"PASTORAL THEOLOGY & PRACTICE" PROF. HAROLD SENKBEIL & DR. RICHARD WARNECK CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY: CAPTION FIRST, INC. P.O. BOX 1924 Lombard, IL 60148 1-800-825-7234 * * * * * This is being provided in a rough-draft format. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is provided in Order to facilitate communication accessibility and may not be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings * * * * * >> ERIC: We have lots of churches here in New Jersey. I'm wondering about how far we should go when it comes to interchurch relations. Is it right for Lutheran pastors to participate in Bible studies or theological meetings with pastors of other denominations? May I lead a civic meeting such as our town council in prayer? Can our congregation work together with other local Christian churches in social ministries such as meals for the homeless or a local pregnancy support center? >> PROF. HAROLD SENKBEIL: Well, Eric, part of the answer to your question I've already addressed in talking with Josh there in Wyoming, although New Jersey is far different and an your ban community is far different, the same principles apply. In other words, participation in external affairs, that is works of Christian service are always appropriate for our Lutheran congregations. And we want to get involved as we're able in those kinds of public service opportunities. Now, regarding the affairs of the church when it comes to the proclamation of the word, the administration of the sacraments, however, we're on different ground. There we're governed by our church fellowship principles. And so if I'm asked, for example, to participate as one of many clergymen or clergypersons as the case may be in sort of a public service of Thanksgiving at the occasion of Thanksgiving Day, for example, or other kinds of affairs, I'm going to have very serious reservations. Why? Because I don't want to give the impression that all of these various confessions of the Christian faith are coequal, that die an metrically opposed doctrines can somehow be compromised by participation in such an affair. So I'm going to have questions when I am asked to participate in these things. The general principle is that Lutheran pastors do not participate in such events. Now, the specific question you asked was related to can I lead a civic meeting such as our town council in prayer? A similar situation might arise, say on the occasion of a graduation of a high school class in a public high school. The question I would ask is: How many other pastors are also being invited for that occasion? I would certainly go when I'm asked to such an event if I'm the only pastor. Why? Because as a Christian citizen, as a member of the clergy but as a Christian citizen, I'm simply praying for the Welfare of my community in that kind of an event. I'm not giving the impression that all religions are the same. You see, Eric, these days we live in a very syncratistic time; that is, people have the idea that many roads lead to God. And these days it's not simply a matter of interdenominational relations amongst Christians. But even nonchristian religions are placed in the same par. So that all roads lead to God, be that Buddhist, Islam, Christian, Jewish, whatever, there's only one God and all roads lead to him. This clearly is in conflict with what God teaches us in his word where Jesus says "i am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." So giving a clear confession to this faith that there is one Lord and one redeemer, Jesus Christ, who by his blood has ransomed people from all nations for himself, it's important that for the sake of that Gospel, we refrain from participating in any kind of event that would compromise that Gospel. Certainly when it comes to social agencies and social ministries, we can participate in all kinds of affairs. We might, for example, participate in efforts to support the unborn and to defend life on all sides of the spectrum. Provided that those efforts do not compromise, again, our principles of Christian fellowship. So, these are the governing principles. What are externals and what belongs to the core of the life of the church, the marks of the church, the Word of God and public prayer, public services, those kinds of things we do not participate in with members of other churches publicly in leadership positions. But in areas in which we're demonstrating Christian compassion and care, of course we participate. I hope this helps. And we can discuss the details in the ongoing aspects of this course. * * * * * This is being provided in a rough-draft format. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is provided in Order to facilitate communication accessibility and may not be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings * * * * *