Some thoughts from Pastor Garman

Several days ago, I received a post, shown below.  I informed all of you that I would be forwarding the post to Pastor Garman for a response and would post the response when it became available. I have received the response.  Below is the original post, followed by my letter to Pastor, followed by his response. 

Here is the blog post by, of course, anonymous,  to which I responded.

Anonymous said...
The Bible is not clear on homosexuality. So you have "heard" that a group called ARCUS gave money to push this through. "Doesn't that trouble you." What troubles me is this statement in itself is part of the problem. You heard someone did this. well great, but don't you think the people of lacasa or any church can make up their own mind given all the facts. Its a rather cynical comment.

As for the blog writer choosing an article that was slanted in his direction. I don't believe so. It appears to me that, I think his name is Tom, presented another position that in fact exposed not only the weaknesses in the position you seek to defend but which represents the thinking of Luther. This is the whole point; we should openly discuss these issues. I would argue that you sir are afraid of the light of day and are afraid to discuss these issues openly and that in effect you ask the rest of us to "dumb down" our beliefs by preferring that we accept something without understanding it.

Ignorance would suggest that someone in this blog is asking that we dismiss paul and moses. that is a political statement. the blog writer is asking that we discuss the issues. the whole point here is that there are different interpretations. Because you don't agree with them doesn't mean that they are ignoring paul and moses. If i follow that logic then you too are dismissing paul and moses and possibly Luther. Then there is no discussion and you sir have accomplished your goal of controlling the conversation. I believe the blog writer is asking that we have an open discussion of these issues. So what's wrong with that.

Speaking of lacasa's website in an other comment. why don't the pastors put this blog up on the church's website. Why not have open discussions, and use its posting as a precursor to a broader conversation.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 6:31 AM

Tom Weller said...
I’d like to thank the last two posters for their comments. Since the two of you have a discussion in progress, I don’t want to “clutter things up”, as it were. Let me simply address both of you with a thought.

I am here in defense of transparency. I am not here to push an agenda. I have researched this question and both sides of the issue substantially. I have come to my conclusion based on research. I find that many of my fellow family members do not have the understanding or interpretation of scripture that some of us, on both sides of the issue have. What I am arguing is that we are moving too fast, without complete and total discussion and information. I would further argue that this entire process has not been transparent and that an awful lot of our family has been excluded from the decision making process. That is the position I present here in the blog. This post and responses to it will be forwarded this day to Pastor Garman, along with the recommendation that it be put up on the church web page. I will post his response when it becomes available to me.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 11:08 AM

Here is my letter to Pastor Garman.

Dear Pastor,

So that we can be clear:  I oppose our move from ELCA on theological, philosophical, and moral grounds. The Lord and Savior I love with all my heart would not discriminate against any of His people regardless of color, nationality, sex, sexual persuasion, or any other anthropological characteristic.  How we as Humankind can defend our propensity to do so is simply beyond me, in addition to other people involved in the struggle for human rights. On this issue we obviously disagree. That having been said, I still respect your views as a pastor, and consider you to be a friend.  That is one of the challenges I face in taking an opposing viewpoint to your position. 

My intent is to get people to vote; give them information with which to decide for themselves, and encourage them with full information and disclosure to vote their conscience.  The outcome of the vote is inconsequential in the broader scheme of things. You will do what you must, as will I.  However, I maintain that there are 3500 fully capable people here who need to hear both sides of this argument. 

To that end, I authored the blog.  The reason was simple:  To keep discussion, argument if you will, passion, and the love we all have for Christ, and for you, centered right here where it belongs. No one outside of our family need know of our difficulties with this issue but us. It is out of respect for you and our family that I heed your admonition of yesterday to stop putting out fliers in the parking lot.

However, as you will see in the attached blog post and comments today, a question has been asked.  This individual wants the blog posted on the church website to allow for discussion and interpretation of the issues that face our family.  I would agree that a link should be posted to the blog and have so noted in my response and agreed to forward this particular post to you for your response.

I therefore request we put a link to the blog on our La Casa website for dissemination of information and comment to ALL who are a part of our family.  This approach will solve your issue with fliers, and mine with getting people's attention to the issue, and disseminating information.  I have asked questions and cited information for folks to refer to in their quest for knowledge, but have taken great steps to ensure that no one disrespects you or the other pastors.  Hard questions do have to be asked and answered, but in a respectful manner, don't you agree? 

You will recall that I first addressed these concerns with you a year ago.  I have subsequently spoken to Jeff and to Carol, along with several hundred other clerical and lay people of various positions on the religious continuum.  As I've said in my posts, I now have well over 20,000 pages of documentation, both on and off line regarding this issue.  I would propose to share pieces of this information if asked to do so with our congregation before my book is published at the end of October.  (Again out of respect to you, I have pushed back the publishing date so as not to confuse the issue close to the vote date.)

I respectfully ask for a quick answer to this question so that I can respond to our poster in an appropriate time frame.

Thank you. 

Yours in service to Christ, Tom Weller


Here is Pastor Garman's response

Dear Tom,

Sorry about the problem of getting through on my e-mail address…since we changed over to a new whatever we have had problems…slowly they are being worked out but it supports my theory that the internet is demonic in nature!?!

I had not gone to the blog as I “don’t blog” mainly because I like to have conversations with people either in person or on the phone.  Too much that gets printed is either wrong or partial misinformation and as it is passed on it becomes fact.  Another reason I don’t particularly care for the anonymous nature either…I just like to know to whom I am speaking.  As you can attest, even though we have disagreed, we have remained friends!  That to me is a good example of open conversation.

In reading the blog for the first time I guess the first thing that comes to mind is what we have been doing over the last year.  We have had numerous opportunities for discussion and questions…even had the Bishop here at a well-publicized meeting and had very few questions asked.  We have taken over a year in our process of discernment when a lot of congregations have taken as little as three months!  Pastors outside of our congregation including the Bishop have suggested an even faster time table so that it would not interfere with the ministry of the congregation.

The comment of control is always one that seems to crop up when someone wants us to do something other than what is going on.  Yes, we determine what subjects are covered and who the teachers are in all of the classes held here on campus.  We even require one of our Pastors to be present at any wedding done on our campus…why?  Because what happens on this campus represents who we are and what we believe whether it is in a classroom or at a worship service.

From our website anyone can e-mail any one of the pastors if they have a question and as you are well aware, anyone who does gets a personal reply.  The date for the second vote has been set, November 7th.  There is still time for anyone to ask any question that is on their mind. 

Thanks for sharing,

Pastor Garman

So folks, there you have it.  Draw your own conclusions from this post and its responses, but please mark your calendars now for the NOVEMBER 7, 2010 VOTE.  Please join us at the congregational meeting and remember to vote your conscience.  This is our church, and your vote matters!