Protestors Outside of Our Church (continued)
- Infant baptism
- “Idolatry” because we have a wood carving of Jesus in the sanctuary
- Female pastors
- That we are part of the ELCA – the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – a denomination that allows churches, if they so choose, to perform same-sex marriages and have openly gay clergy
It is important to note that this man and his son were not simply protesting a doctrine or idea, but going for personal attacks, including calling Pastor Chamie words such as unbiblical, vile, wicked, demonic, and a snake. He referred to her clergy robe as her clown suit. As Pastor Chamie stood at the entrance of the church and hugged people, he told people to stay away because they were hugging satan. He referred to Pastor Tim and the men of the church as weak.
What We Know About the Man and His Son
We don’t believe this man and son are connected to a church, but have recently become part of a fringe protest. They have protested at several churches. In fact, after protesting at our church on Sunday, they proceeded to protest at the Mormon church down the street on Erbes Road.
What We are Doing
The man and his son have been informed that the church is private property and they are not allowed on our campus. It is legal to protest from a public sidewalk. If they come on our campus, they will be arrested for trespassing.
We have been in contact with the police department and they have sent patrol units. We are working with our security company that provides security for our school. We are blessed with church members who serve in law enforcement and security. We have had these church members on guard during our worship services. We are reviewing our safety protocols and procedures in light of this situation.
The physical, mental, and spiritual safety of our congregation is of the utmost importance. This is why we ask you to not engage with these protestors if they return to the sidewalk; pretend they aren’t there.
Our Christ-Like Response
At Ascension Lutheran Church, we want to be known for how we love God and love others. We know we are in tune to the Holy Spirit when we bear “the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
We ask members of the congregation to not engage with these protesters if they return to our sidewalk.
Let us practice self-control. Let us say nothing unkind even if they are unkind. Let us follow the apostle Paul’s advice in Romans 12:17-18, and 21, “If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything on your part to live in peace with everybody… do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.”
We remember Jesus who said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12). We also remember that Jesus said, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
A Little Theology
We are a creedal church. This means we follow the Apostle’s Creed – and Nicene Creed – as central to our faith. These creeds are sometimes referred to as “first order doctrines” as they are the core, fundamental beliefs that form the foundation of our faith. In Christianity, the belief in the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Trinity are considered first-order doctrines.
Second-order doctrines are important but secondary, allowing for some variation or disagreement within the broader framework. Specific interpretations of scripture, the role of women in the church, the age of baptism, or the structure of church governance are considered second-order doctrines.
At Ascension, we strive to put first things first, knowing that what is most important is that we are rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ and saved by grace through our faith. We put second things second, striving to be a church where we discuss our beliefs and bring our questions and curiosities as we wrestle together in what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
If you would like to talk about this situation or what we believe and practice as a church, please know that all of your pastors are here for you.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Tim, Pastor Chamie, & Pastor Steve
Ascension Alumna and New Pastor Emily Harris
It’s hard to imagine the school office without Connie Angress, but soon that will be a reality as our unflappable admissions director heads into a well-earned retirement.
Word & Wine
Pentecost Fair
Many moons ago when I served a church in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, I went to a workshop titled, “When School is Out, Church is On.” The speaker at that event was stressing the importance of children, youth, and family ministries in the summer. She acknowledged that yes, families travel, and yes, finding staff and volunteers in the summer can be more challenging, but she argued against churches who didn’t do children’s ministry in the summer – or churches that only did Vacation Bible School in the summer, but nothing else. She talked about summer as a great opportunity for young people and their families to grow in faith in Jesus.
Now we need more volunteers on our roster of drivers. There is no long-term commitment. Many SAM’s Tram drivers work and can only drive occasionally. That’s OK! The more drivers on our roster, the more likely we can fulfill a given request, and the workload gets spread around. This is a simple and effective ministry and we’d love to have you join!
Book Club Notes
Happy Campers: Summer Sunday School
Summer Camp Luther Glen Rebound II