tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146628401327207675.post3113993540759628984..comments2023-10-01T07:33:56.398-07:00Comments on Cathedral Door: Oregon Bishop Writes to PLTS about Homosexuality ResolutionPLTS Admissions Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326252607364515964noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146628401327207675.post-89995545715365155382007-11-20T11:29:00.000-08:002007-11-20T11:29:00.000-08:00I'm right with you on this one, Cara. The traditi...I'm right with you on this one, Cara. The traditional moral perspective is definitely where I feel most comfortable negotiating. It is unfortunate, however, that justice and traditional moral values often pull in opposite directions to tear apart Christian unity.<BR/><BR/>This is why I like the model of the Church that Dave is proposing. Seminarians, pastors, deacons, and others can wreck havoc advocating for their corners and the bishop play damage control trying to hold everything together--takes the pressure off of me and dumps it on Dave! Thanks, Dave.<BR/><BR/>This is pretty much what I see Bishop Wayne Miller doing. He hasn't really made a "rubber hits the road decision;" he has used the privilege that the Church gave him not to punish an action which goes against Church policy. He has allowed a pastor and congregation to advocate for the justice corner without himself endorsing their actions to the detriment of those who would feel uncomfortable having a lesbian pastor pushed upon them. Thus he has allowed two parties to maintain their corners and still upheld Christian unity. Seems to me that it fits exactly the model that you're proposing, Dave. <BR/>So can we expect to see similar actions in Oregon?Ben Colahanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17804664907173651064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146628401327207675.post-62449293848679340592007-11-19T15:01:00.000-08:002007-11-19T15:01:00.000-08:00Hmmm, apparently Ben has old pictures of me. Long...Hmmm, apparently Ben has old pictures of me. Long live Yoda!<BR/><BR/>I personally see this triangle as the legitimate arena of our conversation. Within the Conference of Bishops we are certainly all over the mat. On behalf of the Church at large we dive into the conversation with one another just as you do.<BR/><BR/>However, as we recognize that we are in the triangle with others who have called us to a certain office my job description takes on another dimension. We bishops are trying to help <I><B>you</I></B> facilitate <I><B>your</I></B> discussion as the ELCA. To champion one corner or another as a bishop is to choose one role over another. That is to say I chose a prophetic voice over a shepherding presence. Certainly that time can come, but there are many, many people who can serve the Church in a prophetic role. There are fewer of us asked by the Church to help the ELCA keep its balance along the way from a shepherding role.<BR/><BR/>My colleague Bishop Wayne Miller in the Metro Chicago Synod has just made a 'rubber hits the road' decision within the triangle. What do you think? <A HREF="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-pastor_18_bothnov18,0,4980968.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout" REL="nofollow"> Chicago Tribune Article</A>Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03796329473913908119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146628401327207675.post-52998532824987107302007-11-19T01:03:00.000-08:002007-11-19T01:03:00.000-08:00Great question, Ben! Justice, traditional morals,...Great question, Ben! <BR/><BR/>Justice, traditional morals, and Christian unity are indeed a triangle of concerns. <BR/><BR/>What are our Justice concerns? Equal rights. Ending torture. World hunger. First, Second, and Third World extreme poverty. AIDS. Women's rights. Education. Clean drinking water. The environment. Multilateral disarmament. Civil societies. And of course, more.<BR/><BR/>What is our traditional moral perspective? The Lutheran I am, I must ask, which tradition? Christian? When and where? Lutheran traditions? American traditions? This "corner" of the triangle is indeed important, but seems to be the slipperiest to define. Traditional moral perspectives were each established in response to a new ethical imperative. <BR/><BR/>New ethical imperatives have the nasty habit of morphing into even newer ones. Swords became guns became machine guns became rockets became nuclear weapons, and suddenly "chivalry" among soldiers needs another day on the drawing board.<BR/><BR/>The gift of Christian unity... seems self-explanatory but I bet this will be the toughest nut to crack of them all. <BR/><BR/>While I don't think traditional moral perspectives should be trumped by the other two "corners" of our triangle, this is, for the Christian, the negotiable one. Re-examining this corner is what keeps the Church relevant, prophetic, and meaningful to real peoples' lives over 2000 years of ever-new ethical imperatives. We have nothing to fear by checking ourselves. Justice for the world and Unity of the church have everything to gain by doing so.Caralynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11195841502656991927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146628401327207675.post-5283863944197039662007-11-15T20:33:00.000-08:002007-11-15T20:33:00.000-08:00"We discern together within a triangle of justice ..."We discern together within a triangle of justice concerns, traditional moral perspectives and the fragile gift of Christian unity."<BR/><BR/>This sounds like quite the juggling act. Do you think there is ever a time when a bishop should champion one corner of the triangle at the expense of the other two?Ben Colahanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17804664907173651064noreply@blogger.com