tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020417.post5432797509742354081..comments2024-02-19T05:09:00.099-06:00Comments on Lutheran Confessions: The Altar Rail that Divided the WorldClint Schneklothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707900080657719369noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020417.post-998054152951734682014-10-14T12:06:20.501-05:002014-10-14T12:06:20.501-05:00Well said. I dont go to your church, but I recogni...Well said. I dont go to your church, but I recognize all the elements that you have described. They have been in every church I have attended. Most of my life, I spent in military chapels with various denominations leading the service. I have not been in a church that was completely dominated by clergy or laity. Although I have seen plenty of strong personalities leave a church because they could not be the sole leader or set the direction. <br /><br />The rail may symbolize division to some, but to my family, its a coming to the alter. Some the churches we attended there was no rail. We still went to the steps and knelt for communion where we could. Rail or no rail, its about coming to Christ. Its easy to forget the meaning when we commune weekly. <br /><br />Your comment on the 80/20 of service has been the rule. My version, 80% of the time, 20% do all the work. How do you break that? One thing that Greg mentions is regular rotations of positions of ministry staff leadership. Not sure that would work. There are already to few volunteers, now you would move someone because they were there for 2 years? We do that for council members, for not for ministries. God gives each of us different talents, use those talents for God's glory.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07633604013720529041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020417.post-17084314451410531302014-10-14T11:54:06.399-05:002014-10-14T11:54:06.399-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07633604013720529041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020417.post-77948091856705396992014-10-13T08:09:50.256-05:002014-10-13T08:09:50.256-05:00Pastor, great post and way to get ideas flowing. ...Pastor, great post and way to get ideas flowing. One thing I think we need to recognize is how much American/Western consumer culture is a part of this. The construct of Pastor as professional service provider and congregants/parishoners as consumers isn't hard to fathom and is striking when you think on it. The church is called to be counter-cultural in this respect, however, we are facing heavy headwinds and our divisions are not helping us overcome them. Thanks and I hope for more conversation. Yours, Erik BackusErik C. Backushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02808230591482672620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020417.post-48964415547651194842014-10-12T21:09:53.672-05:002014-10-12T21:09:53.672-05:00My thoughts? Remove the rail. Distribute out into ...My thoughts? Remove the rail. Distribute out into the seated and/or peace-passing congregation. How Presbyterian of me, right? :)jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01655013690499442446noreply@blogger.com