Minnesota North Confessionals Hosting a Free Conference on Emerging Lutheran Groups Such as the ACELC, by Pr. Rossow

The Minnesota North Confessional Lutherans are holding what promises to be an interesting conference. They have invited three speakers, including your BJS editor, to address the blossoming of various groups para-church and intra-church theological groups within Lutheranism.

For my part I will be sharing my experiences with groups and theological statements such as the ACELC, TTMBO (“That They May be One” a statement put out by the Northern Illinois Confessional Lutherans in response to Yankee Stadium), and Fritz Baue’s “Lutheran Manifesto.”

Let me say a word about the ACELC. I am no longer a part of that group but that does not mean that I am critical of their work. I have been in contact with them since agreeing to speak at this conference. We have had amicable exchanges. I joined the group when it first started nearly two years ago and did so because I thought it was important for my congregation to begin to explore options if the LCMS was to continue down the path of American Evangelicalism. In the meantime, the stunning victory and mandate given to President Matt Harrison got me rethinking the need for an actual association of congregations and I have since withdrawn my membership in the group. I will share more on that in my conference address.

Here are the details about the conference:

23rd Annual Lutheran Free Conference

Hosted by MN North Confessional Lutherans & Other Friends & Supporters

THEME:  “WHAT’S NEW IN LUTHERANISM” Emerging Associations in the Lutheran Family

Two emerging associations in the Lutheran family that will be given consideration include the LCMC – Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, an association being joined by many of those congregations leaving the ELCA. The other is the ACELC – Association of Confessing Evangelical Lutheran Congregations, an association of LCMS congregations with concerns about the direction of their church body.

WHEN:  Saturday, October 30, 2010, Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., Conference begins at 9:30a.m. – Adjournment at 3:00 p.m.

WHERE:  Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2719 Third Street North, St. Cloud, MN

SPEAKERS:  Rev. William Bakewicz, Pastor, American Lutheran Church (LCMC), Long Prairie, MN

Rev. Dr. Timothy Rossow, Pastor, Bethany Lutheran Church (LCMS), Naperville, IL

 Rev. Joshua Scheer, Pastor, Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS), Bagley, MN

COST:  $25.00 per person (includes coffee & rolls and lunch).

Registration is $25 per person (payable at the door) and includes coffee & rolls and a lunch. Though pre-registration is not required for the conference, pre-registration is required if you plan to eat at the conference site. If you plan to attend & be fed, call (320) 252-8171 or send an e-mail to [email protected] by Friday, October 22nd, with the names of those attending.

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