Bishop condemns idea that the Church is a "House full of glory"
Bishop Feige: Don't accept agitation, hatred and intolerance
During the diocesan pilgrimage, Bishop Gerhard Feige called for a committed and philanthropic witness to the Christian message. However, he rejected the ideas of church as a castle, fortress, bunker or "house full of glory".
The Luther hymn- A Strong Fortress is our God.....I hope the Bishop did not offend his chief dialogue partners by his comments.
Magdeburg Bishop Gerhard Feige has criticised agitation and exclusion in society and the Church. "It is true that one can have very different opinions on many things and also argue about them respectfully," Feige said on Sunday at the diocesan pilgrimage in the Huysburg monastery near Dingelstedt. "However, it is unacceptable when the dignity of the human being as an individual and the universality of human rights are called into question, when individuals or entire groups are contemptuously devalued and marginalised because they do not conform to the common ideas, when agitation and hatred or intolerance and arrogance poison co-existence."
What is desirable is a world "that offers protected spaces and an open society for all, with real opportunities and possibilities to participate everywhere, but also with a solidarity that leaves no one behind". For many people, however, the reality is different. "They experience themselves as disadvantaged or even excluded," he said. Reasons include origin, religion or sexuality, but also social disadvantages or health restrictions.
Church should be "burden bearer instead of know-it-all
At the same time, Feige said, he was grateful for all those who were working to counteract this: "There are already many people who are committed to a more open and just church and society, and have already moved and are moving a lot." In order to "go new ways and get more air to breathe," he said, it is necessary to engage with other realities of life, to share positive experiences and not just lament and complain. "But then it is also important to look, to perceive reality and not to suppress it or gloss it over with phrases," the Bishop emphasised.
The Church should be "burden bearer instead of know-it-all", said Feige: "However, this is not only about mercy towards the needy of all kinds, but also about justice for people who have been and are still being denied this for the most diverse reasons." He called for a committed and philanthropic witness to the Christian message: "Let us not be afraid to go new ways to do this and to transcend our previous ways of life." He rejected ecclesiastical "navel-gazing" (Cathcon: Synod is not navel-gazing according to the Bishop!) and ideas of the church as a castle, fortress, bunker or "house full of glory".
Cathcon: The Church in the Bishop's rhetoric no longer protects her flock. We see the consequences all around in these wretched days.
The Bishop is referring to the great German Hymn, Ein Haus voll Glorie schauet. My apologies for the cover, this is the only recording I could find of the original version by Mohr. Later versions are corrupt Synodal manipulations.
keeps watch o’er every land,
Walls hewn from heavn’ly quarries
by God’s own master hand: R./
Refrain
God! We honor Thee!
God! We worship Thee!
O may we dwell secure
with Thee forevermore!
2. With lofty turrets round her,
She laughs at all Her foes,
While higher still, to crown Her,
Her Cross-tipped steeples glow. R./
3. Outside Her walls now rages
the storm’s demented roar:
Built on the Rock of Ages,
the House will stand secure*! R./
4. Although the Fiend should try Her,
should strike with hellish pow’r,
Her faithful Christ is by Her,
with love He guards Her tow’rs. R./
5. Beside Him, see the Maiden,
in mantle blue and white,
Who gives the heavy-laden
fresh courage for the fight! R./
6. Already holy millions
have shed their blood in love:
With them march faithful billions,
with boldness from above! R./
7. Then we, with love unbounded,
must join the holy fight!
On God our House is founded,
our victory in sight! R./
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