tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post2327059533653627954..comments2024-02-03T20:47:08.995-06:00Comments on This Side of the Pulpit: The Task Force Report: Initial ObservationsChristopher D. Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03906949438584923588noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-5723633032984716222008-08-22T08:26:00.000-05:002008-08-22T08:26:00.000-05:00As to between 100 districts or 20, I think 100 wou...As to between 100 districts or 20, I think 100 would more apt to pave the way for an eventual split, especially if you tie the majority of confessional leaning congregations in a minority number of circuits. . . this would provide an inter-confessional structure within the Synod that could be the basis of organization if a break were to come. . . especially if there is to be no dissent.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-69876180772187681172008-08-21T16:46:00.000-05:002008-08-21T16:46:00.000-05:00Pastor Hall, your analysis was thoughtful and most...Pastor Hall, your analysis was thoughtful and most excellent. I don't know what to say beyond that.<BR/><BR/>As my French boss tells me in difficult situations, <I>Bon courage!</I>Dixiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08511317203353075644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-67939248161926452002008-08-21T14:44:00.000-05:002008-08-21T14:44:00.000-05:00ger·ry·man·der [verb]:1. try to get extra votes u...<B>ger·ry·man·der</B> [verb]:<BR/><BR/>1. try to get extra votes unfairly: to manipulate an electoral area, usually by altering its boundaries, in order to gain an unfair political advantage in an election.<BR/><BR/>2. to divide (a geographic area) into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections by securing an electoral majority in a large number of districts while concentrating the voting strength of the opposition in as few districts as possible.<BR/><BR/>3. to divide (an area) into political units to give special advantages to one group.Mike Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09202275259518132834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-40237979596275801842008-08-21T14:38:00.000-05:002008-08-21T14:38:00.000-05:00Bryce--not out of line at all. It is rhetorical, b...Bryce--not out of line at all. It is rhetorical, but since it is my blog, I'll take a stab at it.<BR/><BR/>It's a good question. In 1992 a man presumed to be confessional took office, and those who supported him did indeed grant him more power than he ought to have had. Short-sighted on their part, I suppose.<BR/><BR/>While I like to think of myself as being less petty than that, I'm not sure if Confessionals would be so against more representation if the tables are turned. It's human nature, after all.<BR/><BR/>I would hope that they might recognize the theological implications of it and refuse it, but couldn't say for sure.<BR/><BR/>The real problem, though, is much deeper than all this: real weaknesses in the LCMS, in our understanding and explanation of the Lutheran Confessions, and perhaps in the Confessions themselves. It makes all of us crazy.Christopher D. Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906949438584923588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-23899328346666897012008-08-21T13:47:00.000-05:002008-08-21T13:47:00.000-05:00Would it be too out of line to ask if the confessi...Would it be too out of line to ask if the confessionals would be against this measure if confessional congregations were larger than non-confessional ones?<BR/><BR/>(I guess it is a pretty rhetorical question)Bryce P Wandreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06790969884859851988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-27035595255845341432008-08-21T13:02:00.000-05:002008-08-21T13:02:00.000-05:00Fourth sentence above should read: "...nullify the...Fourth sentence above should read: "...nullify the vote of smaller, but confessional congregations."<BR/><BR/>Sorry about that.Christopher D. Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906949438584923588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-88427840180103711682008-08-21T13:01:00.000-05:002008-08-21T13:01:00.000-05:00Bryce...thanks for visiting and the question.Yes, ...Bryce...thanks for visiting and the question.<BR/><BR/>Yes, there is hesitancy, for two main reasons. First, the larger congregations tend to be the mega-church, American Pop-Evangelical stripe in the LCMS. Extra votes for these would nullify the voice of smaller congregations.<BR/><BR/>Second, as the Body of Christ, in theory, it is inequitable for larger congregations to have more power than smaller congregations. Is the hand more important than the toe?<BR/><BR/>If we were not in the middle of a struggle to keep/reform our heritage and confession, if we had bishops to ensure the orthodoxy of the congregations, if small or non-growing congregations were not seen as second-rate in the eyes of many, then perhaps it wouldn't be troublesome. As it is, however, there is cause for concern.Christopher D. Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906949438584923588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-74026048477002322782008-08-21T10:50:00.000-05:002008-08-21T10:50:00.000-05:00Hi Chris, thanks for your observations of this. T...Hi Chris, thanks for your observations of this. This is sad, not unexpected, but still sad. It's been obvious for a while that some people in God's Church don't count. The shrinking of the delegate base, the expansion or shrinking of the number of districts, and the consolidation of power in the Office of the President carries the Church farther away from the Body of Christ, which I always thought was the Church. But what do I know? I'm a pastor who doesn't count, serving a church that doesn't count. Thanks again Chris. JeremyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-55384729285785753472008-08-21T10:45:00.000-05:002008-08-21T10:45:00.000-05:00One question: is there a hesitancy to giving large...One question: is there a hesitancy to giving larger congregations more say?Bryce P Wandreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06790969884859851988noreply@blogger.com