Comments for This Side of the Pulpit» This Side of the Pulpit http://christopherdhall.com What the world looks like from here Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:04:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 Comment on Thoughts on Going Tech by Eric Brown http://christopherdhall.com/2010/03/thoughts-on-going-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-4749 Eric Brown Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:04:02 +0000 http://christopherdhall.com/?p=1298#comment-4749 White boards -- well worth it. White boards — well worth it.

]]> Comment on Thoughts on Going Tech by Marjorie Hall http://christopherdhall.com/2010/03/thoughts-on-going-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-4748 Marjorie Hall Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:21:21 +0000 http://christopherdhall.com/?p=1298#comment-4748 The white board sounds like a huge improvement on the chalkboard he currently uses, Eric. His black suit is COVERED in white chalk dust every Sunday - it's actually quite amusing! The white board sounds like a huge improvement on the chalkboard he currently uses, Eric. His black suit is COVERED in white chalk dust every Sunday – it’s actually quite amusing!

]]> Comment on Thoughts on Going Tech by Eric Brown http://christopherdhall.com/2010/03/thoughts-on-going-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-4746 Eric Brown Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:48:55 +0000 http://christopherdhall.com/?p=1298#comment-4746 If I hear how you all dropped acid in bible study so you could make a theological point, I'm not going to be impressed. One of my good friends does the laptop/projector/powerpoint thing. Me - I love my whiteboard -- not high tech, but really, I don't like higher math that much. If I hear how you all dropped acid in bible study so you could make a theological point, I’m not going to be impressed.

One of my good friends does the laptop/projector/powerpoint thing. Me – I love my whiteboard — not high tech, but really, I don’t like higher math that much.

]]> Comment on Thoughts on Using a Prepared Sermon Series by Anastasia http://christopherdhall.com/2010/02/thoughts-on-using-a-prepared-sermon-series/comment-page-1/#comment-4540 Anastasia Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:29:40 +0000 http://christopherdhall.com/?p=1295#comment-4540 Many a congregation wishes its pastor would use a sermon or series of sermons prepared by someone else! I'm never, ever against doing that, provided of course the sermon is appropriate and a good one and you approve its contents. Many a congregation wishes its pastor would use a sermon or series of sermons prepared by someone else!

I’m never, ever against doing that, provided of course the sermon is appropriate and a good one and you approve its contents.

]]> Comment on Thoughts on Using a Prepared Sermon Series by Eric Brown http://christopherdhall.com/2010/02/thoughts-on-using-a-prepared-sermon-series/comment-page-1/#comment-4537 Eric Brown Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:57:23 +0000 http://christopherdhall.com/?p=1295#comment-4537 I end up thoroughly rewriting the canned sermons - but being given the theme and direction (which I might not have chosen on my own) can be nice and stretch my own preaching skills a bit. I end up thoroughly rewriting the canned sermons – but being given the theme and direction (which I might not have chosen on my own) can be nice and stretch my own preaching skills a bit.

]]> Comment on Blue Ribbon Task Force and Analysis Part Three:The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Paul Becker http://christopherdhall.com/2010/02/blue-ribbon-task-force-and-analysis-part-threethe-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-4424 Paul Becker Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:06:50 +0000 http://christopherdhall.com/?p=1292#comment-4424 Fr. Hall, thanks for taking the time to offer your reflections, much of which I agree with. As a pastoral delegate my concerns about the "ugly" far outweigh any positive considerations that pale in significance, e.g. saving money on convention cycles. If we don't like the way things have been going in the Synod for the past generation or so, why would we want to codify it in the bylaws? I am not willing to give up certain things that have been part of who we are, at least in theory, since the beginning, for the sake of saving the institution. The real action takes place as you rightly noted not at headquarters, but as God's people gather around Word and Sacrament. I have yet to figure out exactly how the national office might be able to support or serve what goes on in my parish. A good start would be to get out Occam's razor and prune, prune, prune until we get down to the essential things. The BRTFSSG does not like pruning. It will be up to the delegates to sharpen their shears. Fr. Hall, thanks for taking the time to offer your reflections, much of which I agree with. As a pastoral delegate my concerns about the “ugly” far outweigh any positive considerations that pale in significance, e.g. saving money on convention cycles. If we don’t like the way things have been going in the Synod for the past generation or so, why would we want to codify it in the bylaws? I am not willing to give up certain things that have been part of who we are, at least in theory, since the beginning, for the sake of saving the institution. The real action takes place as you rightly noted not at headquarters, but as God’s people gather around Word and Sacrament. I have yet to figure out exactly how the national office might be able to support or serve what goes on in my parish. A good start would be to get out Occam’s razor and prune, prune, prune until we get down to the essential things. The BRTFSSG does not like pruning. It will be up to the delegates to sharpen their shears.

]]> Comment on Blue Ribbon Task Force and Analysis Part Three:The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Christopher Hall http://christopherdhall.com/2010/02/blue-ribbon-task-force-and-analysis-part-threethe-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-4423 Christopher Hall Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:19:27 +0000 http://christopherdhall.com/?p=1292#comment-4423 No problem...and there is a chance what I believe is realistic is really cynicism, too. :) No problem…and there is a chance what I believe is realistic is really cynicism, too. :)

]]> Comment on Blue Ribbon Task Force and Analysis Part Three:The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Brian Yamabe http://christopherdhall.com/2010/02/blue-ribbon-task-force-and-analysis-part-threethe-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-4417 Brian Yamabe Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:16:53 +0000 http://christopherdhall.com/?p=1292#comment-4417 Pastor Hall, thanks for the clarification. I think my pastor would largely agree that the proposals would codify what is actual in practice and I agree there is a logical/morbid coherence to them. I guess I haven't been around long enough and still believe that if these things aren't passed that they could be reversed. Pastor Hall, thanks for the clarification. I think my pastor would largely agree that the proposals would codify what is actual in practice and I agree there is a logical/morbid coherence to them. I guess I haven’t been around long enough and still believe that if these things aren’t passed that they could be reversed.

]]> Comment on Blue Ribbon Task Force and Analysis Part Three:The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Christopher Hall http://christopherdhall.com/2010/02/blue-ribbon-task-force-and-analysis-part-threethe-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-4415 Christopher Hall Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:31:52 +0000 http://christopherdhall.com/?p=1292#comment-4415 Good observation on both points. However, it's not just the Synodical HQ folks...it's all of us. I didn't even notice it until toward the end. It's part of the systemic failure we have. Good observation on both points. However, it’s not just the Synodical HQ folks…it’s all of us. I didn’t even notice it until toward the end. It’s part of the systemic failure we have.

]]> Comment on Blue Ribbon Task Force and Analysis Part Three:The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Christopher Hall http://christopherdhall.com/2010/02/blue-ribbon-task-force-and-analysis-part-threethe-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-4414 Christopher Hall Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:48:11 +0000 http://christopherdhall.com/?p=1292#comment-4414 Brian--Thanks for commenting. Perhaps I should have clarified somewhat. As LCMS qua LCMS of the last 15-30 years, these recommendations (save perhaps the one regarding the CMO) will not grossly affect our theology or practice. They are not too bad, some are good, and they may net some positive change in our life together. My "Ugly" remarks have more to do with the systemic problems within the LCMS that no structure will change. Call it the cultural atmosphere, call the slide into apathy if not heresy, what have you. We have already undermined the office of the ministry. It started when teachers were called "commissioned ministers" to avoid the draft and IRS problems. It got worse in 1985 at Wichita with Lay Ministers. It's a done deal. Likewise with the complete ignorance of worship as the life of the congregation and the Body of Christ. That elephant was long ago ushered out of the room (if it was ever in it). The way one participant privately put it: what this is doing is codifying what we already do, eliminating what we ignore and so on. Having said all that, I think there is a logical coherence to the recommendations when taken together. Do I like it? I guess I would have to as an officer of the District....well, maybe not. ;) Brian–Thanks for commenting. Perhaps I should have clarified somewhat. As LCMS qua LCMS of the last 15-30 years, these recommendations (save perhaps the one regarding the CMO) will not grossly affect our theology or practice. They are not too bad, some are good, and they may net some positive change in our life together.

My “Ugly” remarks have more to do with the systemic problems within the LCMS that no structure will change. Call it the cultural atmosphere, call the slide into apathy if not heresy, what have you. We have already undermined the office of the ministry. It started when teachers were called “commissioned ministers” to avoid the draft and IRS problems. It got worse in 1985 at Wichita with Lay Ministers.

It’s a done deal. Likewise with the complete ignorance of worship as the life of the congregation and the Body of Christ. That elephant was long ago ushered out of the room (if it was ever in it).

The way one participant privately put it: what this is doing is codifying what we already do, eliminating what we ignore and so on.

Having said all that, I think there is a logical coherence to the recommendations when taken together. Do I like it? I guess I would have to as an officer of the District….well, maybe not. ;)

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