Lutherna View of Church and State

LESSON SEVEN

A LUTHERAN VIEW OF CHURCH AND STATE

I. Lesson Six continued (see Lesson 6, V.B.)

A. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession

1. Article XVI, 2-4

2. Article XVI, 6

3. Article IV, 189

II. American Lutherans

A. Doctrinal commitments (see Lesson 6) -at times, led to conflict with Puritan-Reformed Americans.

B. Mostly, Lutherans have been more content to leave churches out of politics.

C. Lutherans usually resisted direct connection between political questions and the church.

1. Partly, ethnic isolation.

2. Also, theological

3. Christa R. Klein, quoted by CTCR on page 42

“Deeply suspicious of the optimistic theology of the Social Gospel, Lutherans were also uncomfortable with the requirement that church bodies participate directly in social reform.”

4. Exceptions, e.g.:

a. General Synod and Augustana Synod re: temperance (1866-1917)

b. Some districts of LCMS re: parochial schools

5. World War I - most Lutheran church bodies addressed state directly

a. Government refused to work with individual denominations.

b. 12 Lutheran bodies formed National Lutheran Commission for Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Welfare (LCMS did not participate.)

c. 1918 - first inter-Lutheran umbrella organization, the National Lutheran Council. (also did not include Synodical Conference.)

(1) make clear that Lutherans were full-fledged Americans.

(2) for decade and half, work was largely overseas emergency appeals and public relations at home.

(3) 1930, established a “Church and Social Trends Committee.”

6. World War II

a. Service Commission of National Lutheran Council

(1) facilitated work of Lutheran military chaplains.

(2) established service centers near major bases.

(3) published huge amounts of literature.

(4) became permanent Bureau of Service to Military Personnel in 1948.

b. Afterwards, Service Commission:

(1) focus on relief efforts.

(2) established a Washington office in 1948.

(3) steadily evolved toward full participation in American public life.

III. United Lutheran Church in America

A. 1918; was first Lutheran church body in U.S. to organize for study of social issues.

B. 1919, calls to make Gospel relevant for “age of labor”.

C. Showed growing appreciation for New Deal.

D. 1946, created new position of secretary for social action.

E. 1957, published 3 volume symposium, Christian Social Responsibility.

1. Included work by Wm. H. Lazareth, who would play critical role in shaping UCLA’s theology of social ministry.

2. A significant shift in approach, e.g.: (quoted by CTCR on page 45)

“Sin corrupts social structures as well as individual hearts; so also must they be judged and redeemed. We must strive to reconstruct our society simultaneously from within-by transforming individual citizens-as well as from without-reforming institutional structures-so as to permit the conversion of the unsaved and to encourage the stewardship of the reborn.”

3. Clearly designed to lay foundation for direct social action.

4. Lazareth’s work ensured that approach was well-rooted in Lutheran Church in America when formed in 1962.

IV. 1960’s

A. National mood favored social reform

B. Lazareth went even further in approach for institutional advocacy due to “age of corporation decision-making.”

C. American Lutheran Church of 1960, also had process of policy development on social issues.

D. “Old” ALC (1930) had occasionally developed statements, but speaking directly to government was not part of the pattern.

E. Other three bodies joining with ALC had serious reservations about even this limited degree of social action.

F. Therefore, more debate than in the LCA.

G. ALC did gradually acquire its public voice.

V. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

A. Formed in 1988.

B. Created a well-staffed Washington office to carry forward advocacy even more intensively.

C. Addressed many and various concerns.

VI. LCMS

A. First concentrated on social welfare rather than social action.

B. By 1930’s, increasing desire for more vital fusion between theology and action.

C. Established a Board of Social Welfare in 1950.

1. Close working ties established with National Lutheran Council.

2. By 1960’s, emphasis on corporate and individual action.

3. The “Blueprint for the 70’s” demonstrated views then developing among other Lutherans.

D. Views were significantly restrained during synodical conflicts of the 1970’s.

E. 1986 Synod convention “Blueprint” more clearly articulated traditional Lutheran teaching.

1. Careful distinctions between Law and Gospel called for.

2. Spoke primarily of Christians working through political process, acting “individually and collectively...with other like-minded citizens- Christian and non-Christian.” (quoted by CTCR on page 49)

3. Carried forward some ambiguity as to definition of “church”.

VII. Lutheran Council in the United States of America (LCUSA)

A. Gradual agreement on social welfare in mid-20th century led to frequent contact and cooperation among Lutheran church bodies.

B. Major factor was problem of interface with new governmental welfare agencies.

C. 1936, Lutheran Church Charities Committee formed.

1. Represented six synods.

2. Included LCMS.

3. LCMS technical term: “cooperation in externals.”

D. 1967, LCUSA formed

1. LCMS was a member,

2. Two main purposes

a. theological discussion - all members required to participate.

b. cooperation in specified areas of service-members could elect out.

3. 1979, adopted “The Nature of the Church and Its Relationship with Government.”

a. Direct social action became policy.

b. Mandate led to active lobbying on wide-ranging list through its Office of Government Affairs.

c. Early 1980’s, LCMS withdrew funding and support from OGA.

E. LCUSA dissolved in 1988.

VIII. LCMS

A. 1983, requested study by CTCR.

B. 1984, Board of Directors studied establishing an alternative “presence” in Washington.

C. 1985, authorized a government information services project to assist President and leaders in acquiring information and providing liaison.

D. 1986, conference held to discuss establishing a full-time Office of Government Information (OGI).

E. 1987, Board placed OGI in the President’s office:

1. OGI, an advisor to those with responsibilities for ministry in LCMS; not a “lobby” of LCMS.

2. When President deems it appropriate, OGI would communicate words and actions of President, or appropriate leaders, to civil authorities.

3. Major concerns have been in areas of

(a) abortion

(b) family

IX. Is there really a “Lutheran Perspective”?

A. Depends on definition.

1. If “agreement” is meant - lacking.

2. If “Confessional emphasis” - distinctly.

B. Lutheran model

1. Complex (Jn 6:60)

2. Difficult to apply.