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Mission is our Middle Name
A Warm Welcome To You
Welcome to the current home of the Evangelical Mission Network on the web!
This site is your home for information and the exchange of ideas about the work of the EMN as a reform group within the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
We hope you will visit often.
This site is your home for information and the exchange of ideas about the work of the EMN as a reform group within the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
We hope you will visit often.
What Is Our Purpose?
The purpose of the Evangelical Mission Network (EMN) of the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is to provide an organization and means of expression for the members of our synod who are biblical, missional, and generally moderate to conservative on the theological spectrum, and who are Evangelical and Protestant on the Lutheran spectrum.
What Are Our Plans?
We are concerned with some of the current theological and missiological currents that seem to be leading the ELCA away from our biblical roots and confessional identity. As such we propose to:
—Hold synod workshops on issues related to our concerns
—Offer and/or promote continuing education events for renewal in mission
—Promote culturally appropriate means of communicating the Gospel
—Support people with a passion for clearly proclaiming the Gospel.
—Invite speakers with a vision for the Church that critiques the current direction of the ELCA
—Form a collegium accountability program to identify at risk congregations
—Provide training, technology, and financial assistance from the gifts God has given each of us
—Aggressively pursue opportunities for mission by encouraging conference-based mission starts
—Ensure balance in ELCA educational events and materials regarding controversial issues
—Hold synod workshops on issues related to our concerns
—Offer and/or promote continuing education events for renewal in mission
—Promote culturally appropriate means of communicating the Gospel
—Support people with a passion for clearly proclaiming the Gospel.
—Invite speakers with a vision for the Church that critiques the current direction of the ELCA
—Form a collegium accountability program to identify at risk congregations
—Provide training, technology, and financial assistance from the gifts God has given each of us
—Aggressively pursue opportunities for mission by encouraging conference-based mission starts
—Ensure balance in ELCA educational events and materials regarding controversial issues
What Are Our Goals?
Our goal is to bring reformation and renewal to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). We will provide and advocate positive models for mission based on biblical models in accord with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and the Great Commandment (John 15:12). We will, as necessary, propose constructive resolutions that advance our purpose for the consideration of synod assemblies.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”
—Matthew 28:19a
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
—John 15:12b
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”
—Matthew 28:19a
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
—John 15:12b
How Did the EMN Come About?
After the ELCA narrowly adopted the “Called to Common Mission” ecumenical agreement with the Episcopal Church USA, some members of the Southwest California Synod who were not in agreement began to meet to discuss options for a constructive response. This “Loyal Opposition” group came to recognize a broader base of people in the ELCA who are concerned about a perceived drift away from our confessional identity and biblical mission.
The process leading up to the adoption of the CCM illustrated how difficult it was for this point of view to be voiced openly and how underrepresented this perspective was in the official structures of our synod and at our ELCA headquarters. In light of this, a group of pastors worked together to form the EMN as a means of addressing these concerns in a constructive and responsible way . Our hope is to contribute towards a stronger, more effective ELCA that is better equipped to share the transforming power of the Gospel in a rapidly changing world.
The process leading up to the adoption of the CCM illustrated how difficult it was for this point of view to be voiced openly and how underrepresented this perspective was in the official structures of our synod and at our ELCA headquarters. In light of this, a group of pastors worked together to form the EMN as a means of addressing these concerns in a constructive and responsible way . Our hope is to contribute towards a stronger, more effective ELCA that is better equipped to share the transforming power of the Gospel in a rapidly changing world.
How Is The EMN Organized?
The EMN is a network in the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA.
The EMN is structured so that its leaders are helpers whose purpose is to assist and equip the individual people, congregations, conferences, and coalitions who are its members to best use the gifts and accomplish the mission God has given them.
Officers and Committees: elected at the annual gathering
Meetings: Held at the annual synod assembly, and/or annually before March 1st and as often as deemed necessary
Finances: contributions of members
Promotion: open to all members and congregations of the Southwest California Synod
Participation: Members are encouraged to pray for renewal, discover and develop their gifts, take part in gatherings and projects, contribute at least annually, and provide transformational ideas and enthusiasm.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2
The EMN is structured so that its leaders are helpers whose purpose is to assist and equip the individual people, congregations, conferences, and coalitions who are its members to best use the gifts and accomplish the mission God has given them.
Officers and Committees: elected at the annual gathering
Meetings: Held at the annual synod assembly, and/or annually before March 1st and as often as deemed necessary
Finances: contributions of members
Promotion: open to all members and congregations of the Southwest California Synod
Participation: Members are encouraged to pray for renewal, discover and develop their gifts, take part in gatherings and projects, contribute at least annually, and provide transformational ideas and enthusiasm.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2
How to Join the EMN
Contact EMN Co-ordinator
David Berkedal, Pastor
Faith Lutheran Church
505 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, California 91773
P 909 599-3978
F 909 599-3324
E dberkedal@faithsd.net
Please provide as much of the following as you feel comfortable sharing. Our list will be used by the Co-ordinator for sharing information with you.
Name
Address
City, State Zip
Phone
Fax
Email
Your congregation's Conference name
Thank you very much, and welcome to the Evangelical Mission Network!
David Berkedal, Pastor
Faith Lutheran Church
505 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, California 91773
P 909 599-3978
F 909 599-3324
E dberkedal@faithsd.net
Please provide as much of the following as you feel comfortable sharing. Our list will be used by the Co-ordinator for sharing information with you.
Name
Address
City, State Zip
Phone
Fax
Your congregation's Conference name
Thank you very much, and welcome to the Evangelical Mission Network!
How to Support the EMN
We first of all need your prayers. We are a praying community and your prayers that we accomplish only God's will for us are most important.
We need your time. We are organizing by conference and in our synod as a whole. Tell others about the mission of the Evangelical Mission Network. Sponsor gatherings within your congregation and with other churches within your conference.
We need your financial contributions. One of our goals is to sponsor synod-wide educational events. We want to be a positive influence for Biblical, relavant church life. There are significant expenses in providing opportunities for growth with excellent speakers and workshops.
Contributions may be sent to:
Don Berry, EMN Treasurer
505 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, California 91773
Please note that we are not formally incorporated, so your financial contributions will not be tax-deductible.
We need your time. We are organizing by conference and in our synod as a whole. Tell others about the mission of the Evangelical Mission Network. Sponsor gatherings within your congregation and with other churches within your conference.
We need your financial contributions. One of our goals is to sponsor synod-wide educational events. We want to be a positive influence for Biblical, relavant church life. There are significant expenses in providing opportunities for growth with excellent speakers and workshops.
Contributions may be sent to:
Don Berry, EMN Treasurer
505 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, California 91773
Please note that we are not formally incorporated, so your financial contributions will not be tax-deductible.
ELCA News - www.elca.org
Christianity Today News - www.christianitytoday.com
Excellent Bible Study Resources
The Reliability of the Four Gospels: links from Christianity Today, October 2007
- Apologetics.com look for Articles link
- Apologetics Index
- Bible.org esp. Theology: Articles and Studies, then bibliology
- The Moorings best for reliability articles
- N.T.Wright unofficial page with relevant articles
- Ben Witherington a New Testament scholar
- Probe Ministries look at Reasons to Believe or use search function
- Lee Strobel video look at Investigating Jesus
Other Useful Links
- LC3 is a national organization of which the EMN is a member. It provides resources and information for the mission of the local church.
- Lutheran CORE is a national coalition of which the EMN is a member. It
- Touchstone Magazine is an ecumenical Conservative Christian journal of "mere Christianity." Solid gold
- to the source email newsletter "challenging hardcore secularism with principled pluralism". Based in Thousand Oaks
- Old Lutheran.com Cool Lutheran stuff
- RobGagnon.net A useful site for information on the Bible's view of homosexual practice. Robert Gagnon has spoken in our synod.
Contact Us
Contact EMN Co-ordinator:
David Berkedal, Pastor
Faith Lutheran Church
505 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, California 91773
P 909 599-3978
F 909 599-3324
E dberkedal@faithsd.net
David Berkedal, Pastor
Faith Lutheran Church
505 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, California 91773
P 909 599-3978
F 909 599-3324
E dberkedal@faithsd.net
2 comments:
Here's the discription of the initiative from the ELCA's press release regarding the assembly:
"Book of Faith" Initiative Affirmed
The assembly endorsed "Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the
Bible," a five-year initiative to promote study of the Bible. The
initiative grew out of a proposal the North Carolina Synod made
to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. One recommendation stressed the
importance of Scripture for believers "throughout the ages" and
thanked the North Carolina Synod for proposing the initiative. It
was adopted by a vote of 1,000 to 19. A companion recommendation,
adopted 956 to 68, gave specific suggestions for ways to "invite
and encourage all members, expressions, institutions and partners
of this church to commit themselves regularly and increasingly to
hearing, reading, studying, sharing and being formed by God's
Word."
To coin a phrase, "What does this mean?"
I think that some in the leadership are concerned that some of the discussion regarding the recent initiatives regarding the Bible and homosexual practice demonstrated a creeping conservatism (sometimes indistinguished from fundamentalism).
I think that what we will Likely see is:
1. A committee will be formed composed of liberal/progressive/revisionist Lutherans, with a few folks with conservative leanings thrown in so the committee can say "we listened to all the voices".
2. They will produce a statement that might better be titled, "How liberal/progressive/revisionist Lutherans Read the Bible".
3. This statement will be used to support every liberal/progressive/ revisionist social and theological statement of the ELCA for a generation.
I say "likely" because I think that recent history points to this outcome.
I do not think it is an accomplished fact, however. This may be the question that brings the foundational issues at the root of recent discussions into focus for most Lutherans.
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