As denominations go, I’m still kind of the new guy here in the North American Lutheran Church. The NALC has been around since about 2012. I was present at their organizing meeting in Fishers, Indiana (ironically, just a few miles North East of my home at the time). I’ve known members of the NALC for most of my career as a pastor. But to actually be in this denomination is a different thing altogether.
From the outside looking in, they can be a bit stuffy, culturally speaking. At the official meetings, black shirts with funny collars and suits abound. Men and quite a few women go around at official meetings formally dressed, acting formally and speaking guardedly and very academically about all manner of ‘church things’. They speak of being flexible in worship style just so long as the theology is biblical and grounded in sound, Lutheran theology and yet every worship service seems steeped in a very formal, very specific, high church liturgical style that, at times, communicates the opposite value.
However, on the plus side, they have a bishop who champions discipleship, and is genuinely a good pastor to the pastors. Discipleship, sadly, is something that Lutherans in this country are so far removed from that most don’t even know it’s important. This alone explains how our former denomination was able to pull the wool over the eyes of so many about the issue of human sexuality (and quite a bit more issues such as the importance of personal evangelism).
But in the NALC, they have sound theologians on the job, standing watch. Making sure that everything we officially communicate and produce for use in the church reflects a high view of the authority of scripture and the particular shape Lutheran theology provides. The churchwidje staff have a decidedly ‘hands off’ posture on the local congregation and wholeheartedly live out the value of having the national church be a support and resource for the local church, rather than the other way around. I really like that. And so should you.
However, after several theological conferences and convocations. After numerous meetings and Zoom calls over official business, my patience had begun to grow thin. You see, out deference for the NALC culture I began wearing that black collared clergy shirt when I first came to you in 2021 out of some perceived cultural expectation. Not because I think it draws newcomers into conversations. I think it may actually do the opposite. After reflecting on this some, I may very well be changing that practice.
The collar is a medieval era garment that signified intentional poverty (black cloth was the cheapest) and the collar signaled obedience (think dog collar). Obedience is a good thing. It goes first to my Lord and savior, Jesus. But I also serve under obedience to you, the local church that called me to be pastor amongst you all. But in my experience, this manmade (not bible based) symbol has lost its meaning among church people and is simply the ‘uniform’ of the local parson.
Additionally, it often creates emotional distance between pastor and those outside the community. And distance, culturally, is a disadvantage. The cross is another story. That is what they my savior died on. That is where the power of God was deposited as the means for us to have eternal life. We in the church practice many things that are just cultural barnacles that slow down our work in the community when it comes to reaching people for Jesus. And THAT is what you called me to lead you all in doing after all! To reach people for Jesus, not slow that down (to be clear).
So back to our beloved NALC. I don’t write ‘beloved’ ironically. In fact I have grown recently to have a deeper respect for this little church body more than ever as I’ve attended this week’s clergy retreat in Orlando.
I know, ORLANDO? In January? Yes, Monday, when my wife dropped me off at the airport it was 2 Fahrenheit . When I landed in Orlando several house later, it was 65 Fahrenheit.
Tough duty but somebody’s gotta do it.
We are suffering a little if that helps any of you. Because while we are stuck in a hotel convention center, all round us hundreds of people are coming and going each day to nearby Disney Land. No, free time at the retreat does not allow for a quick trip to the magic kingdom.
But seriously, this has been a breath of fresh air. And I needed that.
Check out the image above of the definition of retreat. Read the one listed under ‘Noun, 1’ an act of moving back or withdrawing. Normally, this event was a professional leaders theological convocation. That means lots of heady, high-faloot’n theological papers are presented while we all tried desperately to dust off that part of our brains where we once learned how to use polysyllabic words to comprehend the intellectual mysteries of the faith handed down over the ages.
It really is important to do good theology.
And it takes some work to get it right. Letting that go slack was what got the ELCA so far off track. But the faith is not lived exclusively in between the ears. It must also travel down to the heart and out into our daily lives. Otherwise it become a waste. And it may even become the source of sinful pride:
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.”
~1 Corinthians 8:1
This year’s event has been a retreat. A brief season of withdrawing from doing, to being. As we were reminded Tuesday, we are human beings, not human doings. Our culture has bent the church (and us) out of shape to only value activity and motion. But my colleagues who quit or get disqualified from burnout or other forms of misconduct always have a common thread attached: Inadequate attention to the inner life. Very little prayer, not enough rest and too much vain flapping in the air pretending to be useful.
Parish ministry is busy, hard work, Nothing will change that. But a retreat. A withdrawal, now and again, can be just what the doctor ordered. We were taught, or reintroduced to ancient spiritual practices (some of that we cover in Life 2 Life). We were given time to pray both corporately and on our own. There was intentional time for fellowship and some just unstructured time. Again, a breath of fresh air compared to previous events. I am looking forward to getting back to SAINT LOUIS. The temporary drop or withdrawal in activity and stress is a salve for a tired soul. I am eager to get back and rejoin you all in our mission to the greater St. Louis area with the Gospel of Jesus.
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