By Rev. Phillip Lee
It seems that when Lutheran pastors gather around coffee and pie, dangerous and even creative things can happen. There are those who claim that it only amounts to indigestion (that might be a good disclaimer!) Nevertheless, such was the tenuous beginning of FOCL.
In the Spring of 1987, after accepting calls to serve congregations in the greater Sacramento area, Pastor Mike Murphy and I began to meet together to renew our friendship and to share our concerns on a variety of issues that the Lutheran Church was facing. Our meetings were of a personal, informal nature, but the conviction began to grow between us that we were not alone in our concerns.
We came to the conclusion that there was a silent majority of Lutheran pastors and lay persons in our Sierra Pacific Synod and throughout the church who shared our sense that the present pre-merger church and forthcoming ELCA were in need of Biblical and Confessiona renewal. As our concerns about the direction of the church began to grow (the legalism of the quota system, universalist inclusivity, social-political agendas, to name a few), fueled by the experience of our 1988 Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly in Sacramento, we decided to test the waters.
In July 1988 we invited a small group of colleagues to meet with us to explore the possible formation of a fellowship of pastors and lay persons within the ELCA who shared our perceptions and our concern for Biblical and Confessional renewal. From that meeting it was decided to form the Fellowship of Confessional Lutherans, with myself, Pastor Mike Murphy of Ascension in Citrus Heights (Sacramento), and Pastor Dan Selbo of St. Peter's in Elk Grove (Sacramento) to be a steering committee.
UNDERWAY
In September 1988, FOCL held its first official meeting. Cliff Pederson, President, Lutheran Bible Institute of California, was the keynote speaker on the theme "The Authority of the Word." In January 1989, FOCL held its next general meeting, centering on the theme, "The Church and Homosexuality/ordination issue that dominated the agenda of the Assembly. At that meeting Bishop Miller requested that the FOCL steering committee develop a written statement of our theological positions. At Bishop Miller's request, FOCL developed and adopted a document entitled, "Mission Statement and Declaration" (see Pages 5-6), which continues to be part of our "voice" for on-going dialogue and study in the ELCA.
In November of 1989, the "Mission Statement and Declaration" booklets were sent, with cover letter, to the Sierra Pacific Synod Council for their information, with our request for a response. We received a response dated January 8,1990, from the Synod Secretary who wrote in part, "The Council expresses appreciation to the FOCL for the outpouring of concern for the renewed study of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions shown by them and others. The Council states its commitment to continue to work together with the Bishop's office, the FOCL, and all sisters and brothers in such study and dialogue." Although criticism was voiced in the letter, we of FOCL appreciate and accept the Council's intention "to continue to work together."
In late November and early December of 1989, the FOCL steering committee called for and publicized regional meetings to be held for clarification and deeper understanding of our purpose. These meetings were held in San Jose, Millbrae (S.F. penninsula), Sacramento and Fresno. In addition, the steering committee accepted an invitation to meet with one of the Synod Conferences (S.E. bay area/Fremont area). Although we have received no small amount of criticism as well as considerable support, our attempt has been and continues to try to be a positive voice to express the need for and benefit of renewed Biblical and Confessional study and dialogue on wide-ranging theological issues confronting the ELCA.
THE PRESENT
Following a favorable article in the AALC's (American Association of Lutheran Churches) "Evangel" last fall, FOCL has been contacted by many pastors, lay persons, congregations and other renewal ministries within the ELCA. We have heard from folks in California, Washington, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York and South Carolina, and also International Lutheran Renewal and the Confessional Lutheran Fellowship in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (doing a very similar work to FOCL!) It appears that the chord for Biblical and Confessional renewal in the ELCA has been struck!
Currently the FOCL steering committee is working to develop a board of directors to share the increasing load of our work and broaden our base of support. At the same time we have made a commitment to publish a quarterly newsletter, FOCL Point (this very one!), with the intention to communicate our specific concerns and contribute a positive voice for Biblical and Confessional renewal in the church. Soli Deo Gloria!