News Releases and Information Bulletins
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  2. CCM Verax Publicizes ELCA Ecumenical Grand Deception
  3. ELCA Parishes Informed of Ecumenical Grand Deception
  4. CCM Verax "Epiphany Email Extravaganza"
  5. CCM Becomes More Controversial
  6. CCM Verax Appeals to Lutheran World Leaders for Support
  7. Shock as ELCA Proposes to Drop Reformation Day
  8. Disbelief as Lutherans Abandon Reformation Day
  9. Further Objections to ELCA Cancelling Reformation Day
  10. International Lutheran Community Responding to US Lutheran Ecumneical "Grand Deception"
  11. CCM Verax International Newsletter - Lent 2003 Edition (published)
  12. Proosed Public Debate at 10th Assembly of LWF
  13. LWF General Secretary Noko involved in ELCA Ecumenical Scandal
  14. ELCA Moral Leader in "Mitergate" Ecumenical Scandal
  15. ELCA Mitergate Scandal - Justification by Historic Episcopacy
  16. ELCA Moral Leader Runs from Mitergate Scandal Debate
  17. ELCA Mitergate Debate - Call to Lutherans Worldwide For Help
  18. Call for Suspension of ELCA Membership in Lutheran World Federation
  19. Sydney Diocese Anglicans vs. ELCA Mitergate Lutherans
  20. The ELCA and its new "Hypocrite Episcopate"
  21. ELCA Makes Historic Ecumenical U-Turn
  22. ELCA / LWF Perpetuate Fallacies about “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” (JDDJ)
  23. CCM Verax Communiqué to LWF Member Churches
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CCM Verax Information Service

For Immediate Release

Date: 10 April 2003

Proposed Public Debate at the 10th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (July 2003) between the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Mark S. Hanson, and CCM Verax Administrator, Pastor Mark D. Menacher, PhD
[Vorgeschlagene öffentliche Debatte an der 10. Versammlung des Lutherischen Weltbundes (Juli 2003) zwischen dem Leitenden Bischof der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche in Amerika (ELKA) und dem CCM Verax Verwalter, Pastor Mark D. Menacher, PhD]

This communication is from:

Pastor Mark D. Menacher, PhD
CCM Verax Administrator
P.O. Box 26
Au Gres, MI 48703-0026
USA
Email: mdmenacher@ccmverax.org
http://www.ccmverax.org

This communication contains the following:

  1. Background information and request for support sent by CCM Verax to all Lutheran World Federation (LWF) churches on 06 April 2003 regarding a proposed theological debate between Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and me, Pastor Mark D. Menacher, CCM Verax Administrator. The debate concerns the ecumenical "grand deception" in Called to Common Mission (CCM), the full communion agreement between the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, USA.

  2. The text of the letter to ELCA Presiding Bishop, Mark S. Hanson, from 26 March 2003 (in English with German translation) proposing the debate to take place at the 10th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation to be held in July 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada.

  3. Important addresses for LWF officials to whom LWF church leaders should express support for the proposed debate.

  4. A sample resolution for churches to use which calls upon ELCA Presiding Bishop Hanson to participate in the proposed debate.

1. Background Information and Request for Support

In September 2001, CCM Verax began its mission to expose the ecumenical "grand deception" in Called to Common Mission (CCM), the full communion agreement between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church, USA. The passage of CCM was knowingly achieved with misleading and false information. This matter has been raised with top leaders in the ELCA. These leaders refuse to address the matter. Meanwhile, international support for CCM Verax is growing, and other Lutheran World leaders renounce the "CCM grand deception." (See CCM Verax website for details.)

Since ELCA Presiding Bishop, Mark S. Hanson, is aware of the "grand deception" in CCM but is refusing to respond to the matter, Dr. Mark D. Menacher, CCM Verax Administrator, has challenged Bishop Hanson to a public debate on CCM to take place at the 10th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in July 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada. This challenge was communicated to Bishop Hanson in a letter from 26 March 2003 (copy below). A public debate in classic Lutheran style would allow Bishop Hanson to explain his failure to respond to this serious matter and to defend his participation in CCM.

As administrator of CCM Verax, Dr. Menacher asks for your support so that this debate will occur. At stake is the truth of the gospel and those truths congruent with the gospel upon which the Lutheran Reformation was built and through which it continues to live.


2. The following letter from 26 March 2003 proposes a debate regarding CCM between Pastor Menacher and Bishop Hanson to take place at the 10th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in July 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada. Copies of the letter have been sent to LWF General Secretary, Dr. Ishmael Noko, and to LWF President, Dr. h.c. Christian Krause. The letter (and following German translation) reads:

"Dear Bishop Hanson,

Re: Public Debate on "Called to Common Mission" at the 10th LWF Assembly

In recent ELCA News Service releases (11 and 18 March 2003) you are reported as criticizing US President Bush for not meeting with US religious leaders regarding a war in Iraq. You further accuse the president of severing "himself from moral leaders in the society," of which you consider yourself to be one.

Over 18 months ago I wrote you with detailed information regarding the ecumenical "grand deception" in Called to Common Mission (CCM), the "full communion" agreement between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church, USA. Despite your being aware of this "grand deception," confirmed to me by third party copy correspondence, you refuse to answer or to address this very serious matter. Unfortunately, you appear to have one set of morals for President Bush and another set of morals for your leadership of the ELCA (Matthew 7:3-5).

It is time for you to demonstrate whether you follow the one who is "the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6) or whether you serve another master (John 8:44; Matthew 6:24).

I would be most grateful if you, as a vice president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), would arrange a public debate between you and me regarding the ecumenical "grand deception" in CCM. This debate should take place before the full LWF assembly to be held in July 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada. This debate should last no less than two hours and no more than four hours. Subsequently, video cassette or DVD copies of the debate should be sent to all congregations in the ELCA.

As a "moral leader" in the church, your first priority and allegiance should be to the truth of Jesus Christ. According to Martin Luther, there is no room for even one lie in the church. Your lack of action regarding the "grand deception" in CCM undermines your claim not only to be a "moral leader" in society but also a Lutheran.

Lutherans tell the truth, the whole truth. If your moral capacity should not include a simple desire for the truth, then your position in the ELCA as presiding bishop and as a rostered leader would become untenable.

I look forward to your affirmative response.

Yours sincerely,

Mark D. Menacher, PhD
Pastor and CCM Verax Administrator"

** [Deutsche Fassung des Briefes] **

"Sehr geehrter Bischof Hanson,

Betr: Öffentliche Debatte über "Called to Common Mission" an der 10. LWB-Versammlung

in neulich erschienenen ELCA News Service Meldungen (11. und 18. März 2003) wird berichtet, dass Sie US-Präsidenten Bush kritisiert haben, weil er US-Geistlichen in bezug auf einen Iraq-Krieg nicht getroffen hat. Dem Präsidenten wird weiter vorgeworfen, "sich von den moralischen Leitern der Gesellschaft getrennt zu haben", zu denen Sie sich zählen würden.

Vor 18 Monaten schickte ich Ihnen detaillierte Information über die ökumenische "Großbetrügerei" in Called to Common Mission (CCM - "Zur gemeinsamen Mission berufen" ), das "volle Gemeinschaft" Übereinkommen zwischen der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche in Amerika (ELKA) und der Episkopalkirche, USA. Obwohl Sie von dieser "Großbetrügerei" wissen (mir durch Korrespondenz von einer dritten Person bestätig), verweigern Sie, darauf zu antworten oder sich mit dieser seriösen Angelegenheit zu beschäftigen. Leider scheint es, dass
Sie einen moralischen Standard für Präsidenten Bush und einen anderen moralischen Standard für Ihre Führerschaft der ELKA setzen (Mt. 7, 3-5).

Es ist Zeit für Sie zu beweisen, ob Sie dem nachfolgen, der "der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben" (Jn. 14,6) ist, oder ob Sie einem anderen Herrn dienen (Jn. 8,44; Mt. 6,24).

Ich wäre sehr dankbar, wenn Sie als einer der Vizepräsidenten des Lutherischen Weltbundes (LWB) eine öffentliche Debatte zwischen Ihnen und mir zum Thema der ökumenischen

"Großbetrügerei" in CCM arrangieren würden. Diese Debatte sollte vor der im Juli 2003 in Winnipeg, Kanada tagenden LWB-Vollversammlung stattfinden. Diese Debatte sollte nicht weniger als zwei und nicht mehr als vier Stunden dauern. Danach sollte die aufgenommene Debatte per Videokassette oder DVD an alle Gemeinden der ELKA geschickt werden.

Als "moralischer Leiter" in der Kirche sollte Ihre erste Priorität und Pflichttreue die Wahrheit Jesu Christi sein. Nach Martin Luther gibt es in der Kirche keinen Platz für eine einzige Lüge. Ihr Mangel an Aktion in bezug auf die "Großbetrügerei" in CCM untergräbt Ihre Behauptung, nicht nur ein "moralischer Leiter" in der Gesellschaft sondern auch Lutheraner zu sein.

Lutheraner sprechen die Wahrheit, die ganze Wahrheit. Wenn Ihr moralisches Vermögen einen einfachen Wunsch auf die Wahrheit nicht enthalten sollte, dann würde Ihre Position in der ELKA als Leitender Bischof und als Pfarrer leider unhaltbar werden.

Auf eine affirmative Antwort hoffe ich.

Hochachtungsvoll,

Mark D. Menacher (Dr.)
Pastor und CCM Verax Verwalter"


3. Important addresses

Please contact the persons listed below to communicate your support for the proposed Menacher - Hanson debate. Please keep copies of your correspondence. If possible, also send a copy of your correspondence to CCM Verax.

Dr. Ishmael Noko
General Secretary
Lutheran World Federation
150, route de Ferney
P.O. Box 2100
CH 1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland
Fax: +41-22 791 66 30
Email: info@lutheranworld.org

Dr. h.c. Christian Krause
President - Lutheran World Federation
150, route de Ferney
P.O. Box 2100
CH 1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland
Fax: +41-22 791 66 30
Email: info@lutheranworld.org


Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
8765 West Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 60631
USA
Fax: +1-773-380 1465
Email: bishop@elca.org

Pastor Mark D. Menacher
CCM Verax Administrator
P.O. Box 26
Au Gres, MI 48703-0026
USA
Email: mdmenacher@ccmverax.org

4. A Resolution to Debate

WHEREAS,
Called to Common Mission (CCM), the ecumenical agreement between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church, USA, is arguably the greatest act of deception ever cultivated by an ecclesial denomination in the history of North America, and

WHEREAS,
ELCA officials are refusing to address or respond to the "grand deception" in CCM,

RESOLVED,
that the [insert Name of Congregation, of Regional Church Body, of National Church Body, or of Supporting Group] calls upon ELCA Presiding Bishop, Mark S. Hanson, and upon relevant Lutheran World Federation leaders to arrange a public debate between Presiding Bishop Hanson and Pastor Mark D. Menacher regarding the ecumenical "grand deception" in CCM to take place before the full LWF assembly to be held in July 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada, to last no less than two hours and no more than four hours, and subsequently, to arrange for video cassette or DVD copies of the debate to be sent to all congregations in the ELCA.

[Please send copies of resolutions supporting the proposed debate to the persons listed under (3) above.]

Editor:  Pastor Mark D. Menacher, PhD, CCM Verax, 13823 Olive Grove Place , Poway, CA 92064 (USA)
+1 619-463-6633 (church)    e-mail: mdmenacher@ccmverax.org     website: http://www.ccmverax.org