This weekend in Indianapolis, a group of Lutherans capped off at 1200 met to discuss the formation of an “alternate church fellowship” or a “reconfiguration of Lutheranism in North America” for those who find unacceptable the decisions made by the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Minneapolis last month.  Those decisions, which affirmed same-gender relationships and reversed policies which previously had excluded from the ministry rosters of the church those in such relationships are the specific reason why this group, called the Lutheran CORE or Coalition for Renewal, came together in numbers rivaling the Churchwide Assembly.

As I sat with today’s texts in preparation for this morning, what began as homily or sermon became a letter — a letter to one of the leaders of this coalition opposed to the policy changes implemented by the Churchwide Assembly.

What does it mean for us, I wondered, as a congregation and a pastor, who have been serving together for nearly-ten years, the last four of which have been openly in opposition to the ELCA’s former discriminatory policies, thus putting us in peril of being removed from the ministry and congregation roster of the ELCA, what does it mean for us and what is our response now to those who now are openly in opposition to the very things for which we have worked and prayed and risked?

Well, I hope you don’t mind reading my mail this morning, because what has emerged is a letter of invitation, for us and for one who represents the coalition which regards the ELCA as having fallen into heresy and those of us within it as having embraced the darkness of error rather than the light of truth.   The letter is an invitation into the truth of this morning’s texts, and what I hope will be a faithful next step in this particular congregation’s witness to the grace of God in Jesus Christ which we believe is for all people regardless of any human distinction or division.

I find this letter personally unsettling for me and for this congregation.  It makes me feel vulnerable to rejection, at risk of being hurt, and open to being disregarded as a heretic.  It took me a while before I could click on the “send” button on my computer yesterday.  But the Holy Spirit came to my aid, and gave me the courage I did not have, to send this letter — which I now read to you in the name of Jesus Christ.

[letter]

Sisters and brothers, the words of Jesus in today’s gospel are “Whoever gives you a cup of cold water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will be no means lose the reward.”   Let us pray that this letter is received and welcomed like a cup of cold water in the scorching heat of these times.  And by God’s grace, that we too will be refreshed with a refreshing cup.

Today Christ invites us all to share in the bread of his body still broken, and the cup of his salvation poured out for all.  Come to his table of mercy and grace, and receive the food which will give you — and give us all — strength for the journey ahead.  Come what may.  Amen.