CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Bible studies -- when pastors and
theologians parse the texts of Scripture, analyze original
languages and find applications of the Bible passages for modern
times - are staples of church meetings.
But Dr. David Rhoads, professor at the Lutheran School of
Theology at Chicago (LSTC), didn't do any of those things when he
led those attending the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in a "study" of the book
of Galatians on Aug. 7. LSTC is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
The assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA,
is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About
2,000 people are participating, including 1,071 ELCA voting
members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's
Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
Introducing Rhoads, Connie D. Thomas of Chicago, a member
of the ELCA Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality, told the
1,000 voting members of the assembly not to open their Bibles or
take notes. "Now I know you will be tempted to open your Bibles
and pull out your notebooks," she said. Instead she told assembly
participants to "put your note pads away and just listen to the
spoken word."
Rhoads stepped to the podium and without the usual pile of
notes and with no Bible in his hand, looked at the assembled
crowed and began reciting the book, a letter from the Apostle
Paul to the church in Galatia, a region of Asia Minor. "Grace to
you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ," he
declared in a loud voice.
For the next 30 minutes, it was as if the Apostle Paul were
preaching to the Lutheran assembly using the voice of the Chicago
seminary professor. In the Book of Galatians, Paul explains his
"authority" to speak to the churches, and -- in the kind of
forceful language that might be considered impolite in more
genteel Lutheran forums -- berates the Christians in Galatia for
being lured away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
His voice rising and falling as appropriate for the words
that were at first reproachful and then comforting, Rhoads
concluded the presentation as the Apostle concluded the letter
and might have concluded a sermon to the congregation of the
early Church. "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen."
The more than 1,000 people in the room, who had remained
silent throughout the presentation, broke into applause as the
Bible study ended.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
