theological content in choosing resources

[Sierra Pacific Resource Center]

Hello everyone.  Yesterday at the board meeting of our Sierra Pacific Synod Resource Center, I brought up the issue of "non Lutheran" materials such as Beth Moore, Liz Higgins, Stormie Omartian, Purpose-Driven, etc., because I had been given a box of these dvd-based studies.  The person giving them has used them in her Lutheran setting.  I personally have trouble with using these without disclaimers of some kind.  Because there are two sides to this discussion,  I need some guidance.  Our board did not make a decision; one of the pastors thought we might want to check with "synod staff" to see if they had a policy.

Can you help us?

 

Margie Back, Interim Director
The Synod Resource Center
2311 E. Shaw Ave., Fresno, CA 93710
559 345-2725 (if the phone cycles to Synod office, ask for ext. 120)
Open:     Aug. 26, 27, 28    Sept. 3, 4, 5    Sept. 8, 10, 11, 12    Sept. 15, 16, 18, 19    
 Sept. 29, 30
      
    9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or by appointment

[Irene Flynn]

Hi Margie,

    Do you mind if I post this on our Facebook page?  Those of us in Resource Center ministry have all had this question come up, so join the crowd.  We had, at one time, a paper of some sort that talked about this.

 

    For my part, I do not have these in my Resource Center. My Presbyterian colleague, however, did. I'm always conscious of the fact that by my having them, I approve of their theology.  I agree that having them with disclaimers seems rather disingenuous and people will still think they are fine..... Another reason I don't have them is the clear distinction that we like to draw between Lutherans and our "Bible -belt" friends.  This IS Florida!!  LOL!

 

--Irene

---

From: Sierra Pacific Resource Center <rsps...@pacbell.net>
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 1:17 PM
To: &#39;elca_resource...@ecunet.org&#39;
Subject: theological content in choosing resources

 

--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "ELCA Resource Centers" group.
To post to this group, send email to
elca_resource...@ecunet.org
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
elca_resource_cente...@ecunet.org
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/a/ecunet.org/group/elca_resource_centers.topic

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to elca_resource_cente...@ecunet.org.

[Ellen Johanson]

I don’t have a policy and I do have those types of resources in my center, but I serve a diverse group of churches both ecumenically and within the UMC spectrum. Since my center serves a large geographic area, there is quite a spectrum of religious beliefs from very conservative to very liberal.  I often encourage people doing a Beth Moore study to read a blog called Hacking Christianity and to specifically read the blog entry on Methodist Kudzu.  It’s rather long but well-written. I’ll attach a link below.

 

http://hackingchristianity.net/2011/09/methodist-kudzu-the-problem-of-beth-moore.html

 

Additionally, I encourage them to view material from more than one perspective so if they want to do the Beth Moore study on Esther I also encourage them to do the Living the Questions: Uppity Women of the Bible study on Esther so that they can encounter two different beliefs/interpretations from women “experts”.

 

Because I am sensitive to being a “gatekeeper” and I serve ecumenically as well as within the UMC system, I feel it is appropriate for me to do as little “censoring” as possible and to maintain a diverse collection of resources.  My general purchasing policy is to consider items that are requested by churches or RMC members, items that address religious issues, items that feature diversity, items that are educational, items that are well-made, and of course I consider the cost too.  While I might wish to “favor” Methodist resources, I often find resources from other places (like Augsburg) that are wonderful so I purchase them.

 

Whether I personally like it or not, Beth Moore is very popular and many of the more conservative churches I work with like her material and request it.

 

I hope these comments help you, Margie.

 

Ellen

[Sierra Pacific Resource Center]

Irene, you have just made my day!   Yes, post!    I am like you -- if I have it here, if I share the title, then I really feel that I am in some way affirming it.

How do we get around this without offending,yet still holding true to our Lutheran convictions?

 

Margie Back, Interim Director
The Synod Resource Center
2311 E. Shaw Ave., Fresno, CA 93710
559 345-2725 (if the phone cycles to Synod office, ask for ext. 120)
Open:     Aug. 26, 27, 28    Sept. 3, 4, 5    Sept. 8, 10, 11, 12    Sept. 15, 16, 18, 19    
 Sept. 29, 30
      
    9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or by appointment