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| February 11, 2008 |
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— LATEST NEWS — The
Augustana Ministerium Administrative Council: On
Tuesday and Wednesday of this week (May 20–21, 2008), the Augustana
Ministerium met at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kearney, Missouri. Over
fifty pastors and lay persons were in attendance as we listened to
papers and had much fruitful discussion on the topics of mission work,
education, and other topics relating to our theme of living in a
“post-Synodical world.”
Rev. Drew A. Newman, Recording Secretary The Augustana Ministerium
Make checks payable to: The Augustana Ministerium
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— Update, February 11, 2008 — The
Augustana Ministerium Administrative Council: Registration Now Open Online at <http://AugustanaMinisterium.org/registration.html>! The Third Annual Theological Conference and Plenary Session of The Augustana Ministerium will be held May 20-21, 2008 hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church, Kearney, MO and her pastor, the Rev. Drew Newman. A stimulating and timely theological agenda, open to all—pastors and laity—is being planned that will address several important areas that deserve discussion and clarification under the general theme: “The Challenges for a Confessional Lutheran Ministry in a Post-synodical Age.” [Note that this theme does not suggest that the presenters will be encouraging attendees to depart from any particular church body, etc., but simply indicates that the reality of Confessional Lutheranism in the 21st century is that there is no one institution, etc., to which to look for meeting the needs of Lutheran parishes.] The challenges to be addressed will involve two elements: 1) the challenges in expanding the Ministry of the Gospel domestically and abroad, and 2) the challenges to provide adequate resources for faithful ministry in a post-synodical context. As has been the custom, these topics will not be covered by formal papers. Rather, each will have a facilitator who will be responsible for researching and preparing pertinent background information on his topic, identifying appropriate issues, questions, and additional reading resources. A listing of these materials will be made available via The Augustana Ministerium website prior to the conference for individual preparation for the discussions at the conference. A lineup of very able and talented facilitators will be leading the discussions. Reading Lists Now Available at <http://augustanaministerium.org/08readinglists.html> Topics dealing with the expansion of The Ministry will
include “Support for Confessional Lutheran Ministry
Abroad,” Pr. Phil Grovenstein, facilitator; and
“Home Missions in Post-synodical, Post-Christian
America,” Deacon, Pr. Jeffrey Ahonen,
facilitator. Topics exploring the challenge of needed
resources for the Ministry of the Gospel will
include: “The Future of Ecclesiastical Oversight
among Confessional Lutheran Clergy,” Pr James Heiser,
facilitator; “Training Future Pastors for Post-Synodical
Congregations,” Dr. Steven Hein, facilitator; and a Panel
Discussion , “Non-Synodical Confessional Lutheran Resources
(Publications, Media, and Ministries)–What do we have? What
do we need?” Regarding lodging, the two best choices with regard to cost and proximity are: Best Western — Kearney Inn (816) 628-4524 — King
Bed, $70.00 + Tax (about 7%), 2 Queens, $80.00 + tax. No limit to the
number of people who could share a room. The Best Western is considered the nicer motel, and newer. Both have free Wireless Dr. Steven A. Hein, Dean of Education The Augustana Ministerium
Make checks payable to: The Augustana Ministerium
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The
Augustana Ministerium Administrative Council: Registration Now Open Online at <http://AugustanaMinisterium.org/registration.html>! [NOTE: In lieu of the above link, which has been deactivated, please click on the ‘Essays and Presentations’ button, above, for the audio of these presentations.] Presentation Reading Lists Available at <http://AugustanaMinisterium.org/07readinglists.html>! The Second Annual Theological Conference and Plenary Session of The Augustana Ministerium will be held August 30-31, 2007 hosted by Charity Lutheran Church, Burleson, TX and her pastor, the Rev. Dr. Kent Heimbigner. A stimulating and timely theological agenda, open to all—pastors and laity—is being planned that will address two important areas that need discussion and clarification in our midst. The first is to put Eastern Orthodoxy into focus vis-à-vis Confessional Lutheranism. These will include: EO vs. confessional Lutheranism on Original Sin, Pr. John Rutowicz, facilitator; on Justification, Pr. David Juhl, facilitator; on Sanctification/Theosis, and how they relate to God’s plan of salvation, Pr. Gary Gehlbach, facilitator. The second major area is Sanctification, and topics will include: “Sanctification: What is it? What causes it? What are its consequences?” Dr. Steven Hein, facilitator, and “Modes of Communication in the Ministry of the Gospel,” Pr. Robert Schaibley, facilitator. As was favorably received last year, these topics will not be covered by formal papers. Rather, each will have a facilitator who will be responsible for researching and preparing pertinent background information on his topic, identifying appropriate issues, questions, and additional reading resources. A listing of these materials will be made available via The Augustana Ministerium website prior to the conference for individual preparation for the discussions at the conference. A lineup of very able and talented facilitators will be leading the discussions. Together with registration and opening worship, the scheduled program for the August 30 and the morning of August 31 will be dedicated to theological portion of the conference. The Plenary Session of the TAM will be scheduled for the afternoon of August 31. The cost of the conference will be $30. That cost is included in the paid 2007 dues for TAM members. Dr. Steven A. Hein, Dean of Education The Augustana Ministerium
Make checks payable to: The Augustana Ministerium
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— Update, May 28, 2006 — The
Augustana Ministerium Administrative Council: The first annual Theological Conference and Plenary Session of The Augustana Ministerium will be held September 26-27, 2006 hosted by Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Arvada, CO and her pastor, the Rev. Joseph Brennan. A stimulating and timely theological agenda for discussion open to all—pastors and laity—is being planned by a committee that I have appointed (Prs. Frahm, Eckhart, and myself) which will include the following topics: 1) “The Historic Liturgy: The Case Against and For its Normative Use,” to be led by the Rev. Dr. Burnell ‘Fritz’ Eckardt; 2) “The Sacred Confessional: Contemporary Threats, Opportunities, & Blessings,” led by the Rev. Rick Sawyer; and 3) “Contemporary Gnostic Threats in the Churches Today: Identification and Response,” led by the Rev. James Heiser. These topics will not be delivered by formal papers. Rather, each facilitator will be responsible for researching and preparing pertinent background information on his topic, identifying appropriate issues, questions, and additional reading resources. A listing of these materials will be made available via The Augustana Ministerium website prior to the conference for individual preparation for the discussions at the conference. Together with registration and opening worship, the scheduled program for the first day will be dedicated to theological portion of the conference. The Plenary Session of the TAM will be scheduled for the morning of September 27. The cost of the conference will be $30. That cost is included in the paid 2006 dues for TAM members. Dr. Steven A. Hein, Dean of Education The Augustana Ministerium
Make checks payable to: The Augustana Ministerium
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— Update, October 28, 2005 — The
Augustana Ministerium Administrative Council: Constituting Convention News: On October 26th, 2004, a group of pastors met in Peoria, Illinois and pledged themselves to the creation of a confessional Lutheran ministerium and to the care of faithful Lutheran pastors. According to the commission of those gathered, this Lutheran ministerium would be…a pastoral association formed to preserve and promote Lutheran pastors and a distinctively Lutheran Ministry of Word and Sacrament to Lutheran congregations. On September 20th and 21st, 2005, a constituting convention was convened and a Statement on the Holy Ministry, a Constitution, and Bylaws were adopted by those who were brought together by their shared confession of faith and their desire to protect and strengthen both the pastors and the laity of Christ’s Church by helping pastors to proclaim Christ’s message unhindered. The name adopted for this pastoral association is The Augustana Ministerium. As our Statement declares: “Nor do we take lightly our own ordination vows. It is indeed for this reason that we have determined to enter this ministerium, with the sad acknowledgment that faithful ministers who have taken their stand against sacrilege and heresy have been subjected to repeated and continual diabolical attacks on their ministry, attacks which have gone unchecked, even in our own midst. The integrity of men of God is assaulted day after day and year after year, and although Christian history is replete with such assaults, we lament in particular the failure to defend them by the very men charged with their defense. We do not refer here to that occasional scoundrel whose ungodly behavior has earned him rebuke, but to the many men of integrity who are routinely assailed with the charge of stubbornness for not yielding to falsehood; of lacking ‘people skills’ because they persistently adhere to the truth; of being loveless when their actions demonstrate that they are bound in love to the charge of their Lord truly to shepherd the flock over which He has made them overseers rather than bound to serve their own bellies or itching ears or those of their hearers. Indeed we count such pastors who rule well to be worthy of double honor, who labor in the word and doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we are therefore compelled to bind ourselves to their support.” The Statement in its entirety may be read, printed, and freely distributed from http://augustanaministerium.org/AM-C_B.pdf, where it is presented along with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Ministerium. If you are a Lutheran pastor and should wish to join the Augustana Ministerium, you will find a web form to begin the process and an Adobe Reader document that can be filled out on your computer, printed, signed, and sent to the Recording Secretary to complete your application, by visiting http://augustanaministerium.org/AM-Application.html. The Rev. Dr. Steven A. Hein helped our understanding of the issues that existed between Walther, Loehe, and Grabau through his presentation of a paper titled “Influences on the Office of the Ministry in the History of American Lutheranism: Some Thoughts.” The paper is available along with papers from our 2004 conference, by clicking the Essays and Presentations tab above. Also presented at our constituting convention was a group insurance proposal for Augustana Ministerium members. As proposed, the plan would be roughly equivalent to the highest coverage option typically ofered by group insurance plans (such as the ‘A’ option of the Missouri Synod’s Worker Benefit Plans) at roughly the same price. As soon as fifty Augustana Ministerium members choose this healthcare option, the policy will be in place. Health insurance has become a priority for us because of the increasing number of pastors and congregations that have become or will become ‘independent’, as well as those pastors who seem to have been placed onto ‘permanent CRM’ status in certain church bodies even while cries of “Clergy Shortage!” have been voiced for the past decade. Some also have had concerns with denominationally-based health insurance (i.e., benefit plans) due to privacy issues. In a legal case in Illinois, it became apparent that denominationally-based benefit plans were able to violate patient confidentiality and supply information from a patient’s medical records to district officials, who then sought to use such information against the patient in a dispute. It was made very clear that while the insurance group would be the Augustana Ministerium, the insurer’s responsibility would be entirely to the individual member, since this would not be a group-managed benefit plan, but actual insurance. Our goals and activities remain as stated in November of 2004. “Any funds you provide will be used for the following purposes: “1. To provide emergency relief for pastors in crisis and need “2. To help small congregations keep their faithful pastors, even though they are unable to pay a pastor a full-time livable wage “3. To help plant new confessional mission congregations and preaching stations “4. To put ordained pastors who are without a call to serve in a particular place or are on CRM status back into ministry as pastors and teachers in the church “While the ministerium will incur some administrative costs, none of the monies donated to us by you or your congregation will be used to set up or maintain a bureaucracy. Rather, these monies will be used to help support pastors as they go about the business of creating and sustaining authentically Lutheran congregations and schools. Through the work of this ministerium, we hope to call Lutherans again to the hearing of the Word, the proper administration of the sacraments, and to a fuller liturgical life under the headship of truly evangelical (confessional Lutheran) pastors.” In Christ Jesus, Rev. Eric Stefanski, Dean of Communications Make checks payable to: The Augustana Ministerium
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— Update, June 8, 2005 — Confessional
Lutheran Ministerium Steering Committee: Rev. Dr. Burnell Eckardt, Rev. John Frahm, Rev. Dr. Steven Hein, Revs. Michael Liese, Robert Schaibley, Craig Stanford, and Eric Stefanski The steering committee met this past week in St. Louis to work toward the completion of materials relative to constituting a confessional Lutheran ministerium. The CLM will be incorporated under the name of "The Augustana Ministerium." Until incorporation, checks can still be made out to CLM. To date the following has been accomplished:
For the Steering Committee, Rev. Michael Liese
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— Update, April 5, 2005 — Confessional
Lutheran Ministerium Steering Committee: Rev. Dr. Burnell Eckardt, Rev. John Frahm, Rev. Dr. Steven Hein, Revs. Michael Liese, Robert Schaibley, Craig Stanford, and Eric Stefanski The Steering Committee has been working to finish the work given them at the October 2004 conference. Paperwork has been prepared so that the attorney might file for the legal incorporation of the CLM. Once this is complete, application will be made for 501c3 status. The statement on the Confessional Lutheran Ministerium & the Office of the Holy Ministry is nearing completion. The Steering Committee will be meeting in early June to finish all documentation, and to finalize details for a second conference which will serve as the constituting conference for the ministerium. This conference will be scheduled in September, the date & location to be announced in the near future. A list is being compiled of pastors now on CRM status
who desire to return to parish work. If you are currently on CRM status
and would like to add your name to the list, please send your personal
information (Name, Address, Phone) to Rev. Michael Liese at For the Steering Committee, Rev. Michael Liese
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| HOME | FAQ
and CONTACT INFO |
NEWS and PRESS RELEASES |
ESSAYS
and PRESENTATIONS |
OTHER RESOURCES |
CONFRATERNITY | LINKS |