Lutheran Bible found in Wisconsin Church--340 year old Bible

by Peter Menkin

Missouri, USA writer Linda Hoops reports an original, 340-year old Lutheran Bible was found in a Church in Wisconsin, stumbled upon by a sixth grade teacher. She writes in the official newspaper of the Missouri Synod—Lutheran Church—“Reporter:” What she [Debra Court of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bonduel] found was a 1,500-page copy of Martin Luther’s German translation of the Bible printed in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1670.

Local and national radio and television stations told of the story, as did print publications, noting “…the Bible was brought to the attention of Rev. Timothy Shoup, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church. “Thinking it was probably from the 1800s, I let it sit in my office for months before taking a closer look,” he said.” The “Reporter” offers this quotation from the Bonduel St. Paul Lutheran Church, “Shoup says the congregation hopes to keep the Bible long enough to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2013 and possibly permanently. The church plans to create a climate-controlled display case for it.

“It would be nice to allow God’s people to enjoy this precious book for generations to come,” Shoup said. “This particular Bible is important because it marks time, how God has chosen to speak His same grace into our hearts in all times, in 2011 or in 1670, from one continent to another.”

Lyle Buettner, who works in Special Collections at Concordia Seminary Library, said he believes the Bible is one of about 40 remaining copies known to exist in the world. Buettner said the illustrations were also impressive. He told news reporters “Each time I see an illustration like this [of the Augsburg Confessions], I just think of how beautiful it looks and how much of a labor of love it must have been for the person who actually drew it.”

Reports said that church officials don’t know how they got the book and no one seems to remember how it got into the safe. Many of the church elders have been asked but nobody seems to recall ever hearing of the existence of the piece of church history. So reports Kim I Hartman in a related article elsewhere.

The Reverend Timothy Shoup, pastor, says the Bible weighs 20 pounds and that he spoke with a St. Paul Seminary library to confirm the genuiness of the Bible, valued as $1,000 to $1,500. The discovery put the town of Bonduel, some 25 miles northwest of Green Bay, Wisconsin, on the map along with the pastor, sixth grade teacher, and Missouri Synod Lutheran Church.

The “Reporter” article by the Sunset Hills, Missouri writer Hoops describes one illustration in this remarkably preserved book: The illustrations in the Bible, created through copper etchings that served as the template for the printing process, show “incredible detail,” Shoup said. The last pages of the Bible feature a two-page spread depicting the signing of the Augsburg Confession with each person in the picture identified by a number. The following page lists the numbers and identifies the corresponding person by name.

Pastor Shoup told one television station, “When I did open it up and looked at the title page I saw the roman numerals at the bottom–I kept coming up with 1670 and I concluded whatever that is I’ve got it added up wrong.” Shoup contacted Concordia Seminary Library in St. Louis, and their librarian confirmed the date as what Pastor Shoup thought.

Lyle Buettner, the library’s special collections cataloger, said only about 40 copies of Luther’s Bible are known, though it’s likely many more are undocumented. Copies of the 340-year-old Bible can be found in various libraries in Germany and the United States, including the seminary’s. Reporter Hoops goes on to describe the books physically:

The Bible is big by today’s standards — 17.5 inches long, 11.5 inches wide, 6.5 inches thick — and weighs 20 pounds. It has pigskin binding with brass corners and clasps and contains a copy of the Augsburg Confession, the principal doctrinal statement of the theology of the Lutheran reformers as presented to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on June 25, 1530.

When teacher Court first saw the Lutheran Bible, published in German, she thought it was just an old book and didn’t think much about it, according to FOX news. “I was looking for the old baptism records to show my students and then up here in the corner was where the Bible was tucked,” said Court.

Methodists look towards Communion in England, Lutherans in America with Methodists and Episcopalians
by Peter Menkin

In an historic move, the Methodist Church in Great Britain “is on its way to rejoining the Church of England…” The “Telegraph” newspaper report from the United Kingdom by Martin Beckford goes on to say, “The head of the non-conformist denomination said it was ready to come back to the national church after 200 years apart, if it would help spread the word of God.”

The paper’s report of February 13, 2010 continues:

The Rev David Gamble, president of the Methodist Conference, told General
Synod, the Church of England’s governing body on Thursday: "We are prepared to
go out of existence not because we are declining or failing in mission, but for
the sake of mission.

"In other words, we are prepared to be changed and even to cease having a separate existence as a Church if that will serve the needs of the Kingdom."

In the United States, and specifically as well in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, The Episcopal Church USA is in Communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. This means Lutherans may take Communion at Episcopal churches, as may Episcopalians freely take Communion in Lutheran churches.

At the Church this writer attends, who may take Communion is a controversial topic. Church of Our Saviour (Episcopal), Mill Valley, California, located north of San Francisco
debated the subject and decided they would publish a statement in their Sunday bulletin, every Sunday. It says, “everybody…” is welcome at God’s table, but reminds the visitor that instruction for Baptism is readily available and freely offered. Controversial a statement as this may be, no one at most Churches finds themselves “carded” when coming for Communion.

(Carded means asked for proof of Church membership, or of Baptism. The Episcopal rule is one must be Baptized to receive Communion, by the way.)

Roman Catholic Communion services require a visitor be a Roman Catholic to receive Communion, which annoys many people as many resent the “closed” and what some call exclusive and special nature of the Roman Catholic Church and its membership—even in this post Vatican II era it is so. Of course, a blessing is offered by Roman Catholics to those visitors who attend Mass and are not Roman Catholic. This is a good thing. Other Churches,
like the Episcopalians, do so, too. They offer a blessing to the unbaptized, the real Church policy of The Episcopal Church USA, and of course within the Anglican Communion.

Apparently, British Methodists will be in Communion with the Anglican Church in England, and this significantly also means there is a special and Church recognized bond in Christ between the two Churches, just as that special bond occurs between the Lutherans and Episcopalians in the United States and specifically San Francisco’s Bay Area. Parishioners at the Mill Valley Church of Our Saviour like this situation, as it makes Christians closer in Christ.

Though this planned merger of the Methodists with The Church of England is not completed, the intention is real. The “Telegraph” continues:

It is believed Methodists have now recovered from (a) hurt…caused (in 1972 over women priests), there are fewer grounds on which traditionalists in the Church of England can object to unity as it introduced female priests in 1994 and is likely to have women bishops by 2014.

Thursday’s address by Mr Gamble was the first by a Methodist President to Synod since 1993. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, is due to address the Methodist Conference in June, while reports on the Covenant process will be made to both national assemblies next year.

But formal progress between merging the denominations is unlikely to take place until women bishops are introduced to the Church of England, in 2014 at the earliest.

The English Anglican Church hopes to continue the process with success. One Bishop is quoted: “We need to be very cautious with the institutional process. It’s vital that we don’t fail because we can’t afford to fail again.”


He said the Methodist church's decision was consistent with its "radical commitment" to the Christian mission.

Interestingly, the Episcopalians believe, as an Episcopal Priest says, "...in 'con-substantiation,' the presence of Christ with the elements. Very close to, if not aligned
with the Lutheran teaching." They remain in Communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who defines Communion and its ceremony of Eucharist in this manner:

Lutherans use the term "sacrament" to describe two parts of Christian life and worship where an earthly element or sign is linked with God’s promise and Christ’s directive. The New Testament tells us that Jesus Christ commanded Baptism and Holy Communion. For Lutherans, these are rituals of worship but each also shapes broader understanding and daily living.

In the Sacrament of Holy Communion, after hearing and experiencing the good news of Jesus Christ in word, prayer and song, the community receives bread and wine. They experience the tangible presence of Christ by eating and drinking these elements.


The outward signs of the sacrament are simple earthly elements: bread and wine. Yet, together with the spoken promise of God these elements convey the presence of Jesus Christ to the assembly of believers. Martin Luther said that Jesus is present “in, with, and under” the bread and wine. We believe this because Jesus says it is so (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20) even when we cannot fully explain how it happens.

The “Christian Post” (Lillian Kwon) reports Methodists in the United States are now in full Communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America: “The new relationship between the two major Protestant denominations is not a merger but a recognition of each other's ministry and mission. Full communion recognizes that each church has "the one, holy, catholic and apostolic faith" expressed in the Scriptures and confessed in historic creeds and the core teachings of each denomination.”


Christianity in America is changing.

Images: (1) Church of Our Saviour (Episcopal), Mill Valley, California—San Francisco Bay Area. Photo: Rick White. (2) Communion table, Anglican. (3) Sculpture by Jonathan Clarke of "Christ Blessing the Children". (4) Bishop Mark Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (left) and United Methodist Bishop William Oden sing a hymn during April 29 morning worship at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo: UMNS / Mike DuBose.

Question: Do Churches do anything to help Haiti in this disaster? Yes & Yes (two examples and more)
by Peter Menkin

This writer entered into a discussion with an acquaintance friend in San Francisco’s Bay Area, and the surprising question Does the Church do anything for Haiti, donate money or such to help with the disaster?

How shocking. Of course, churches of various denominations make donations of various important kinds in money, aid, direct help, and even in action for larger economic questions. Though my acquaintance and this writer had neither time nor other mutual interests to enter into a fuller conversation, this article is an attempt to name just two ways Haiti is helped by churches.

Needless to say, shocked by my acquaintance’s ignorance, it occurred to me that others might not realize that so many Christians make an effort of large measure to help those in need experiencing and living with a natural disaster. Haiti is a significant focus of this kind of activity and concern. Organized religion does and has responded.

The Presbyterian Church USA has a hospital in Haiti and just recently that denomination announced: “Hôspital Sainte Croix (Holy Cross Hospital) and an affiliated nursing school in Léogâne, Haiti, have been approved to receive a $200,000 grant from Louisville-based Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA).”

In a specific way, denominations work together. The grant request was sent to PDA, and the much-needed funds were approved within two hours. The hospital and nursing school are ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and have been a major focus of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission in Haiti. Léogâne is near the epicenter of the Jan. 12 earthquake and both facilities sustained serious damage.

Here is a quote from the Presbyterians:

“We’ve been told by our Episcopal partners in Haiti that despite the damage, the nursing school began operating as a makeshift hospital within a half-hour of the quake,” said Randy Ackley, PDA coordinator. “In addition, nursing students have established 10 first-aid stations around the main part of Léogâne. The people on the ground are working hard to help one another and this grant is one way we can support their live-saving efforts.”

News media have reported that 80 to 90 percent of the buildings in the main part of Léogâne were destroyed. The PDA grant will support electrical power and distribution needs, water and sanitation facilities, fuel for generators and vehicles, and salaries for local staff involved in the cleanup.

This is specific, ongoing, hands-on, on-the-ground and at-the-scene help that includes significant coordination and work and a significant sum of money.

Gifts by congregations and members sent to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) for response to the earthquake in Haiti total more than $2.7 million through Jan. 29, according to ELCA Treasurer Christina Jackson-Skelton. Nearly 16,000 individual gifts have been sent to the ELCA, she said.


Politico-Economic matters are being raised by churches, and The World Council of Church (WCC) recently joined with their many church voices to request cancellation of Haiti’s foreign debt. They say:

An "immediate and full cancellation" of Haiti's foreign debt would be "only an initial step", as the quake-stricken country needs a broader "plan to support recovery, poverty eradication and sustainable development".

In fact, as part of the January statement, general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit has called on the international community to cancel Haiti's foreign debt.

The WCC press statement offers a genuine stance of economic reform of this kind of aid, in a concerted effort by its members to take action on the world stage:

In addition to debt cancellation and short-term emergency relief, Haiti needs "reconstruction and sustainable development in the medium and long term." But "any financial assistance should come in the shape of grants, not loans that would burden the country with more debt", the WCC statement says.

Haiti, the most impoverished nation in the western hemisphere, is also a heavily indebted country. In spite of having had some 1.2 billion US dollars of foreign debt written off last June by international financial institutions, the country still owes some 641 million US dollars to multilateral banks and countries. This year Haiti is scheduled to pay some
10 million US dollars to the International Monetary Fund.

As a caption to the picture of a woman feeding a child in this story, WCC offers a strong remark: "Obliging Haiti to make debt payments at the expense of health care, education and other critical social programmes is illegitimate." The photo is by Paul Jeffrey/ACT.

In the second picture is seen: A survivor of the earthquake engaged in cleanup efforts in the Port-au-Prince neighbourhood of Belair. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT.


The World Council of Churches is a fellowship seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. The WCC brings together 349 churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries and territories throughout the world, representing over 560 million Christians and including most of the world's Orthodox churches, scores of Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and Independent churches. While the bulk of the WCC's founding churches were European and North American, today most member churches are in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific.

As an end note, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America reports, The Haitian people are "living with hope," says Louis Dorvilier, a member of the churchwide staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He said despite many difficulties for
survivors of the Jan. 12 earthquake, Haitians living in temporary shelters can be heard singing and worshipping -- similar to eyewitness reports of other ELCA members in Haiti in the days after the disaster.


Addendum:
This series of facts on Haiti is published by WCC:

Population 8,549,254
Surface area: 27,750 km2
Capital: Port-au-Prince
GNI per capita: 400 US$
Classification: Least developed country
Languages: French
Creole
Religions: Christian: 96.00%
Spiritist: 3.00%
Other: 1.00%
Christianity: Catholics: 6,628,000
Protestants: 1,607,500
Anglicans: 115,000
Independent: 479,900
(double affiliation)


Images: Photo of hospital: Hospital Sainte Croix (Holy Cross Hospital) in Leogane before the earthquake struck Haiti. Photo by Bob Ellis.

United Church of Christ works with the ACT Alliance, whose video is shown here




The Official Statement of what ACT Alliance is about:
Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

ACT members are Protestant and Orthodox churches and their related agencies, drawn from the membership of the World Council of Churches and Lutheran World Federation.

Established on August 25, 1995, the global ecumenical organisation came into being as a result of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, when churches and their related agencies around the world responded to the disaster through a mechanism that was ACT's precursor -- the then Church Action Aid.

ACT members’ strong local roots enable the alliance to provide locally based knowledge, analysis and understanding of emergencies and disasters. ACT recognises that, as important as identifying vulnerabilities and providing for people’s immediate needs are when crises occur, a vital component of its response is recognising the valuable gifts communities in crisis contribute: coping mechanisms and strategies for survival, skills and strengths, wisdom and knowledge, and resilience and courage. Strengthening local capacity lies at the heart of our responses to emergencies. The ACT alliance coordinates its global responses to humanitarian crises through the ACT Coordinating Office (CO), which is based in the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, Switzerland, where it is registered as a legal entity.