Thursday, May 21, 2015
Dear Dr. Sloat:
At the April 22, 2015 meeting of the Eastern Regional Conference Administrative Council, the ERC Standing Committee made the recommendation that your ordination be recalled for cause effective immediately. The ERC Administrative Council unanimously approved the recommendation. In accordance with your ordination vows, you are hereby requested to immediately surrender your ordination certificate and pastoral identification card to the Eastern Regional Conference Office, 900 S. Arlington Ave., Suite 120B, Harrisburg, PA 17109.
We are thankful for your years of service in the ERC and are disappointed that such action had to be taken. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Kevin E. Richardson at 717-652-0255.
Respectfully,
John A. Selcher
Secretary
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Here are the first of what will probably be a few comments about the letter and the process. Some of this will add facts other comments will amount to my musings, reflections and opinions.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the letter was dated April 27 and sent certified mail. I picked it up at the post office on the thirtieth, three weeks before I entered it on the blog. I thought and prayed and meditated over what to do with the letter as far as the blog is concerned for all of that time. Ultimately, I decided during a time of meditation, to start out by allowing the letter to speak for itself without any comment from me.
Second, thanks to all of you who sent me private notes of outrage, disgust and support yesterday. Under the circumstances, it is appropriate that you expressed your support for me privately and beyond the gaze of the powers that be.
Third, I have noted the date of the ERC Administrative Council meeting in which this action was taken. It was during the final day of ERC sessions. It is my opinion that this timing suggests a desire to recall my credentials in a way that gave leadership as much time as possible to minimize any blowback from me or from anyone in the CGGC who would stand up for me. I could be wrong about this, but the date that this action was taken strikes me as being noteworthy.
Fourth, there are problems with the letter. It seems to me that it implies a back story that is not reflected by real-life fact.
Finally for now, there is more that has happened in this story. I will add detail as time progresses, if the Lord is willing.
Wow. Just wow.
ReplyDeleteHere is a little more to the story, a story that already has several chapters:
ReplyDeleteI had been given no hint from anyone that any discipline was even being contemplated by those in ERC authority. I was given no opportunity to explain myself or defend myself. As you might imagine, I was stunned to learn that, as far as the ERC Ad Council was concerned, my demise was already an accomplished fact. Immediately upon receiving the letter, I did two things.
First, I wrote the blog post on my understanding of my calling,
http://anti-flockist.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-understanding-of-my-calling.html
I did that, more than anything, to journal my state of mind and convictions in that first moment. I have gone back to it several times and think that what I wrote then is precisely right on. And, it remains truth.
Second, I sent a note to Kevin and asked him to give a fuller accounting of the mysterious "cause" for the action of the Ad Council.
Incidentally, for whatever reason, it took Kevin nearly a week to respond. And, he offered no apology or explanation for his slow response. He listed seven reasons for the Standing Committee's recommendation.
And, honestly, I think that I am not guilty of six of the charges. The seventh is so vague that I have no opinion about it.
Obviously, then, the Ad Council took this action, and it is an accomplished fact as far as it is concerned but I believe in my heart that the action was unjust.
That being the case, I am now in a difficult position.
Bill,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry, my friend. From the moment I heard, it has felt like a punch in the gut. I can't imagine how you feel.
I have no first-hand experience or knowledge of the ERC, but this fits everything I've ever heard to a "T." Therefore, while it saddens me a great deal, I am unfortunately not surprised. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't hear anything from anyone in Findlay either. Again, I am sorry. I know how much you care about the cggc.
It strikes me as interesting, though, given our denominational interest in biblical adherence, missional leadership, and now supposed "fresh expressions" of church (didn't I just read that somewhere?), that someone who seems to have followed this path more devoutly than others would be treated as such. But, you know, Jesus always was much more concerned with legalities and feelings than he was with truth and new life (to be clear, that was sarcasm).
Anyway, I just wanted to say that, while I know I don't know the whole story, I know that this makes me sick to my stomach. That this sort of thing would seem more logical than lending an ear to a call for repentance... it says a lot.
Hang in there. You're not alone.
A few thoughts about Dan's comments.
Delete1. What he has written I believe, bears fruit if his prophetic calling. One characteristic of people called to be prophets is that they see the big picture first and foremost. This focus explains the tension between prophets and institutionalists. Institutionalists--in this "dispensation," predominantly unsubmissive shepherds--see the small picture and tend to tweak traditions at the level of micromanagement. Dan's view is very much a big picture view, and, I think, very perceptive.
2. What he says about the ERC is typical of what many in the CGGC, who are not from the east say. I'd love to know the specifics.
3. I have to agree with what he says about CGGC leadership's talk about biblical adherence, missionality and "fresh expressions of church". It seems to me that if anyone puts the talk of the Mission and Vision Statements and WE BELIEVE into practice, it is I and the people of the ministry I am part of. We are sincerely consumed with a desire to walk the Spirit of that talk.
Finally, I believe Dan is most poignant in pointing out that this desire to defrock me amounts to ERC mountaintoppers response to my call for top to bottom CGGC repentance. As I see the ministry of the CGGC, leadership advocates repentance-less Christianity and, most importantly, they see calls to change a threats against them.
Thanks, Dan, for your insight and your courage in putting it into print in a public forum.
A few more thoughts about Dan's comment on the fact that my ministry seems to incarnate what CGGC leadership talks:
Delete1. ERCers don't really even talk that talk. None of its Directors have participated in MLI. ERC leaders have been high church, theologically conservative Lutheran wannabes for about the last the last 30 years. I think the new Strategic Plan makes that pretty clear.
2. As far as Findlay dumping me is concerned, we will see. Lance has said that he would like to check us out after the dust of transition settles. And, keep in mind, the ERC hasn't dumped my ministry here, only me as a parish priest. We are still a ministry of the ERC.
Wow, Dan. Thanks, not only for expression of support, but, even more than that, for writing this in a public forum.
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone in many of your sentiments but you are more courageous than most.
Blessings, bro!