not belong to us but to Christ,for he has ordained all this and left it behind as a legacy in the church to be exercised andused to the end of the world; and he does not lie or deceive us. Therefore, we cannot make anything else out of it but must act according to his command and hold to it. However, if we alter it or improve on it, then it is invalid and Christ is no longer present, nor is his ordinance" (LW 38: 200).

Christ Alone and the Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The ELCA's constitution also reflects the Lutheran doctrine of Christ alone. For example, in Chapter Three (The Nature of the Church) paragraph 3.01 states,

"All power in the Church belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, its head. All actions of this church are to be carried out under his rule and authority."

In light of the conflicts in the ELCA over CCM, the question arises whether the actions used to secure the passage and implementation in the ELCA were, in fact, carried out under the rule and authority of Christ. In other words, does Jesus Christ need and thus sanction "historic episcopacy" as a requirement for unity in his church?

CCM and Christ alone

In response to such questions, it appears that advocates of CCM have little or no understanding of the principle of Christ alone as taught by Luther or as stipulated in the ELCA's constitution.

For example, Michael L. Cooper-White (formerly Executive Assistant to the ELCA's Presiding Bishop/Director of Synodical Relations and now President of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg) writing on behalf of former ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson in a letter from 23 September 1998 states,

"I find it difficult to respond to your question as to how Jesus would view the historic episcopate."

Similarly, Edger Trexler (former editor of The Lutheran magazine) in a letter from 20 October 1998 writes,

"I see no purpose in speculating about Jesus and the historic episcopate."

In their bid to conform the ELCA's ordination structure and practice to Episcopalian (Anglican) demands, it would appear that many ELCA leaders have simply run amok. To accomplish their goals, they ignore or adulterate at will the Holy Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and even the figure of Christ himself. Then, they manage to amend the ELCA's constitution to make it conform to their own designs. Finally, they fund their exploits with offerings given to the ELCA in trust while telling the members of the ELCA that none of this will affect them. Paradoxically, in order to "heal" a rift in the body of Christ by entering into "full communion" with the Episcopal Church, the ELCA has severed itself from Jesus Christ, its head, and then has left him alone.

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Christ and Pro-CCM Lutherans alone

"Historic episcopacy" is not of Christ. It is a human construct. By adopting an "historic episcopate" to conform to the ordinances of Episcopalian (Anglican) religious intolerance as demanded by CCM, the ELCA hopes one day to make itself good enough to become eligible for "full communion" with the Episcopal Church. However, CCM's attempt "to alter and improve" the ELCA's ordained ministry comes at a high price.

By adopting CCM, the ELCA now owes its allegiance first and foremost to the principles underlying Anglican canonical and English parliamentary law. According to Luther, this "alteration and improvement" necessarily means that the church, the ministries, and the sacraments of those in the ELCA who support CCM are no longer valid because Christ is no longer present in them. As the proponents of CCM have departed from Christ alone, so too has Christ left them alone to their own devices. As a testimony to this unfortunate state of affairs, one needs only to consider the grand deception used to secure the passage and implementation of CCM.

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Luther on Christ Alone

The Lutheran Reformation arose from the principle of Christ alone. This doctrine means that Jesus Christ is the sole source and foundation of all that is Christian in the church. Although the church’s ministries, preaching, and sacraments are administered by human beings, they never cease to be the possession and action of Christ alone. Luther writes,

"For we must believe and be sure of this, that baptism does not belong to us but to Christ, that the gospel does not belong to us but to Christ, that the office of preaching does not belong to us but to Christ, that the sacrament [of the Lord's Supper] does not belong to us but to Christ, that the keys, or forgiveness and retention of sins, do not belong to us but to Christ. In summary, the offices and sacraments do not belong to us but to Christ, for he has ordained all this and left it behind as a legacy in the church to be exercised and used to the end of the world; and he does not lie or deceive us. Therefore, we cannot make anything else out of it but must act according to his command and hold to it. However, if we alter it or improve on it, then it is invalid and Christ is no longer present, nor is his ordinance" (LW 38: 200).

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Christ Alone and the Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The ELCA’s constitution also reflects the Lutheran doctrine of Christ alone. For example, in Chapter Three (The Nature of the Church) paragraph 3.01 states,

“All power in the Church belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, its head. All actions of this church are to be carried out under his rule and authority.”

In light of the conflicts in the ELCA over CCM, the question arises whether the actions used to secure the passage and implementation in the ELCA were, in fact, carried out under the rule and authority of Christ. In other words, does Jesus Christ need and thus sanction “historic episcopacy” as a requirement for unity in his church?

Back to top

CCM and Christ alone

In response to such questions, it appears that advocates of CCM have little or no understanding of the principle of Christ alone as taught by Luther or as stipulated in the ELCA’s constitution.

For example, Michael L. Cooper-White (formerly Executive Assistant to the ELCA’s Presiding Bishop/Director of Synodical Relations and now President of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg) writing on behalf of former ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson in a letter from 23 September 1998 states,

“I find it difficult to respond to your question as to how Jesus would view the historic episcopate.”

Similarly, Edger Trexler (former editor of The Lutheran magazine) in a letter from 20 October 1998 writes,

“I see no purpose in speculating about Jesus and the historic episcopate.”

In their bid to conform the ELCA’s ordination structure and practice to Episcopalian (Anglican) demands, it would appear that many ELCA leaders have simply run amok. To accomplish their goals, they ignore or adulterate at will the Holy Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and even the figure of Christ himself. Then, they manage to amend the ELCA’s constitution to make it conform to their own designs. Finally, they fund their exploits with offerings given to the ELCA in trust while telling the members of the ELCA that none of this will affect them. Paradoxically, in order to “heal” a rift in the body of Christ by entering into “full communion” with the Episcopal Church, the ELCA has severed itself from Jesus Christ, its head, and then has left him alone.

Back to top

Christ and Pro-CCM Lutherans alone

“Historic episcopacy” is not of Christ. It is a human construct. By adopting an “historic episcopate” to conform to the ordinances of Episcopalian (Anglican) religious intolerance as demanded by CCM, the ELCA hopes one day to make itself good enough to become eligible for “full communion” with the Episcopal Church. However, CCM’s attempt “to alter and improve” the ELCA’s ordained ministry comes at a high price.

By adopting CCM, the ELCA now owes its allegiance first and foremost to the principles underlying Anglican canonical and English parliamentary law. According to Luther, this “alteration and improvement” necessarily means that the church, the ministries, and the sacraments of whose in the ELCA who support CCM are no longer valid because Christ is no longer present in them. As the proponents of CCM have departed from Christ alone, so too has Christ left them alone to their own devices. As a testimony to this unfortunate state of affairs, one needs only to consider the grand deception used to secure the passage and implementation of CCM.

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