By The Rev. Eric Moehring, Ecumenical Representative Virginia Synod

The annual LARCUM (Lutheran/Anglican/Roman Catholic/United Methodist) Conference on December 4th and 5th was held this year on zoom instead of in person. A total of 107 rostered leaders and laity from across the nation went online to reflect upon the Church’s unity and mission in our present time of anxiety through the lens of Martin Luther’s own experience.

The speaker was Dr. Phillip Cary, professor of philosophy at Eastern University and author of Good News for Anxious Christians and The Meaning of Protestant Theology: Luther, Augustine, and the Gospel That Gives Us Christ. The general agreement was that “he truly loves the Gospel.” Here are some comments as reported in The Hub, a Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, communication:

Darlene Allen (first-time attendee): I found the whole conference very interesting. (Pastor) Tom Prinz and the Rev. Dr. Chris Agnew gave an overview of the formation of LARC/LARCUM, organized more than 30 years ago to help bring unity among the different denominations. Through this organization, we are able to come together as one in our beliefs and living out the Gospel. Being a participant in this event helped me to realize that I am but one being and am a sinner, but that God still loves me.

Pastor Lou Florio: Dr. Cary presented our union with Christ in its true beauty and within its hopeful, transforming promise. He did an excellent job – academic yet accessible and engaging. His presentation encouraged us in our modern context and pointed us toward further discussion and ongoing wrestling with important issues. This event [showed that there’s] some really good stuff going on in Virginia.

Loralee Falvey (first-time attendee): I signed up for the LARCUM conference out of curiosity. Kind of wanted to know what went on at these conferences. But I also wanted a better understanding of all the anxiety, fear, and horror Luther suffered…I guess that is what being separated from God is all about. [It] all comes down to His gift of Christ. God’s gift of unconditional love and forgiveness is all we need. I believe that I am a sinner, but God loves me so much that He wants me to be part of His eternal home. There is no way I could do anything to earn His love and my salvation. He sent Jesus to earth to die for me to remove my sins so that I can be with Him forever. I have faith that this is true.

Pastor Eric Moehring: I was once asked why Lutherans would want to seek unity with other traditions: “Isn’t concentrating on our own tradition enough?” This conference confirmed my answer: “This ecumenical journey makes me a better Lutheran.” Dr. Phillip Cary, an Episcopalian, did just that. Throughout his three sessions (Luther’s Anxiety; Luther’s Gospel as Catholic Sacrament; Being Formed by the Gospel) he brought a sense of the familiar (justification by grace through faith; Law and Gospel; the “Great Exchange”…in 2 Corinthians 5:21) and offered…a fresh, and for most Lutherans a challenging, concept of justification as a process received by faith. Dr. Cary [also spoke of being a Christian in a Post-Christian age by saying that] we no longer have control of our culture [and are] without the benefit of a sympathetic and partnered society. [So] he calls upon the Church to “look for some of the skills the Jewish people always have had as a cognitive minority in a society hostile to them.”

Bishop Humphrey was with us for all of the conferences and was a participant in the Worship of the Great Assembly on Friday evening with a number of other bishops. He remains invaluable for the progress we make in Christ’s call for unity. The next LARCUM Conference will be held on December 3 and 4, 2021, and will again be on zoom and (hopefully) in person. For more information, log onto www.virginialarcum.org.