse ministers for specialized ministries like the military chaplaincy. It also lends to being seen as "viable' in the eyes of the general public. In applying to be licensed to perform weddings, for example, the pastor's credentials must be produced as proof. A letter acknowledging that the person is a minister carried on the Augsburg List of Pastors is sufficient credentials.

We are growing! As Doug Burrows suggested, we lead by following God's Word, our faithful heritage. More churches have joined us on the "the road less traveled" and others will be voting in January. Our List of Clergy is also blooming as God blesses our fellowship with more pastors, and the gift of camaraderie in Christ.

We continue to encourage Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) to be an umbrella that various confessional districts ("synods") can join. Celebrating our different emphases rather than brushing them under the rug is the hallmark of our concept of Reconciled Diversity within LCMC.

We also hope for more cooperation and fellowship with the Evangelical-Renewal District (ERD) and the Heartland District next year. It is important that we nurture and shape LCMC as a welcoming fellowship for all confessional Lutherans. We've seen the beginning of this kind of cooperation in 2002: Our Bismarck chapter meets at Charity Lutheran, an ERD church, about half of the Heartland District's participants are members of a church that has joined the Augsburg Lutheran District; and Living Stones Lutheran Fellowship is a member of the Augsburg and the Evangelical-Renewal District. This past year has shown us that what we share with each other–our reading and interpretation of Scripture–unites us in Christ. While we place different emphases on some things, ultimately we have more in common with each other than with any other group of Lutherans in North America. Justification by faith alone in Christ alone is our sole criterion, our unity, and the power of God for our salvation.