Good Shepherd Church in Morris, let's say rural Morris, does not wish to be known as gay-bashing. There was a popular belief especially among the young adults that the church had its basis for existence in the skepticism I just noted.
Maybe the skepticism was not intended as a broadside toward the gay folks. Not an indictment of them as human beings. Just think: We are all God's children, right? So I think there was more to the matter than whether or not to turn thumbs-down on gay people.
Some intelligent and respected people were not inclined to stick with their ELCA Lutheran churches. So were those people just Neanderthal? It's hard to judge that way. Never wanted to, yet I felt the days of gays staying "in the closet" should end. I inferred that some suicides were even connected to the stigma. I can think of a couple people connected to Morris from my long background. I must add that these examples are anecdotal.
I sat next to a devoted Good Shepherd member at a public supper a few months back, and this person said "gays are welcome to worship at our church." I assume there's still a policy against gays being eligible for ministry in that denomination which is "LCMC."
I have come to believe there isn't so much of a gap between the ELCA and LCMC. I can understand the LCMC's argument against gay clergy from the standpoint that it's the heterosexuals who procreate. I don't think gay people should be upset about the policy. "It's just no big deal," I would say. It's just one occupation.
And maybe the day will come when Lutherans will be thankful that gay pastors are available! I'm sure the gays would be very sharp and committed. But I would advise one thing strongly: no need for "gay activism" within the church. Forget it. It is not necessary or needed because it's not related to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is simply no need to address "sexual orientation."
We continually hear talk about how it's like pulling teeth for ELCA churches here in the rural Midwest to get pastors. Rather comes across like horror stories - it's that bad. I keep asking "what about the principle of supply and demand?"
A person close to the Faith Lutheran management of Morris says ministers actually get paid well. The two of us joked about when a pastor is on the way out, "they are sure to burn up all their vacation time!"
First Lutheran had a bad experience with a pastor who conveniently left here after one year. At the conclusion of that episode, my eyes were opened at how difficult it had become to find someone.
Lutherans did not even allow women ministers up until 1970! Isn't that incredible? As I "surf" online for Lutheran services out and around, I notice that some women ministers come off as the most dynamic. It makes total sense, because the Christian church is meant to be a nurturing institution and women are natural nurturers. Men? Let's not characterize them.
![]() |
First Lutheran Church |
I was at a Catholic funeral on Saturday. The Catholics of Morris really have their act together because they are consolidated in one nice big church, a nice big building in the heart of Morris. And they can rely on a well-developed hierarchy to make sure their needs are met.
Oh my, look at the Lutherans. I might say "the pathetic Lutherans" all diffused and spread out, I guess over theological differences that I would say don't amount to a hill of beans.
I could generalize about the "moderate" churches of which the ELCA is certainly part. And in that group I would also place Federated, the church across from the public school. First Lutheran and Federated actually have a formal partnership this summer! I have no choice but to frown about this. Just another example of how our community "fades" in summer? So many people gone? Gone to the lake?
First Lutheran's first obvious evidence of decline was when we went to one Sunday service in summer. We would then go back to two in the fall. We'd have a big "UMM Sunday" in the fall and it really was a big deal. The stresses on us steadily grew. Was our church leadership really willing to just live with all the crumbling? Well I guess they were. I would question that.
I grew up in a time when First Lutheran was an absolute bastion for propriety and conformity. That eroded with the ELCA's drift toward what is popularly described as "liberalism." And man, what a wrecking ball that became. Prior to this summer, was there ever a Sunday when First Lutheran did not at least have a nice little service in the morning?
Do not assume that the "survivors" with First Lutheran are hardcore "liberals." I'm sure mostly these are people with a Lutheran background who simply found the institution appealing, a nice place to find fellowship. But the numbers and I presume the money have thinned. So this is the toll of the ELCA's drift in the liberal or progressive waters, and the embrace of "gay rights." Man that has been kind of a sledgehammer.
Some retreat on gay rights
Should us survivors just "hang in there?" Hoping for an upturn in fortunes? There may be some hope. There is now a sense that the public wants to backtrack some on gay rights. Even gay marriage. Many of us may have gone along with the marriage thing because we had a finger in the wind. I'm not so sure I support it now. But we want to welcome our gay brothers and sisters into the big tent of Christianity at the same time.
Hey, I have never been married myself! It is possible to get through life this way.
I echo what my Good Shepherd friend said: "Gays are welcome to worship at our church." She said it with sincerity. But we need not have gay activism. I guess some leaders in the ELCA power structure are gay activists. Well, we don't see those people locally anyway. And the ELCA might tone down a lot of this if the polls indicate a continuing retreat.
So maybe we don't need to see a "gay rights" flag, or to see a gay pride float in the local high school homecoming parade. Maybe some of the high-profile stuff could be countenanced as part of our awakening or enlightenment. Now that we have been enlightened, maybe cool it a little.
But is this too late to save First Lutheran of Morris? I think it may be.
I was so heartened to be at the Morris Catholic Church on Saturday. I felt I was having the bona fide Christian experience there. I went up for a "blessing" from the priest. I felt tremendously uplifted by this. After all the Catholic Church's problems, I still feel they might be closer to God than the other churches. As a kid I had friends who took me to "Catholic bingo" here in Morris!
Addendum: Let me just say that it warmed my heart to see Fr. Alan Wielinski Saturday. I hadn't seen him in 20 years! We had a lot of association in the days when I represented the Morris newspaper. I knew him better than any other Catholic clergy here. He was like a rock for the church to depend on. I think he would have recognized me!
I wrote an article that appeared in the Diocese newspaper once. Also I took a feature photo: that was of Fr. Botz at time of his retirement getting a gift of a golf cart and driving it up the aisle! He was joined by Fr. Nic Dressen.
I will never forget receiving the blessing from Fr. Wielinski on Saturday. Rest in peace Shirley O'Keefe. The O'Keefe and Williams monuments are located close together at Summit Cemetery. I couldn't ask for better "neighbors."
I heard there were people who wanted to buy their next car at the Morris Ford dealership because they wanted to buy it from Mike O'Keefe! Mike would always ask me "are you married yet?"
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com