I am a pew sitter; ordained into the priesthood at my baptism.

In June of 2000 our pastor at the time printed some interpretations of the CCM in our congregational newsletter that didn't ring true to me. The problem was that I didn't have the theological background at the time to refute the assertions being made. In response, I started gathering information where I could and started having discussions with many people from far and near. Having spent a great deal of time learning by interaction and reading since then, I have come to see many things now that I did not notice before. I have also come to understand that we in the ELCA are in deep trouble from a theological perspective.

In all this thread, most of the problems that I have noted have a root cause in a lack of understanding of the nature of the Church and people badly confusing the institutional church (lower case c) there with. As I see it, the CCM is not so much the problem but rather a symptom of a much larger and more pervasive problem affecting not just the ELCA but many other Christian denominations.

This CD is aimed at you, the fellow pew sitter, and is a collection of articles written by a number of people to define what Evangelical Lutheranism is and is not. It seeks to point to those resources that you can further your theological education both on this CD-ROM and on the 'net.

Some of the content below is in .PDF format and requires AdobeReader to view it. If you do not have this installed on your browser and you are on a Windows based system, you can install it here.

• Called to Unity by Faith Alone an FCLC teaching document
• The Forgetfulness of Being Fallen by Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt
• What is the Church and what about the building we meet in?
• Text of the CCM and commentary thereon by Dr. Mark Menacher (PDF) (the best single source of information I've seen)
• CCM commentary by DeWayne Varnes
• Synthesis and Ecumenism by Roy Harrisvile
• Essay on Deflationary Ecclesiology by Dennis Bielfeldt
• Reformation Theology explained by Timothy J. Swenson (a must read)
• Theological Advisory Board Admonition for the Sake of the True Peace and Unity of the Church
• Commentary on the Admonition by Dr. George W. Forell
• Affirmation of Lutheranism (To which I am a signatory)
• The big lie of the LBW -- Confusion of the church and the Church.
• The On the Next Hymnal
• A Response to the Bishop's Letter on Public Worship in the Absence of Presider by Kris Baudler
• Temple curtain resewn by Lou Hesse
• False ultimacy by Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt
• LFW Statement and TAB rebuttal
• The Book of Concord: a required reading for Lutherans
• Links to outside resources
• Subscribe to AppliedTheology Listserv (moderated by Randy Lee) to talk about theological issues. Both pastors and lay people populate this list.

In Christ,

Randy Lee
in statu confessionis