Emerging Theology as Reclaiming Lutheran Theology - Part Three
It’s been a little bit, but here’s the next post in the series connecting trends in emerging theology and Lutheran theology.
Ever since I read this blog post about ecclesia as res publica, I’ve been thinking a lot about a Lutheran understanding of ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church, how we organize ourselves as the church) in relation to an emerging understanding. It seems to me that while some expressions of the church in an emerging theology may look very different from the traditional Lutheran expression, they are not wholly different.
The author of the blog entry mentioned above discusses a particular “giveness” to emerging ecclesiologies. That is to say that they are flexible by nature, not set in stone as some expressions of the church (such as in Roman Catholicism). This flexible nature (as far as I’ve read) comes out of a deep desire by many in the emerging conversation to serve the Gospel. While there may be an air of rebellion against current ecclesiologies, I do think that the flexibility of the emerging ecclesiologies is in service to the Gospel and mission.
Lutheran ecclesiology also (perhaps contrary to popular belief) has a certain flexibility. Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, and the other Reformers were hesitant to define a clear doctrine of the church. Instead they desired to see the church structure herself in whatever way would best serve the Gospel. This is why the ALC and LCA (predecessor church bodies to the ELCA) shifted from using the term President choosing to call them Bishops. It is also why the ELCA adopted Called to Common Mission (CCM) which entered into fully communion with the Episcopal Church USA (even though many in the church felt that we gave up too much). Proponents of CCM in the ELCA stated the need to be one church in an age of pluralism and diversity. They saw the mission of God and the church as key in making the decision. They understood that what was agreed upon in CCM is not only within the bounds of our flexible ecclesiology but actually demanded by it.
So while some of those in the emerging conversation would structure themselves in unique and seemingly different ways from the traditional Lutheran understanding - it is actually incredibly Lutheran. So long as it is the missio Dei (mission of God) and the Gospel that are driving the organization.
Filed under: Lutheran Theology, Theological Ponderings on July 30th, 2008
So, I essentially agree with you in Lutheran principle but not in Lutheran practice. The emerging paradigm, in my opinion, is very concerned with the decentralization of power. Thus, mostly everyone in emerging communities are veracious readers making everyone an authority on theology, scripture, and philosophy. This emphasizes that there is no distinction between clergy and congregation. My congregational experience has taught me that at the local level these distinctions are made and kept.
What I think the emerging movement can do for Lutherans is this: they can remind us that where the word is proclaimed and the sacraments distributed that is where the church is. The goal is conveying that we are all truly a priesthood not just the clergy.
Reply to Joshua Serrano