Along with many of the readers of this newsletter we here at St. Augustine’s followed the dramatic events in Rome this past Eastertide. (The medium of TV is not always a great wasteland!) First there was the death of Pope John Paul II and the intense outpouring of love and gratitude which climaxed with his Burial Liturgy. He was a great witness to Jesus Christ, and his life still invites Christians and all men to cross the threshold of hope.

Now we welcome Pope Benedict XVI as his successor in this ministry. The earliest recollection I have of him, as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, was in 1980 in connection with the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession. Since then I have read many of his works with great appreciation. He possesses a brilliant theological mind, and this is combined with humility and a deep love for the Church. I noticed early on that he is a good preacher who speaks of theological truths in fresh, understandable, and stimulating ways. I am happy that in his new ministry he will have many opportunities to exercise this gift.

Toward the end of his life Fr. Arthur sometimes fretted that the ecumenical movement had lost its excitement. He remembered the days just after the Second Vatican Council when here at St. Augustine’s House many Lutheran and Roman Catholic Christians prayed together for the first time in their lives. I reassured him it was quite natural for some of that initial excitement to fade, but it certainly did not mean we were losing ground. In a way one might say it is exciting that it is no longer exciting to pray with other Christians, but is taken for granted. Today we cross the old denominational lines with some ease and freely appropriate the liturgical, scholarly, and artistic riches of other traditions. The challenges presented by contemporary secular culture have also provided abundant opportunities for Christians to learn to work together.

As a boy sometime around confirmation age I remember reading a book that said, “The Evangelical Lutheran Church is the true visible Church of Jesus Christ on earth.” I found that mightily reassuring at the time. Nowadays we are all too polite to talk like that, and for several other reasons, that is a good thing. One reason, however, may be that we no longer take seriously “the true visible Church of Jesus Christ on earth,” and that would not be such a good thing. The present tendency is to make the Church so invisible that she ceases to exist for all practical purposes. There are visible and invisible aspects to the Church and neither must be denied. The Church is invisible because she is a spiritual reality. There is within her a mystery that is not directly perceived but also is not unrelated to her existence as a visible institution in the world. The Holy Spirit is not directly seen, but does manifest his work through concrete signs, sacraments, and effects. If we do not take seriously the visible life of the Church we are not taking her invisible life seriously either.

Concern that our thinking about the Church is too vague and unworldly makes me appreciate the carefully worded declaration on the Church of the Second Vatican Council. The conviction is expressed there that the Church of Jesus Christ subsists in the Catholic Church guided by bishops in union with the Bishop of Rome. Of course, some may dismiss this as denominational arrogance. Instead I find it refreshing to hear this clear, concrete, and historical claim regarding the Church and her relationship to visible structures. This provides a necessary starting point for real and fruitful dialogue, and can be a catalyst for true ecumenical progress. We must first believe that the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church we confess in the Creed can and does exist somewhere in the real world and that we can talk about her in concrete terms. If the Council is correct, then this One Church exists in the institutional structures of the Catholic Church not as the private possession of a denomination but as a gift belonging to all those who are baptized into Jesus Christ. The recent Popes have stressed that the Roman Catholic Church’s self understanding includes an irrevocable commitment to work for the unity of all Christians. Her bishops are to cultivate a pastoral concern for all believers and not just those directly in their charge. Those of us outside formal union with the Roman Catholic Church can do our part by reminding them of this responsibility.

Furthermore, the “fullness” of the Church in this context is not to be understood as a monopoly on holiness and truth. The Council explicitly states that these gifts of God are to be found also outside the visible structures of the Roman Catholic Church. The visible associations of other Christians are treated with seriousness and reverence and are often given more credit than they are willing to claim for themselves. Even when the Roman Catholic Church speaks of “ecclesial communities” it understands these to be genuine instruments of salvation for their members. This may be saying more about these communities than their own constitutions do.

The true unity of the Church is spiritual, that is, it is the working of the Holy Spirit and must be received as a gift. This has been emphasized by Pope Benedict as it was by his predecessor. Often we think of the ecumenical talks and agreements between Churches in terms of political negotiations and treaties between nations. But this is wrong. The real ecumenical movement is a common search for the truth in the bonds of charity. It is renewal and conversion taking place within communities and in the lives of individual Christians. We all can contribute to unity by our personal growth in holiness and love.

I have come to associate the invitation to “turn toward the Lord” with Pope Benedict. It is a theme found especially in his Liturgical writings but also in other contexts. Perhaps just as we came to associate the phrase “Be not afraid” with Pope John Paul II we will come to associate “turning toward the Lord” with Pope Benedict. At any rate, it expresses beautifully the attitude we must keep foremost as we work toward the unity of the Church. The challenging invitation coming from the Roman Catholic Church is that this unity is not theoretical but already really exists in the world, even if not yet in its eschatological perfection. The unity of the Church founded in the promise of Jesus Christ does not need to be reinvented but to be strengthened in charity. And that is a task to which all Christians are called equally.

The annual Chapter meeting was held the evening of May 2nd. Marvin and Barbara Asmus were received a Associate Members.
Council members for the year are Pastors Del Baier, W. Adam Boerstler, John Cochran, James Fackler, and John Fenton. There were no major issues or decisions, but there was general discussion of fund raising for pews in the chapel, landscaping in the cemetery, a review of our constitution, and continuing to pay down the mortgage on the chapel.

Once again this spring local Boy Scouts cleaned up our grounds and raked much of the hiking trail as part of their community service. We are also grateful to Red Knapps American Grill in Oxford for providing pizzas for their lunch break. As a fund raiser for the purchase of pews for the new chapel a “Hawaiian Pig Roast” was held the afternoon of the first Sunday in June. The event included a silent auction as well. The funds raised will be supplemented by matching gifts from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

The annual Fellowship the end of August will be replaced this year by events in October in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Fr. Arthur. The main event with be on the actual date, October 1st. We are pleased that the Rev. Dr. Frank Senn, STS has agreed to be the speaker on that day. More information will, of course, be forthcoming as the time draws closer. www.StAugustinesHouse.org

• MAY by Dr. and Mrs. Edwin A. Boger.
• JUNE by Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Detroit.
• JULY by Helen M. Herbel in memory of Albert R. Herbel and Charles A. Herbel.

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