DE TRINITATE
Headlines:
From the Senior
Report of the Secretary
New Subscribers to Rule
Report of the Bursar
Graduate Student to Do STM Thesis on STS
Chapter News
From the Vicar
Masthead
From the Senior
The mailout for this issue of De Trinitate will be December 18—if the deadline is met. What I want to share with you is relevant to the economic downturn we are currently living through. It could be especially relevant to Advent/Christmas in the parish, but perhaps even more relevant to Lent when the notable duty of almsgiving is one of the seasonal disciplines.
Thanks to Augsburg Fortress, Joshua Messner was able to bring a book display to the general retreat. Among the titles Josh brought was a book by an old acquaintance from my Liturgical Conference days, Samuel Torvend, Luther and the Hungry Poor: Gathered Fragments (Fortress 2008). I was intrigued by the fact that Sam wrote such a book and also by the topic. It builds on a seminal work by Carter Lindberg, Beyond Charity: Reformation Initiatives for the Poor (Fortress 1993) that I drew upon in my last two books (The People's Work and Lutheran Identity) in discussing the Lutheran witness in society. Within the context of the history of Christian charity, Torvend shows how Luther applied the theological insight of justification by grace (I would have said justification by faith) to the prevalent practice of buying spiritual goods and services (e.g., indulgences, votive masses).
Do you remember this proposition from Luther's Ninety-Five Theses? "Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better deed than he who buys indulgences" (Thesis 43). Luther doesn't get the credit he deserves for the renewal of society. If it is better to give to the poor than to buy indulgences, it is also better to take care of the needs of the neighbor next door than to pay for votive masses offered for the repose of souls in purgatory. If forgiveness isn't for sale, neither is the Mass or Holy Communion, which also grants forgiveness of sin through faithful eating and drinking of Christ's body and blood. So rather than have an offertory procession in which people pay for votive masses (masses offered for special purposes not intended in Christ's institution), why not take up a collection for the poor at the Lord's table? In fact, why should our neighbor be out in the street begging? As we see in the Book of Acts and in other examples from the early Church, the Christian community should take care of its needy members—widows and orphans, the sick and destitute. Nor should this just be the job of monks and nuns. All Christians have a responsibility for social welfare on the basis of their baptism into the priesthood of Christ. All Christians are called to be little Christs to their neighbors. Because God has taken care of our salvation in Christ, we are free to take care of our needy neighbor.
The social ramifications of Luther's theology of justification by faith were carried out in practical measures that Luther advocated and approved in Wittenberg and surrounding towns like Leisning. One result of Luther's suggestions was the "Wittenberg Ordinance of a Common Chest," 1522 (LW 45). Luther had argued that instead of joining confraternities that only took care of the needs of their own members, the whole community should take care of the needs of all members of the community. In Wittenberg, and other Lutheran areas, a community chest was set up in the parish church. Formerly such funds were only for hospitals, but now they would be used for other purposes as well. There are records that a carpenter was employed to build this chest. It had three keys, which were given to two stewards and the mayor. The stewardship of these funds by the civil authorities was based on the priesthood of all believers. These funds were used to provide citizens with the basic necessities of life like food and shelter, but also for education, now available to women as well as men. They also provided low-interest loans to the working poor and dowries for women whose families couldn't afford them. Money for the fund came from previously endowed chantries whose purpose was to pray for the dead in perpetuity, the coffers of disbanded confraternities, the voluntary donations of worshipers when they came to Holy Communion, and from taxes, if necessary. Of course, the city council may have been converted easily to Lutheran ideas about charity in part because they were not happy to see funds from their city flowing to Rome.
Other Lutheran areas adopted the idea of a common chest. In Luther's two kingdoms view, the temporal realm was to be entrusted with the welfare of the community while the pastors preached salvation by grace alone, for the civil authorities were as much under God's authority as the pastors and preachers. I heard a Swedish bishop argue that the idea of the modern welfare state in the Scandinavian countries comes from Martin Luther, not from Karl Marx. The people had studied Luther's Catechism in school.
Yet even if our political economic policies favored the poor rather than the wealthy or the middle class, people would still fall through the bureaucratic social safety net—and show up at our church doors with their addictions, mental disorders, family dysfunctions, or poor choices. Since, sociologically, our North American societies are predominantly Christian, these needy neighbors are likely to be baptized brothers and sisters in Christ. Responsibility for attending to the needs of "the least of these" is not only the pastor's but the whole congregation's. So I put the common chest back into my church, right at the chancel entry. I put it up on Reformation Sunday and it remains in place through Advent. As worshipers come to Holy Communion they are invited to put their contributions into the chest. The funds are then available to the pastor and/or the social ministry committee to dispense to needy members of the community. The common chest is a take-off on the alms-basin we have used for several years during Lent for the same purpose (although for that I simply invite people to empty the coins in their pockets into the basin; their right hand should not know what their left hand is doing, and they get no credit on their contribution statements).
Here's an old tradition with a contemporary relevance. As we in the Society study the outward marks of the church we recall that Luther couldn't resist adding to the seven marks in his treatise On the Councils "the good works of the saints." It would be in keeping with the character of our Society as a religious order on the margins of the church to actively promote the care of those on the margins of society. "Remember the poor."
Frank C. Senn, STS, Senior
Report of the Secretary
The Society of the Holy Trinity met in general retreat October 14–16, 2008, at the Conference Center of the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. In attendance were 169 members and friends of the Society from across the United States and Canada.
During the retreat, four new deans were installed by Frank Senn, STS, Senior of the Society: Wollom A. Jensen, STS, of Alexandria, Va., dean of the Chesapeake-Potomac Chapter; William F. Kirsh-Carr, STS, of Madison Heights, Mich., dean of the Michigan-Eastern Canada Chapter; Jerry R. Kliner, STS, of Hurricane, W.Va., dean of the Southern Ohio Chapter; and Robert P. McGurn, STS, of Simsbury, Conn., dean of the New England Chapter.
Twelve pastors subscribed to the Rule of the Society:
Kenneth C. Blyth - Member at large
Jeff Cottingham - Great Rivers Chapter
Keith M. Falk - Southern Ohio Chapter
Sally Gausmann - Susquehanna Chapter
Richard Koenig - New England Chapter
Marie K. Krueger - Susquehanna Chapter
Ronald A. Rasmus - Great Rivers Chapter
Ann Miller Smith - Passavant Chapter
Debra Diane Thompson - Passavant Chapter
Erik R. Trovall - Rocky Mountain-Canada Chapter
Matthew R. Voyer - Iowa/Nebraska Chapter
Barbara M. Wills - Iowa/Nebraska Chapter
When pastors subscribe to the Rule, they make the following vow: "Before God and my fellow pastors gathered here, and for the sake of the vows I spoke when I was ordained to the Holy Ministry, I, (name), hereby subscribe to the Rule of the Society of the Holy Trinity, asking the help of God and seeking the support of the Society."
Copies of the Rule are available on the Internet at www.societyholytrinity.org or you may request a hard copy from The Rev. John E. Priest, 17 High Street, Delhi, NY 13753.
The next general retreat of the Society will be at the same location in Mundelein, Ill., September 29–October 1, 2009.
John E. Priest, STS, Secretary
Report of the Bursar
The following report from the Bursar of the Society is for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008.
BALANCE FORWARD, 6/30/07: $68,616.68
Deposits: 159,228.66
Interest: 180.52
TOTAL DEPOSITS: 159,409.18
DISBURSEMENTS
Administration: 35.00
Fund raising: 0.00
General & council retreats: 32,996.86
Newsletter: 4,700.01
Chapter visitation: 1,909.48
Travel equalization: 12,439.52
Seminarian support: 5,000.00
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS: (132,080.87)
GENERAL ACCOUNT BALANCE: 95,944.99
Mark A. Hoffman, STS, Bursar
Graduate Student to Do STM Thesis on STS
Graduate student David Ramirez, an STM student at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., plans to write his STM thesis on the Society of the Holy Trinity. Following is a report from David Ramirez on his proposed work.
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am an STM student at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. I have been interested in the Society of the Holy Trinity for many years now and have been attending STS retreats since 2004. My intention is to write my STM thesis on the Society. It was a great pleasure to be at this year's general retreat where Pastor Senn graciously allowed me to present this undertaking to the Society. I believe, and would like to suggest to the broader academic and theological world, that the STS is one of the most important groups for evangelical catholicism in the English-speaking world and Lutheranism in North America.
I plan to have three sections in my thesis. First, I will research and compile a history of the STS that will describe the formation and development of the Society. Second, I will gather as much data as possible to produce a profile of the Society, reflecting the members' geographical distribution, age, liturgical preferences, etc. Finally, I will offer some interpretation of the research. I plan to give special attention to the relationship between the STS and the wider evangelical catholic movement.
As a student of history, I love research, yet this project is one I undertake with special joy. It is wonderful to be able to ask questions, clarify responses, and take suggestions from members of the Society, many of whom I know already. I hope you will work with me by offering questions, critiques, and other comments.
To stay up to date or to be notified of progress on this project, please subscribe to and/or follow the blog I created for this project at: http://stsresearch.blogspot.com/. Members may contact me at: david.p.ramirez@gmail.com
Chapter News
CHESAPEAKE-POTOMAC CHAPTER
Dean, Wollom A. Jensen, wally.a.jensen@gmail.com
The Chesapeake-Potomac Chapter met in retreat at the Trinitarian Spiritual Center in Baltimore, Md., December 1–2, from noon on Monday to noon on Tuesday. We gathered for prayer, spiritual renewal, and worship. Participating in the retreat were Paul Blank, STS, and Rod Ronneberg, STS, teaching theologians, and Clinton Kersey, STS, confessor.
DELAWARE RIVER CHAPTER
Dean, Ronald C. Yergey, delawareriver@societyholytrinity.org
The Delaware River Chapter met on November 10–11, the days of Martin Luther's birth and baptism, at the St. Francis Retreat House in Easton, Pa. Ronald Yergey, STS, was elected dean. Michael Tavella, STS, made three presentations of his hymn and poetry writing. Members present encouraged him to seek publication of his writing that others might have the benefit of his work. Ron Yergey served as chaplain of the retreat. The retreat center was a most hospitable place with a staff that was very attentive to us. We were delighted to be there and have planned our first two retreats of 2009 to be held there as well. The date for the first of these is February 16–17, 2009.
GUADALUPE RIVER-TEXAS CHAPTER IN FORMATION
Contact, Ralph W. Reitmeyer, rwr@aol.com
The Guadalupe River-Texas Chapter in Formation met November 17–18 at the Cedarbrake Retreat Center near Belton, Tex., to study pericopes in preparation for the season of Advent. The Rev. Janice Campbell served as our chaplain.We will meet again at Cedarbrake for a pre-Lenten retreat on February 9–10, 2009.
IOWA CHAPTER
Dean, David A. Aanonson, pastor@ctklutheranic.org
The Iowa Chapter of the Society of the Holy Trinity met in retreat on November 10–11 at American Martyrs Retreat House, Cedar Falls, Iowa. Eleven members and one visitor were in attendance. Chaplain for the retreat was Matthew Bahnfleth, STS. The teaching theologian was Ken Kimball, STS, who led a discussion on two documents, "This Holy Mystery" and "Confessing Our Faith Together." The first document is a United Methodist Church (UMC) statement on the Lord's Supper; the second document is the Interim Eucharistic Sharing agreement between the UMC and the ELCA. The confessor was Jerome Cloninger, STS. Jason Cooper, STS, provided proper fellowship and refreshments for the celebration of Martin Luther's birthday.
METRO NEW YORK CHAPTER
Dean, Rodney L. Eberhardt, srpastorstlukes@verizon.net
The Metro New York Chapter held its fall retreat November 3–4 at the St. Ignatius Retreat House in Manhasset, N.Y. Various members of the chapter made presentations on ancient church heresies and their manifestations in contemporary church life.On February 9–10, 2009, we will hold our annual scholar retreat at St. Ignatius with Frank Senn, STS Senior, as our presenter and Society visitor. He will speak on liturgical worship and its value in speaking to contemporary culture.
MICHIGAN-EASTERN CANADA CHAPTER
Dean, William F. Kirsh-Carr, michigan-eastern_canada@societyholytrinity.org
William Kirsh-Carr, STS, was installed as dean at the general retreat. To date, the chapter has met consistently at St. Augustine's House in Oxford, Mich. In order to better accommodate Canadian members, and to attract potential members in Canada, a tentative plan to balance retreats held at St. Augustine's with those held at a site in southern Ontario was discussed.The next chapter retreat will be held in February, 2009, at St. Augustine's House, on a date yet to be determined.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS CHAPTER
Dean, Keith L. Forni, northernillinois@societyholytrinity.org
Plans are underway for the annual 24-hour retreat on the Presentation of Our Lord, February. 2–3, 2009. For details, please contact the dean.An increase in the number of one day and half-day retreats is desired within the chapter, with a view toward greater outreach to inquirers and expanded fellowship and study opportunities for chapter members and prospective members. Society members living in Northern Indiana have been regular and valued members of our chapter. Growth in their numbers makes it likely that a chapter of their own will be formed soon. It is hoped that inter-chapter ties will continue between the Northern Illinois and the emerging "Hoosier" chapter, as have those with the Wisconsin Chapter.
SANGRE DE CRISTO CHAPTER
Dean, David M. Wendel, pr-wendel@saintlukes-cs.org
The next retreat of the Sangre de Cristo Chapter will be February 12–13, 2009, at the Franciscan Retreat Center, Mt. St. Francis, Colo. This pre-Lenten retreat will include a presentation by Peter Jacobson, STS, about his recent trip to the Holy Land, as well as discussion of the Society's "Language for Worship" statement and new guidelines for retreat chaplains.Our chapter has developed a three-panel STS display for use at synod/district gatherings. The panels may be sent to chapters on computer disks, allowing local printing and mounting. Contact the dean for information at the above e-mail address.
SUSQUEHANNA CHAPTER
Dean, Patrick Rooney, pastorrooney@christlutheranyork.com
The Susquehanna Chapter welcomed two new members at the general retreat held recently in Chicago. Marie Krueger, STS, and Sally Gausmann, STS, join the other 20 members of the chapter.A total of 33 members, visitors, and guests attended the chapter Advent retreat held at Convent of the Sacred Heart in Danville, Pa., on December 1 and 2. Bishop Robert Driesen of the Upper Susquehanna Synod, ELCA, was our teaching theologian on the subject of the resurrection.
UPSTATE NEW YORK CHAPTER
Dean, Troy A. Mulvaine, mulvaine@msn.com
The Upstate New York Chapter of the Society continues to discuss Luther's "Marks of the Church" in relation to trends in present parish teaching and practice. Our December retreat, held in the Finger Lakes at the Stella Maris Retreat Center, centered on the biblical call and mission of Christian discipleship. While we are locally greatly blessed with a moderately sized chapter made up of devoted, orthodox pastors, we continue to be challenged by the great distance that separates many of our current members.Three new visitors have asked to join our Society and hopefully will be present at the 2009 general retreat.
WISCONSIN CHAPTER
Dean, Mark W. Knappe, pastor@fallsgloriadei.com
On November 10–11, the chapter held its annual joint retreat with the Northern Illinois Chapter. On November 10, the birthday of Martin Luther, the Wisconsin Chapter elected Mark W. Knappe, STS, to serve as dean. The election was conducted by the Senior of the Society, Frank Senn. On November 11 we celebrated St. Martin of Tours, with Keith Forni, STS, presiding at the Eucharist and Dean Mark Knappe preaching.The Wisconsin Chapter will gather on February 5–6, 2009, at St. Norbert Abbey in De Pere, Wis. Guests and visitors are always welcome. You may register for the retreat by sending $55.00 to: The Rev. Timothy Duesenberg, W6729 Hilltop Dr., Onalaska, WI 54650.
From the Vicar
As we exercised the gifts of Morning and Evening Prayer during the weeks of Advent, the references to darkness and Light were striking: ". . . the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death" (Gospel Canticle, Morning Prayer), and "Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ; may His Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path . . ." (Service of Light, Evening Prayer).
These references were striking because the Advent weeks are noted for the darkness of the world steadily increasing until we get to St. Thomas's Day. As the sun's light recedes in these weeks, the world turns on its lights. They create a "holiday" season, with festivities that can be forced and genuine, with lighting displays that can be overdone yet impressive.
However, what has been more impressive in these weeks is the much different Light plunging into our parish communities from the Lord God. This Light streams out from our crucified and resurrected Lord and is reflected in such persons as Isaiah the Prophet, John the Baptizer, and Mary the God-Bearer. This Light is the only reality that can pierce the world's darkness and rescue the people who are lost in it.
The darkness of the world's life is pervasive and overwhelming. Both the raw and refined elements in the world (including some elements within Lutheran church structures) revel in it. Still, our parish communities know that it is the Lord's Light alone that can push into that darkness and free the people trapped by it. That's why parishes use the Corporate Liturgy for Confession and Forgiveness in the early weeks of the Advent season. That's why pastors encourage parishioners to practice Individual Confession and Forgiveness.
The world's darkness is imbedded in our hearts, minds, and bodies. While we easily note it in others—the greedy person, the pornographer, the terrorist, the abuser, the manipulator—the honest reality is that the darkness pours out from the natural desire for one's self. These are the persons who stop interacting with the Scriptures and Sacraments, and insist they are fine! These are the persons who want the impact of the Lord's Life, but who by-pass the breaking and restoring that creates such impact!
The saving reality is that it is the Lord's Word alone that can break that natural desire down and re-set the person in the Life received at Baptism. The honest and saving realities occur as the Lord's Light streams in on our lives through the Eucharist (on Sunday and during the week), as well as the Prayers for Morning and Evening.
This Light burns more intensely as we approach the Lord's Incarnation. It then radiates through the Twelve Days of Christ Mass as the Days of St. Stephen, St. John, the Holy Innocents, and Jesus' Name cross our lives. Thus, the Light is on full display when we turn into the Epiphany of our Lord. It is impressive that as the world dims and removes the lights of its "holiday" season, the Church finds itself gleaming more and more with the Light streaming from the Lord God.
Such Light is continually erupting from his Scriptures and Sacraments. Because of the rescue from our natural self, the Lord God makes it possible for us to faithfully reflect and carry his Light to people caught in the fierce grip of the world's darkness.
Carl A. Voges, STS, Vicar
DE TRINITATE
News and reflection from the Society of the Holy Trinity
Volume 11, Number 4, Advent 2008
Editor: Constance R. Seddon
Editorial office:
6239 Rosebury Ave., 1E, St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 721-8262 / editor@societyholytrinity.org
To be placed on the De Trinitate mailing list or to report a change of address,
please contact the Secretary, below.
Senior: Pr. Frank C. Senn
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 616 Lake Street, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-4464 / senior@societyholytrinity.org
Vicar: Pr. Carl A. Voges
129 Pond Ridge Road, Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 788-6656 or (803) 269-6656 / vicar@societyholytrinity.org
Secretary: Pr. John E. Priest
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 17 High Street, Delhi, NY 13753
(607) 746-2098 / secretary@societyholytrinity.org
Bursar: Pr. Mark A. Hoffman
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 324 North Street, Millersburg, PA 17061
(717) 692-2141 / bursar@societyholytrinity.org
Copyright © 2008-2009 Society of the Holy Trinity. All rights reserved.
Updated -- 23 February 2009