Comments for LIFT: Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA

Comment on LIFT Report & Recommendations by Pr. Robert J.L. Zimmer

Pr. Robert J.L. Zimmer — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:55:24 +0000

I commend the Task Force for their incredible piece of work and hope and pray the Church Council will move it forward with all urgency. It should now become the focus of what the ELCA is about in the months and years ahead. Question: Is there a hard copy version available and if so, where and how can it be obtained? Thank you.

Comment on Purpose by Mamy Ranaivoson

Mamy Ranaivoson — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:02:39 +0000

Please update me on the progress of this important topic. Mamy

Comment on Scenarios by Peter Kruse

Peter Kruse — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:07:59 +0000

Hi ya’ll. I wonder if the last 5 scenarios could be put up . . .

I have enjoyed the ones so far.

Comment on upLIFTing Thoughts by R.McMullin

R.McMullin — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:56:41 +0000

I like the way your church opperate. How different it is from some other churches. You beleive that all the people come together and form an idea, direction, and course. It is very democratic and based on the core assumption that truth will emerge from the consensus of the total church congregation as a whole with all parties being asked to present and share their viewpoints. The older view is that truth resides in a select few people (The Elect) whose job it is to teach it to everyone else, expunge the heretics, and keep everyone in line thinking exactly the same thing. I like your way better.

Comment on upLIFTing Thoughts by pastor Anne Carlson

pastor Anne Carlson — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:01:14 +0000

I am following your progress in great anticipation of the next wave of discussions. I hope you have checked out Kelly fryer’s statement/definition of the church in “Reclaiming the L Word”
page 100: “The church may be the only orgnaization on the planet that exists entirely for the sake of those people who don’t belong to it, yet. In fact, as soon as we forget this and start making it all about ourselves, we stop being the church”!!!
What a discussion opener.
Pastor Anne

Comment on upLIFTing Thoughts by geoff sinibaldo

geoff sinibaldo — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:30:44 +0000

Thanks for your work on this project. My hope is that your recommendations will not be “more of the same” but a rebirth of the church for the 21st century. Christ be with you in your work and among his people.

Comment on upLIFTing Thoughts by Dick Schlenker

Dick Schlenker — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:13:57 +0000

Your e-mail was very interesting and informative. The most critical issue faceing the ELCA today is the sexual statement and how it is splitting the member churches since many are leaving the ELCA abd joining the North American Lutheran Church. This is resulting in a drastic reduction of revenues and making it difficult for the ELCA to fullful its mission. Are you and LIFT addressing this issue and what will be the recommendations? Many Lutherans are against this issue and are in a quandry about supporting the ELCA, I look forward to further communications.
Dick Schlenker

Comment on upLIFTing Thoughts by Tweets that mention upLIFTing Thoughts « LIFT: Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA -- Topsy.com

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:37:39 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Messiah Lutheran, LIFT ELCA. LIFT ELCA said: upLIFTing thoughts ~ http://t.co/TznZafh Linda Bobbitt's reflections on the work of the LIFT task force. #ELCA [...]

Comment on God’s ‘Demonstration Plot’ by Tim Thompson

Tim Thompson — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:53:03 +0000

That’s a very nice analogy and connects well with the “Let your light so shine…” instructions we share with all the Baptized.

It also applies though within the Church. We desperately need more demonstration plots to help our congregations and members see that doing things differently can have a great value to our missional work together.

One plot I think we urgently need to put seed in is a house church expression. This is Lutheran to the core (see bit.ly/1BrxOf) and could be done out of existing congregations in a “Home Front Missionary” model (see bit.ly/gtHL7t.)

I’m sorry to report though that in the nearly four years I’ve been advocating for this and scanning the web for the keywords “Lutheran” and “House Church” together, I’ve found mostly a sad silence on the topic.

It’s past time for us to plant this seed, and a host of other variants, to see what will grow best in the post-Christendom, Postmodern soil. Maybe we can learn from the Presbyterians in Scotland who have stepped up in this way with what I would call venture capital for their demonstrator plots (see bit.ly/VentCap).

And if you’re looking for someone actually crazy enough to try and plant this stuff on his own back 40, give me a call.

Comment on LIFT in Scripture by Tweets that mention LIFT in Scripture « LIFT: Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA -- Topsy.com

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:16:20 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Regina Trombitas, LIFT ELCA. LIFT ELCA said: New Blog Post – "LIFT In Scripture" http://t.co/P2NieTs [...]