Rogness: “State legislators are to be theologians”

Sensational story!

Did ELCA Bishop Peter Rogness really say this?

Of course not.

But in a letter to the editor, Rogness anoints himself as a morally superior lobbyist to the state legislature. He announces his special concern for “the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized.” He claims unnamed “faith communities” hold to what is “just” in contrast to “the dominant ‘What will work most to my advantage?’ outcome presumed by so many citizens and politicians.”

How lucky to be morally superior and wise, too!

Bishop Rogness and his fellow Minnesota ELCA bishops lobby the legislature: “We alone are for justice!” “We alone are concerned for the poor!” “We are the good people. If you disagree with us, you’re not!”

To the contrary: The church is not a lobby. The church does not have a lobby.

Rather: The church is a gathering of the faithful led by experts in Word and sacraments, with individual members who are experts in economics, law, and sociology, individuals with a calling to be active as Christians in their fields of expertise.

The legislature? It is made up of elected representatives from all factions, called to care for all factions and for the larger and long-terms needs of all factions. Among these are Christians of various political parties who disagree about public policy matters. But it is not as if only “faith communities” care for the poor, as Rogness suggests.

If he really is a morally superior expert in public policy, then by all means he should step down from his pulpit and run for political office.