04 June 2013
The Former Bishop's Congregation
The former Bishop's London Congregation was forced to move out of it's historic home. Why?
Was it because of her leadership when she was the pastor?
Was it because of her attempts to negotiate a lease?
Was it because of her administration the finances, accounts and maintenance of the congregation?
Was it because she resigned (or was it retired?) as the pastor of the congregation when the lease deadline was looming?
Did she retire as Bishop (before the completion of her term) to avoid something?
Was it because of her leadership when she was the pastor?
Was it because of her attempts to negotiate a lease?
Was it because of her administration the finances, accounts and maintenance of the congregation?
Was it because she resigned (or was it retired?) as the pastor of the congregation when the lease deadline was looming?
Did she retire as Bishop (before the completion of her term) to avoid something?
Marvelous Words but a loveless, perfunctory, formal religion
The following quote is from a sermon preached by "Bishop" JJG on 1 Corinthians 13
and Luke 18:31-43 ( reference http://www.anglican-lutheran-society.org/AGM%202011%20sermon.pdf ):
"In our lives of faith, which should in turn bring faith and hope to our families, churches and
communities the love of Christ is made manifest. This is true in the small things just as much as in
the big issues. In our interactions with the bus driver and the bank clerk, in our dealings with those
who hate us; in laughing and in loving, as well as in mourning and in conflict, in the seemingly hopeless situation of Palestine; whether in London, Jerusalem, Helsinki or Stuttgart, Christ in his charity
lives in and through us. "
She also told the story of a friend who came to England as part of the Kindertransport. The friend was adopted by 2 sisters who were "regular churchgoers; well-meaning, presumably, but their charity was cold indeed. They treated her with contempt, and forced her to go to church with them; punishments for misdemeanours were harsh; and there was little sign of love or affection. My friend’s experience of Christianity was of a loveless, perfunctory, formal religion; and as a result, she developed a thorough allergy to the Christian faith."
First a marvelous call to action that the love of Christ should be expressed in all of our interactions - big and small - with the charity of Christ in us and through us. God demands that even "in our dealings with those who hate us" "as well as in mourning and in conflict" that our interactions "Christ in his charity lives in and through us." Too bad those are the "Bishop's" marvelous words but do not describe her actions towards anyone who has questioned her, failed to bow to her unreasonable demands and inflated sense of authority and warped vision of obedience.
The story of the two sisters who adopted the little girl from a foreign land describes the "Bishop's" actions better than the her preached words - for JJG has treated those whom God had entrusted with contempt, she has harshly punished for misdemeanours and she has shown little love or affection - especially for children. JJG's practice of Christianity would make most feel "Christianity was... a loveless, perfunctory, formal religion; and as a result, ...develop a thorough allergy to the Christian faith."
and Luke 18:31-43 ( reference http://www.anglican-lutheran-society.org/AGM%202011%20sermon.pdf ):
"In our lives of faith, which should in turn bring faith and hope to our families, churches and
communities the love of Christ is made manifest. This is true in the small things just as much as in
the big issues. In our interactions with the bus driver and the bank clerk, in our dealings with those
who hate us; in laughing and in loving, as well as in mourning and in conflict, in the seemingly hopeless situation of Palestine; whether in London, Jerusalem, Helsinki or Stuttgart, Christ in his charity
lives in and through us. "
She also told the story of a friend who came to England as part of the Kindertransport. The friend was adopted by 2 sisters who were "regular churchgoers; well-meaning, presumably, but their charity was cold indeed. They treated her with contempt, and forced her to go to church with them; punishments for misdemeanours were harsh; and there was little sign of love or affection. My friend’s experience of Christianity was of a loveless, perfunctory, formal religion; and as a result, she developed a thorough allergy to the Christian faith."
First a marvelous call to action that the love of Christ should be expressed in all of our interactions - big and small - with the charity of Christ in us and through us. God demands that even "in our dealings with those who hate us" "as well as in mourning and in conflict" that our interactions "Christ in his charity lives in and through us." Too bad those are the "Bishop's" marvelous words but do not describe her actions towards anyone who has questioned her, failed to bow to her unreasonable demands and inflated sense of authority and warped vision of obedience.
The story of the two sisters who adopted the little girl from a foreign land describes the "Bishop's" actions better than the her preached words - for JJG has treated those whom God had entrusted with contempt, she has harshly punished for misdemeanours and she has shown little love or affection - especially for children. JJG's practice of Christianity would make most feel "Christianity was... a loveless, perfunctory, formal religion; and as a result, ...develop a thorough allergy to the Christian faith."
23 May 2013
Synod 2013
The Lutheran Church in Great Britain's Synod 2013 was the The Very Rev Dean's show again.
Notice:
- No one in the ENTIRE LCiGB was available to serve on the Trustees except the same one's who do whatever TB says.
- There are still no people of African descent serving as Trustees.
- There is no Annual Report of the Trustees on the Website. Why? Because people will know how small and dysfunctional the LCiGB really is.
- What is posted? A document that uses selective truth and proof texted scripture to prove that the Trustees have no interest in following God or the Gospel but are beholden to TB's solicitors and accountants.
- There is no recognition that the Bishop JGB is no longer Bishop. Why did she resign?
- There is no recognition that the LCiGB has single handedly forced one of the LCiGB congregations to loose their church home, sell the organ and move to an undesirable location.
The LCiGB would rather spend tens of thousands of pounds on solicitors and accounts to allow TB to bully congregations, pastors and others rather than live the Gospel.
Don't forget, the LCiGB is also getting kicked out of its office's in Central London.
Notice:
- No one in the ENTIRE LCiGB was available to serve on the Trustees except the same one's who do whatever TB says.
- There are still no people of African descent serving as Trustees.
- There is no Annual Report of the Trustees on the Website. Why? Because people will know how small and dysfunctional the LCiGB really is.
- What is posted? A document that uses selective truth and proof texted scripture to prove that the Trustees have no interest in following God or the Gospel but are beholden to TB's solicitors and accountants.
- There is no recognition that the Bishop JGB is no longer Bishop. Why did she resign?
- There is no recognition that the LCiGB has single handedly forced one of the LCiGB congregations to loose their church home, sell the organ and move to an undesirable location.
The LCiGB would rather spend tens of thousands of pounds on solicitors and accounts to allow TB to bully congregations, pastors and others rather than live the Gospel.
Don't forget, the LCiGB is also getting kicked out of its office's in Central London.
22 April 2013
Latvian Lutheran Church in London
The Latvian Lutheran Church has severed ties with the Lutheran Church in Great Britain. After cooperating and sharing worship space for more than 40 years, the London Latvian Lutheran Church has found a new home.
15 April 2013
Trying to Impress
Thomas or Tom Bruch is the current Dean of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain and the former General Secretary of the Lutheran Council of Churches ( now called the Council of Lutheran Churches).
The Lutheran Church in Great Britain and Lutheran Council of Churches are both members of the Lutheran World Federation.
The Lutheran Church in Great Britain also partners with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and has recently partnered with Time for God.
Although being recognised by Lutheran World Federation and Church Together in England this does not mean that the The Lutheran Church in Great Britain is credible or should even exist.
If one compares the statistics given by The Lutheran Church in Great Britain in Annual Reports and on the The Lutheran Church in Great Britain website to the statistics that the The Lutheran Church in Great Britain has given to the Lutheran World Federation it is apparent that those responsible for providing statistics to the Lutheran World Federation grossly overstated the membership of The Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
The Lutheran Church in Great Britain and Lutheran Council of Churches are both members of the Lutheran World Federation.
The Lutheran Church in Great Britain also partners with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and has recently partnered with Time for God.
Although being recognised by Lutheran World Federation and Church Together in England this does not mean that the The Lutheran Church in Great Britain is credible or should even exist.
If one compares the statistics given by The Lutheran Church in Great Britain in Annual Reports and on the The Lutheran Church in Great Britain website to the statistics that the The Lutheran Church in Great Britain has given to the Lutheran World Federation it is apparent that those responsible for providing statistics to the Lutheran World Federation grossly overstated the membership of The Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
04 April 2013
The Way to Become Bishop in the LCiGB
The former Bishop was only elected by 25 votes - total. If each church received one vote for clergy and one lay member then there would be at least 12 churches in the The Lutheran Church in Great Britain. However - each Trustees of The Lutheran Church in Great Britain is able to vote. The largest congregation in The Lutheran Church in Great Britain was given three lay member votes and one clergy vote.
Of the 25 votes for Bishop:
At least FOUR came from the congregation she was serving at the time.
Up to SIX came from the Trustees (of which most where members of her church).
So Bishop Jana was elected by 25 people of which close to 50% were members of the congregation she was serving.
But she has stepped down - quietly without announcement.
Who will replace her?
The current Trustees - each of which have a vote - have been hand selected by Dean Tom Bruch. SIX VOTES. (Do not forget one of the Trustees is his wife.)
Dean Bruch has ensured that all the African clergy are not really considered ordained so they will not be able to vote.
The majority of the Trustees of The Lutheran Church in Great Britain are members of the same church as Dean Tom Burch. The Dean has ensured that the current council of that congregation support him 100%. They take all of his administrative and legal advice and only have a "visiting pastor" because of Tom Bruch. The congregation (his) is allowed three or more votes.
NINE VOTES
IF and it is a BIG IF, there are actually 25 people allowed to go to the 2013 Synod (which is by invitation only and subject to new rules written by Tom Bruch):
25 - 3 = 22 (Dean Tom Bruch has successfully removed three clergy from voting).
So Dean Tom Bruch needs 22 votes and has hand selected at least 9 votes. I am sure he has also rewritten the rules to make sure that most of the other clergy in The Lutheran Church in Great Britain will be unqualified.
So Dean Burch might be elected Bishop - so what? Over the last few years he has almost shut down every congregation in the LCiGB. Even if The Lutheran Church in Great Britain gets "Bishop Thomas Bruch" he will be never be considered a real Bishop by anyone who looks into The Lutheran Church in Great Britain or Tom Bruch.
23 March 2013
GROSS MISCONDUCT
According to the cte.org.uk website:
Bishop Jana resigned. She is not the Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
According to the Rules and Regulations of the LCiGB, she should immediately be charged with GROSS MISCONDUCT for: "2. deceit or dishonesty affecting LCiGB affairs;"
Of course the Rules and Regulations only apply to those the Dean and Bishop are attacking.
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EUROPEAN AFFAIRS
Jana Jeruma-Grinberga is the European Officer for CTE. Jana is the Bishop of the Lutheran Church UK and brings extensive experience and knowledge of Europe into the work of CTE.
CTE has not traditionally engaged with European issues and relationships, but an increasing sense of the importance of relationships across Europe, including those between the churches means that this area of work is growing in significance.
According to the Church Times:
"Readings followed from Ruth and 2 Corinthians, both read by co-presidents of Churches Together in England, the Lutheran Bishop, the Rt Revd Jana Jeruma Grinberga, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Revd Vincent Nichols."
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Bishop Jana resigned. She is not the Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
According to the Rules and Regulations of the LCiGB, she should immediately be charged with GROSS MISCONDUCT for: "2. deceit or dishonesty affecting LCiGB affairs;"
Of course the Rules and Regulations only apply to those the Dean and Bishop are attacking.
21 March 2013
Racism?
In the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, if a pastor has been ordained it does not mean the pastor is ordained.
Some pastors who have been ordained by Bishops of the LCiGB have been told they are not really pastors yet. These pastors who have been ordained, taking services, celebrating communion, baptizing and who have been called and installed as pastors of LCiGB congregations have been told by the LCiGB Trustees they are not yet pastors. Why? The LCiGB require SOME PASTORS BUT NOT ALL PASTORS to meet new rules that were adopted AFTER they were ordained.
Why is this important?
1. Ordination in the Lutheran tradition means only one thing: You are an ordained pastor. You cannot be a pastor unless you have been ordained and their is not half ordination. Once again the LCiGB is abandoning the Lutheran Confessions.
2. By questioning if a pastor is "really" ordained it causes insecurity, distrust and questions of faith for faithful members. Is my child really baptized if the pastor isn't really ordained? Is communion really communion?
3. This LCiGB exercise is aimed at pastors who are not European. The only pastors who have been "called in" to meet with the LCiGB and told they must meet the new rules are non-European pastors serving congregations where the majority of the members are African.
4. This is another goal of the Dean and current Trustees.
Some pastors who have been ordained by Bishops of the LCiGB have been told they are not really pastors yet. These pastors who have been ordained, taking services, celebrating communion, baptizing and who have been called and installed as pastors of LCiGB congregations have been told by the LCiGB Trustees they are not yet pastors. Why? The LCiGB require SOME PASTORS BUT NOT ALL PASTORS to meet new rules that were adopted AFTER they were ordained.
Why is this important?
1. Ordination in the Lutheran tradition means only one thing: You are an ordained pastor. You cannot be a pastor unless you have been ordained and their is not half ordination. Once again the LCiGB is abandoning the Lutheran Confessions.
2. By questioning if a pastor is "really" ordained it causes insecurity, distrust and questions of faith for faithful members. Is my child really baptized if the pastor isn't really ordained? Is communion really communion?
3. This LCiGB exercise is aimed at pastors who are not European. The only pastors who have been "called in" to meet with the LCiGB and told they must meet the new rules are non-European pastors serving congregations where the majority of the members are African.
4. This is another goal of the Dean and current Trustees.
06 February 2013
By Invitation Only
The 2013 Lutheran Church in Great Britain Synod date has been announced. Please note: if anyone other than approved Synod members want to attend a member must email the LCiGB and request an invitation to be sent.
This gives an interesting meaning to the Lutheran Church in Great Britain belief statement:
"This Church affirms the call of the Gospel to unity, reconciliation and healing. We therefore commit ourselves to the pursuit of all that makes for unity within the One Body of Christ."
Apparently "unity, reconciliation and healing" are by invitation only.
If Ladbrokes or BetFred has the option, the best bet would be that the Lutheran Church in Great Britain will NOT publish this year's Trustees Report on the website. After all, "Voting Members have been sent the relevant details."
This gives an interesting meaning to the Lutheran Church in Great Britain belief statement:
"This Church affirms the call of the Gospel to unity, reconciliation and healing. We therefore commit ourselves to the pursuit of all that makes for unity within the One Body of Christ."
Apparently "unity, reconciliation and healing" are by invitation only.
If Ladbrokes or BetFred has the option, the best bet would be that the Lutheran Church in Great Britain will NOT publish this year's Trustees Report on the website. After all, "Voting Members have been sent the relevant details."
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