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- WordAlone Network
- 2299 Palmer Drive
Suite #220 - New Brighton, MN 55112
- 651.633.6004
- fax 651.633.4260
- toll-free 888.551.7254
- wordalone@popp.net
WordAlone® Network is a religious, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, and your contributions are fully tax-deductible.
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Core Values
The name of the movement says it all. WordAlone confesses the centrality and the authority of the Word of God in the life of the church. This includes the Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, crucified and risen from the dead, and all of the Holy Scriptures in the Old and New Testaments. Our beliefs are further exemplified in our 10 Affirmations.
As a member of Lutheran CORE, the coalition for reform, WordAlone also affirms the Common Confession.
All that we preach, teach and do must be centered on Jesus Christ. He alone is Lord and he alone has been given "all authority in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) Whenever we turn to anything or anyone else to do that which Christ alone can do, we are caught up in idolatry.
Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit must not be separated from or set against the Holy Scriptures. Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." (Matthew 5:17-18).
The Holy Spirit calls all believers to submit to the authority of the revealed Word of God, that is Jesus Christ and the Holy Scriptures. Christ and the Scriptures stand in authority over us, not us over them. If we place ourselves in authority over Christ and the Scriptures, we are caught up in idolatry and we are led by spirits other than the Holy Spirit.
Called to Common Mission (CCM)
Admonition for the Sake of the True Peace and Unity of the Church - This document issued by the WordAlone Network’s Theological Advisory Board states clearly the position of the WordAlone Network regarding the mandatory imposition of a historic episcopate in CCM.
Marriage and Family
Concerning the Gift of Sexual Life and Its Divinely Created Structure
Whereas, the Scriptures testify that God created the gift of sexuality (Genesis 1 and 2; Mark 10:6-9; Ephesians 5:28-33); and
Whereas, the Scriptures clearly teach that marriage is a life-long bond of faithfulness between one man and one woman and the context for which sexual intercourse is reserved (I Corinthians 6:15-20; Hebrews 13:4; Galatians 5:16-19); and
Whereas, that Biblical teaching about sexual life has shaped and continues to shape the moral fabric of civilization in profound and positive ways; and
- Marriage
- the Scriptures clearly teach that marriage is a life-long bond of faithfulness between one man and one woman
Whereas, that Biblical teaching about sexual life is facing unprecedented challenges in society and the church; and
Whereas, a tradition so universal and valuable should not be changed without overwhelming Biblical and confessional warrant;
Therefore, be it resolved that the WordAlone Network honor and uphold Biblical teaching about sexual life and its vision for marriage and urge all Christians to do likewise; and
Be it further resolved, that any proposed change in standards and definitions for sexual life or marriage which contradicts this Biblical teaching be rejected; and
Be it further resolved, that this resolution be conveyed to the ELCA Task Force on Human Sexuality, to the ELCA Conference of Bishops, to the Church Council of the ELCA, and The Rev. Mark Hanson, presiding Bishop of the ELCA.
Adopted April 27, 2004 by WordAlone Network Annual Convention
Lutheran Worship
The WordAlone Network's Theological Advisory Board has put forth a document that states the confessional Lutheran understanding of worship and all that entails. This document is titled, "Christian, Evangelical Worship".
Renewal
Renewal — The ELCA
We understand ourselves to be disciples of Jesus, not simply members of an institution, and we call the ELCA to faithfulness to its rich biblical and Lutheran heritage. Our intention is that the primary focus of the ELCA be returned to its mission outreach in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not on its own institutional matters. We have a heartfelt desire to be part of a church that boldly shares the love of Christ throughout the world. We are dismayed that mission support from the ELCA national organization has declined from levels of predecessor church bodies. We believe that too large a percentage of the ELCA national budget supports its own internal operations. Therefore, the organizational structure of the ELCA should be downsized to allow more of our resources to be available for mission outreach and other important aspects of ministry. Consider the facts and disturbing trends shown here:
| ELCA Statistics | 1988 | 2007 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Churches | 11,120 | 10,448 | -6% |
| Baptized membership (millions) | 5.25 | 4.71 | -10.3% |
| ELCA new mission starts | 50 | 25 | -50% |
| Global missions (millions) | $18 | $15.9 | -11.7%* |
| Global missions executive staff | 22 | 25 | +14% |
| ELCA missionaries | 471 | 192** | -59% |
* actual decline is greater when the $15.9 million is discounted for inflation
**
40 were one-year young adult missionaries
Renewal -- Churches
We believe the congregation is the heart of the church. We want churches to be centers of gospel outreach on their local levels, both on their own and with other Christian communities. We also encourage churches to work with various worldwide mission outreach groups. We will support and encourage the work of churches by holding up as models churches that are succeeding in fulfilling Jesus’ command to "go and make disciples." We will seek to recognize those local churches fostering on-going renewal in the lives of their members, their congregations and the larger church. We will also seek to lift up resources that are helpful for congregations and pastors for gospel outreach and ministry.
Reform
Reform -- Flexibility and Freedom
The adoption of CCM with its ordination requirements eliminated a flexibility that always has been a hallmark of American Lutheranism. We believe that the adoption of the historic episcopate puts too much emphasis on the bishops and ordained ministry, jeopardizes the single office of ordained ministry and detracts from the priesthood of all believers. We are determined that the privilege of pastors’ officiating at ordinations, approved as a by-law change in 2001, be upheld as a fully legitimate alternative, not merely as a rare exception. In order for it to be a reality, synods and bishops need to inform ordination candidates that this option is available without recrimination. We will continue to work for synods to be free to elect bishops who need not be installed into the historic episcopate. We also will offer support and encouragement for congregations and properly approved seminary graduates seeking to be free from inclusion in the historic episcopate.
Reform -- Involvement
We urge all members of the ELCA to become more involved in matters facing the church. CCM was adopted before the majority of ELCA members had the opportunity to read it or to understand the issues. We realize a need to have better and more timely communications from our national church office regarding such study documents. We need to study more, to network with others, to voice our opinions and to participate fully in decision-making at all levels of conference, synod and churchwide assemblies.
Reform -- Full Representation
We believe church assemblies should be representative of and responsive to their constituencies. We oppose the definition of "voting members" used by the national ELCA office when it instructs those attending a churchwide assembly that they are not delegates and that they need not represent their people. We believe that persons elected to assemblies should faithfully represent their churches and synods, while being free to vote according to their own consciences.
Reform -- Accountability
There should be a system of "checks and balances" among the national office, churchwide assembly, ELCA Church Council, synods and congregations. For example, amending the ELCA constitution without national Church Council action is almost impossible, requiring approval by two national assemblies. But the national Church Council can propose amendments that become effective after passage at only one churchwide assembly. Synods and congregations have no say and must live with churchwide assembly decisions. We are working to develop a process to allow synods to ratify or reject constitutional changes made by a churchwide assembly. Currently, the ELCA Church Council is elected by the churchwide assembly under the careful direction of the national leadership. There is little incentive to find candidates critical of existing leadership or church structure. We are taking a careful look at the representational and structural aspects of the national Church Council in order to bring about positive reform within our church.
Reflection
Biblical, Theological and Confessional Study
We wish to promote an atmosphere where in-depth reflection and study of issues that concern the church occur openly and freely among all ELCA members. We believe church policy should be determined by grassroots participation and consensus, not simply by a tiny fraction of ELCA members voting at a churchwide assembly. With the many challenging issues facing our church today, we need to more than ever come together to share ideas, learn and study before we make decisions on policy or church statements that affect all of us. We propose that a means of theological consultation be established, so that proposed policies and practices within the ELCA will be accepted or rejected based on broadly based, sound biblical and theological foundations. Our goal is an informed and active membership throughout the ELCA. To that end, WordAlone is forming a theological advisory board of international Lutheran theologians who will work together to publish books and articles that promote a confessional Lutheran position. The board’s work will be shared with the whole church with opportunities for both the laity and pastors to interact with the board and to learn and grow together so that everyone can be faithful in witness and mission to Jesus Christ.
Support Seminarians
In the years ahead it will be crucial for ELCA churches and members to demonstrate that many Lutherans will not conform to Called to Common Mission's (CCM) requirements and, instead, freely practice what Lutherans have believed about ordination - bishops need not ordain.
Since CCM was implemented in 2001, 40 pastors have not been ordained by bishops, 38 since 2002 under the 2001 ELCA bylaw amendment that allows for pastors other than bishops to ordain new pastors. These pastors are graduates of six of the eight ELCA seminaries and have been assigned to 21 different synods.
Note: Some seminarians who object to CCM have been told by at least a couple of ELCA bishops that it is okay for a bishop to ordain them as long as the bishop was elected prior to CCM and therefore has not been ordained into the Anglican historic episcopate. This advice is misleading and inaccurate. Neither the ELCA or The Episcopal Church is distinguishing between ordinations done by bishops in or out of an historic episcopate. If any kind of bishop does the ordination, it will be counted as conforming to The Episcopal Church's requirements. Seminarians who object to CCM and want to make a public confession against the agreement should use the bylaw amendment and request not to be ordained by any kind of bishop.
Judy Bangsund, ordained in 2004 under the bylaw amendment, has written a letter about her ordination that will be of interest to others considering a request under the bylaw amendment or planning their ordination service.
Questions to expect from a bishop
If someone makes a request for a non-episcopal ordination under the ELCA's 2001 bylaw amendment, what questions might they receive from their new synodical bishop? Click here to see the questions that former Bishop Rolf Wangberg, Northwestern Minnesota Synod, had asked people in his synod who made the request...more
Seminary Debt Relief Fund
The WordAlone Network has a Seminary Debt Relief Fund that is used to assist confessional Lutheran pastors in their first five years of pastoral ministry repay their seminary student loans. The fund is for pastors not ordained by a bishop under the provisions of the ELCA's 2001 bylaw amendment.
Pastors who are interested should see the Policy and Guidelines for the fund. Applications for assistance may be sent to:
- WordAlone Network
- 2299 Palmer Drive, Suite 220
- New Brighton, MN 55112
The deadline for submitting applications is March 1 each year and the approved grants will be announced at the annual convention of the WordAlone Network in April.
Churches and individuals who wish to contribute to the fund may send donations to the above address.
Make your check payable to "WordAlone Network" and mark on the check "For Seminary Debt Relief Fund."
Support from Churches
Support from churches for seminarians and new pastors who use the bylaw amendment and are not ordained by a bishop is essential. The new pastors coming out of the seminaries need to know that there are many churches who will gladly call them.
The WordAlone Network is forming a public list of churches who would like to call pastors not ordained in conformity with CCM. The public list will be posted on the WordAlone web site and made available to seminarians.
You can help by taking this simple statement to your church for approval:
"Our church would gladly call a pastor not ordained by a bishop."
Once approved the statement should be printed on your church letterhead and signed by a church officer or pastor and mailed to the WordAlone office in New Brighton, Minn.
Support from Pastors and Leaders
WordAlone is also forming a public list of pastors and associates in ministry who want to go on record as not conforming to CCM's requirements and who would gladly serve with new pastors not ordained by a bishop in the historic episcopate. You may email your statement, "I do not conform to CCM's requirements, and I will gladly serve with a pastor not ordained by a bishop," or fax it to 651-633-4260.