NEWSLETTER ONE
Incorporated: Masks vs. Me
By Uwe Siemon-Netto
The Center for Lutheran
Theology and Public Life (CLTPL), formerly of St. Louis, has now been legally
established as a non-profit religious corporation based in California,
according to its founding director, Uwe Siemon-Netto. Intent on challenging the prevalent “Me mentality” in
Western society, CLTPL adopted the name League of Faithful Masks (LFM),
borrowing Martin Luther’s term for God’s creatures. Behind these masks God
hides, Luther said; through these masks God carries out His hidden purposes.
The League will continue to
carry the name, Center for Lutheran Theology and Public Life, in its subtitle.
As an outreach of Faith Lutheran Church in Capistrano Beach, Cal., LFM will
depend financially on grants, donations and other offerings all of which will be
tax deductible. LFM’s office is located on the campus of Concordia University
Irvine, CA 92715.
LFM’s Board is made up of
five members, all Lutheran laymen. They are:
Chairman:
David Atkinson, engineer;
Vice Chairman: Ruth DeNault, businesswoman and philanthropist;
Secretary:
James Lowe, attorney;
Chief Financial Officer: Janet Muller, retired corporate executive, adjunct
professor at Concordia University;
President:
Uwe Siemon-Netto, journalist and lay theologian.
At its first meeting the
Board decided that LFM should continue to project Lutheran theological concepts
into the public arena, in line with the activities of the Center for Lutheran
Theology and Public Life. However, the Board made it clear that, far from
wishing to be sectarian, LFM must reach out to all faithful Christians and
seekers interested in Luther’s teachings concerning the life of a Christian in
the secular realm.
LFM especially strives to
introduce Christians of all denominations to the Lutheran doctrine of calling,
which states that every human being has numerous divine vocations in the
worldly realm. Seen from the Lutheran perspective, Christians practicing their
diverse vocations -- including “divine assignments” as voters, political
leaders or parents -- out of love for their neighbors are rendering the highest
service to God. LFM considers this worldview based on Scripture a useful
antidote against the narcissistic Zeitgeist advancing all kinds of questionable
“rights” contravening natural law.
These alleged entitlements
include seemingly unlimited abortion “rights,” the “right” to place deviant
sexual behavior on the same level with the traditional marriage, but also the
presumed “right” of corporate executives to enrich themselves obscenely to the
detriment of the world economy, or the “rights” of politicians to act solely in
their own interest rather than in the interest of society at large.
Following the four-year
practice of CLTPL, the League of Faithful Masks will promote theological
alternatives to the excesses of the Me culture with publications, lectures,
conferences, seminars, video productions and other activities. LFM has already
taken first steps to establish regional chapters in various parts of North
America and Europe in the hope of creating a multi-location network of faithful
Christians determined to uphold the biblical concept of the priesthood of all
believers in the secular realm.
LFM Activies since moving to CA
• In an article in the
September 2009 issue of Christianity Today, Uwe Siemon-Netto, described his
stay with an Amish congregation in Eastern Illinois, discussing his encounter
with this community from both a human and a theological perspective. Similar
articles by Siemon-Netto about the fascinating contrast between his Lutheran
theology and the Anabaptist theology practiced by the Amish appeared in
prominent publications in Germany and Switzerland.
• In early October,
Siemon-Netto gave four presentations at the University of Calgary in Canada:
1. In a seminar titled, “What
this Lutheran Learned When he Visited the Amish,” Siemon-Netto discussed his
theological observations gained from this encounter with the University’s
chaplains and other members of the Calgary clergy.
2. In an address titled,
“Voters as Priests – the Lutheran Paradox,” explained the Lutheran two-kingdoms
doctrine and its significance in a democracy; this public lecture held in
commemoration of the late Peter Craigie, former Dean of Humanities at the University
of Calgary, was open to the general public.
3. Addressing members of the
University’s Centre for Military and Strategic Studies, Siemon-Netto, a former
Vietnam War correspondent discussed the complex and often strained relationship
between journalists and the military and intelligence communities; this speech
was titled, “War, Piracy and the Media.”
4. Siemon-Netto’s final
presentation at the University of Calgary was before members of its religious
studies department. This speech was titled, “Called to the Beat –the Vocation
of Journalists.”
Upcoming events
• On Reformation Sunday (Oct.
25), Uwe Siemon-Netto will speak to the congregation of Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Huntington Beach, Cal., about the Christian’s role as the mask behind
who the invisible God hides while reigning and acting in the secular realm.
• On November 2, Siemon-Netto
will lecture on “The Global Importance of Bach Today” at the Tenth Annual
Conference of the Good Shepherd Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary in
Fort Wayne, Ind.
• In the Spring Semester of
2010, starting January 20, Uwe Siemon-Netto will teach an advanced journalism
course at Concordia University Irvine.
Contributions
Checks
for The Center for Lutheran Theology and Public Life (CLTPL) should be made out
care of “Faith Lutheran Church of Capistrano Beach” (FLC); in the memo portion
of the check the payment should be earmarked for “The Center for Lutheran
Theology and Public Life.”
Mailing address:
CLTPL c/o Faith Lutheran
Church of Capistrano Beach
34381 Calle Portola
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
The phone number (949)
496-1901
A designated CLTPL fund is
being set up in the yearly budget for FLC for this purpose. All contributions
will be fully tax-deductible. FLC will send a receipt to the respective donors
at the
to Uwe,
I am so glad you are still active in teaching Lutheran theology. I have read several of your books and learned a lot. Have you written any more lately? Also, how can I get a copy of your comments comparing Lutheran to Amish theology? Do you send out a newsletter? I would like to follow you and your group. I am a member and elder at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Westport, CT 06880.
Blessings,
Lois Petty
Westport, CT 06880
Posted by: Lois Petty | July 24, 2011 at 02:33 PM
Hi Lois,
How wonderful to hear from you. I am currently traveling. Will write you more extensivelyy when back in california on Wednesday.Warm regards , Uwe
Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto
881-C Via Mendoza
Laguna Woods, CA 92637
314-862-1099
Sent from my iPhone
Posted by: uwesiemon | July 24, 2011 at 04:14 PM