canang-l St. John's Lutheran, Concord Street, Toronto
Ken Kuhl
http://tinyurl.com/bm8ysx2
Ken Kuhl
London, ON
----------------
Lutherans win fight to get their church back
Published On Mon Dec 26 2011
Kate Allen Staff Reporter
<snip>
In legal documents, the [newcomer] congregants allege that at the December
2007 meeting, [district president/bishop] Stechholz told them the [English]
District did not recognize them... and in order to become members again,
they would have to produce verification of their Lutheran heritage. For
those from strife-torn countries like Sri Lanka and Congo, this would have
been nearly impossible.
The [newcomer Lutheran] congregants also allege that a second District
official commented that accepting immigrants as members of St. John's was
not in keeping with the security of Canada.
Neither Steers [old school/white bread congregation] nor Stechholz could be
reached for comment over the holidays. Their lawyer, Jeffrey Goodman, says
his clients did not settle the case based on the merits of the litigation.
In legal documents provided by Goodman, the defendants [English District &
old school congregation] deny all the accusations. They say the church
required costly repairs and St. John's didn't have enough money to pay for
them.
They also claim St. John's was in arrears on its hydro bill and that the
city had threatened to cut off its water supply. The District wanted to
provide active oversight rather than simply funnel funds into the church's
bank account.
Because of the needed repairs, "St. John's was closed to everyone,
regardless of their race or origin," the defendants state in legal
documents. Any allegations of discrimination are frivolous, they say.
The congregants began worshipping at other Lutheran churches around Toronto,
but in January 2009, worked with police to gain access to St. John's again.
They attempted to forge a reconciliation with the District and new council.
But the former congregation walked away when a "For Sale" sign went up at
St. John's. Tsehaye and fellow churchgoers were outraged.
"Since we came to Canada . . . we got attached to this church. Families,
marriages, funerals," he says. Their children had grown up there.
The group decided to take action. In September 2009, they lodged a complaint
with the Human Rights Tribunal, which they deferred two months later in
order to file a class-action lawsuit. A lawyer named Allan Morrison agreed
to work for the congregation pro bono.
The day before the two sides were set to appear in court, they agreed to a
last-ditch mediation session.
Last September, they came to a settlement. The District would release its
claims on the building, and put $180,000 toward a fund for St. John's (half
was paid to Morrison's firm, a substantially reduced fee). St. John's would
resign from the District and the Synod, becoming an independent church.
On Dec. 13, a judge made the deal official. St. John's is thrilled, and
wants to start raising funds to establish a refugee centre.
"Diversity is something rich in the eyes of God. All churches should take
advantage of it," says Bemnet. "It is a blessing."
Maloney, Linda M
________________________________________
From: owner-c...@canang.ca [owner-c...@canang.ca] on behalf of Ken Kuhl [ken...@ROGERS.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 6:52 PM
To: cana...@canang.ca
Subject: canang-l St. John's Lutheran, Concord Street, Toronto
Ken Kuhl
>Misery Synod or LCC?<
Didn't anybody ever teach you that it's rude to make fun of other people's
names?
St. John's on Concord Av, Toronto was affiliated with the Lutheran Church -
Missouri Synod's English District before all of this happened. Now the
congregation is independent.
As the Missouri Synod grew and spread from St. Louis spilling into Canada
during the 19th century, German-speaking LCMS congregations organized
regionally (e.g. Michigan District, Ontario District...) However, as
congregations assimilated linguistically at different rates, a growing
number of English-speaking pastors and congregations emerged with common
interests regarding English language education, training, and literature.
Therefore, early-adopters of English were organized into a non-geographic
"district" under its own district president (who is apparently styled
"bishop" according to the English District website - a title abhorred
elsewhere in the Missouri Synod). This story suggests that the principle of
early adoption of the English lanuage by immigrants remains firmly - perhaps
fanatically - imprinted upon the English District's sense of identity.
Of course, starting in World War I, the whole synod stopped using German
almost everywhere and switched en masse to English practically overnight.
But although it had lost its linguistic raison-d'etre, the English District
had over the years developed its own identity and culture and did not want
to be assimilated. So instead of dismantling it, the English District was
maintained post-war as a separate jurisdiction with congregations peppered
here and there, including perhaps a dozen English District LCMS
congregations in Ontario, LCC notwithstanding.
LCC, for its part, seems to have established more congenial relations with
its growing Eritrean Lutheran constituency. At my parents' LCC parish here
in London, for example, Christmas Eve worshippers were encouraged to sing
Silent Night in whatever language they prefer, and a few years back they
hired a Canadian-trained Eritrean immigrant as associate pastor - Siem
Manna - who now appears to be thriving full time.
In due course, the newcomers' congregation which won St. John's, Concord Av
from the English District may choose to affiliate with LCC. Or not. Perhaps
they'll form an Eritrean Lutheran Synod of their own, like the Slovaks and
Danes in their day. In the meantime, District President Stechholtz has
accepted a $180,000 slap on the wrist demonstrating to all that North
American Lutherans are organized congregationally, not hierarchically.
Ken Kuhl
London, ON
Maloney, Linda M
Linda+
________________________________________
From: owner-c...@canang.ca [owner-c...@canang.ca] on behalf of Ken Kuhl [ken...@ROGERS.COM]
To: cana...@canang.ca
Subject: Re: canang-l St. John's Lutheran, Concord Avenue, Toronto
Ken Kuhl
>I figure it's okay to share people's jokes on themselves, with certain
>sensitive exceptions where genocide and the like are involved.<
I believe our practice on this list has been to allow that sort've thing so
long as nobody objects. Your "Misery Synod" schtick was perhaps amusing the
first few times, but I fear that it's paled now so please knock it off.
Ken Kuhl
London, ON
Maloney, Linda M
Linda+
________________________________________
From: owner-c...@canang.ca [owner-c...@canang.ca] on behalf of Ken Kuhl [ken...@ROGERS.COM]
Linda wrote:
Lance Woodruff
in Kampala's Roman Catholic cathedral. The Giles Foden's novel is considered to be true to the humor and horror of its subject. As Charlie Brown would say, the theological implications are astounding.
Lance Woodruff, MCOT Online News
http://www.mcot.net/EnglishNews
90/4 Sukhumvit Soi 81
Bangchak, Phrakanong, Bangkok 10260 Thailand
M: 087-070-0594 Email: lance.w...@gmail.com
Ken Kuhl
>Somehow it seemed appropriate to the particular shenanigans described -- it
>put me in mind of the attempted excommunication of the church official who
>dared to participate in an interfaith memorial after the September 11
>attacks. But if it irritates you, Ken, I apologize. Let solemnity prevail.<
Thank you.
All of this raises a serious question, though: do Lutherans have a sense of
humour? The incidence is fortunately rare, but it's been known to happen.
Due to their extreme turgidity, most Lutheran jokes are better left
unrepeated. That's where you went astray, Linda: repeating a Lutheran joke.
My best advice: if you are unlucky enough to encounter another Lutheran
witticism, make no sudden moves, back away slowly, and refer the matter to a
professionally qualified exterminator.
Ken Kuhl
London, ON
Maloney, Linda M
Linda+
P.S. I have at length completed translating the tome by Hans-Martin Barth on Luther's theology. It would seem that Luther, at least, had a sense of humour!
________________________________________
From: owner-c...@canang.ca [owner-c...@canang.ca] on behalf of Ken Kuhl [ken...@ROGERS.COM]
To: cana...@canang.ca
Subject: canang-l St. John's Lutheran, Concord Avenue, Toronto
Ken Kuhl
>Swedish Lutherans (who have bishops) are, of course, to be distinguished
>(sharply) from Norwegian Lutherans, and in turn from German Lutherans in
>their several manifestations -- which is why the ELCA is such a turbulent
>lot: they didn't really resolve the ethnic differences before combining,
>hence the occasional curdling of the batter . . .<
Yup, new-world Lutherans are a fractious bunch and that won't be changing
any time soon. Even as the old ethnic differences recede, they are replaced
by new ones with fresh newcomer waves landing daily.
What intrigues me most about the Toronto Star coverage re: St. John's,
Concord is that the story led front-page above-the-fold in the December 27
metro print edition of Canada's largest-circulation daily newspaper with a
huge blaring headline prominently displayed in every convenience store and
gas station across southern Ontario: "LUTHERANS win fight to get their
church back." The actual settlement occurred weeks earlier, but the Star sat
on it til a slow day between Christmas and New Year before splashing it
prominently page one.
Ken Kuhl
London, ON