Free Conference

Safe and sound in the Fort.  The trip was, well, internally exciting.  And we could have done without some of it, but that's just how things go sometime.  I'll fill in the details on a later occasion, perhaps because they're more embarrassing than anything else. 
We got here at about 8:30am (Eastern Time) and met up with Joy folks for a nice breakfast, then I was quickly off to the Free Conference held at Redeemer here in Fort Wayne. 
It's good being back here.  There's a comfort to returning to a place like this: Joy and I have spent most of our married life here (so far), our first child was born here, seminary beat up on me here (it's a love-hate relationship), but most comforting is returning to so many familiar faces.  I didn't expect to miss much of anything here, but, lo and behold, I did.  Familiar faces bring back the fond memories, and one thing that I'm looking forward to is continuing to make these same 'familiar face' relationships with all of you back home in Lincoln Township.
But enough with the sentimental junk...
The Free Conference was great!  We began with a Divine Service (historically called 'Low Mass' because it was a spoken mass and not on a Feast Day).
Then we had the first presentation.  Rev Jonathon Fisk (RevFisk for you You-tubers) was the presenter.  His main points were as follows (sorry for the length):
1. The Church throughout the ages has used various 'tools' for carrying out its mission (the Missio Dei, or "Mission of God").  These 'tools' varied from time to time and place to place.  One very important example of this is the printing press, invented during the 16th century in Germany (I think) which Luther and other Reformers used to copy and distribute their writings, such as the small catechism, etc.  They saw an opportunity and took it and ran with it and many people were blessed because of it.
2. These 'tools' are neither good nor bad in themselves, but are neutral; but they can be used for both good and bad.  In Luther's case, he used the tools for a great good.
3. We are coming into a time today when there are tools that have been used in the past (even in recent past) which are being overtaken by more useful and more widely used tools.  Examples are: Facebook, Text-messaging, Wikipedia, and other social networking technology that is making communication easier, less expensive, and more powerful. 
4. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and especially Confessional Lutherans, need to do like our ancestors and take a hold of these new 'tools' for the sake of the Missio Dei.  Synod, for example, is operating on an 'old tool' system that, if it doesn't figure out a way to embrace and utilize the new tools, it will become obsolete.

My observations: I agree with him, BUT with some reservations.  We must still recognize that the true Missio Dei is fundamentally what our Lord said it was: Word and Sacrament.  (And RevFisk would absolutely agree with this; because he said it.)  We should make use of these new tools of communication and structure, etc so long as they are submissive to the Word and Sacrament; or let me say it more directly: the new tools must get out of the way of Word and Sacrament.  Tools are useful, but they are just that, tools.  And tools can be overused.  Hence the saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  The Word and Sacraments aren't broke, they are pure and perfect, they are the foundation of all Doctrine and practice and spiritual health and yes, even evangelism.  So, let's use the new tools (like this blog), in order to draw us all to a richer life together (fellowship) in Him who is our Life, Jesus. 

The next presentation was by our own District President, Rev Brian Saunders.  He spoke on the relationship of pastor with people.
His main points:
1. Fundamental to the health of the Church is the relationship of shepherd and sheep, as the Bible describes us.
2. Pastors have been given the distinct responsibility of Seelsorger (German: "carer of souls"), and that is what they must do.
3. This is most dramatically shown in pastoral at the Lord's Table.  As Pres Saunders said, "We've gotten real sloppy in the last century or so." 
4. One thing that our church body has to work through is the question, "Who is the pastor of the pastors?"  In Luther's time the structure of the church was a little different.  At that time pastors did have pastors, they were called bishops.  Bishops were, technically, the pastor of the congregations in a larger area (for example, Iowa District East or Montana, etc).  Things have changed for us, but not necessarily for the better.  It is still something that is being studied and is starting to be discussed.  And it will be a healthy discussion.  Not only for pastors, but for the flock under their care.

After an intense, yet healthy discussion on the topics, we ended the day by chanting Vespers together from Brotherhood Prayer Book.  It was beautiful and we heard a great sermon from Pr Peterson (pastor of Redeemer, Fort Wayne).



For now: supper.
Have a great evening, and check back in for more tomorrow as Symposia officially gets under way.  (And maybe I won't write so much...wow that's long!)

God's Peace.
+PH