Minister Who Denied God Exists Back In The Pulpit

[matcom]

<snip>

TAARBAEK, Denmark -- A Danish Lutheran minister who publicly denied the existence of God said Sunday he was glad to be back in the pulpit, but refused to speak about the case that led to his brief suspension last year.

Rev. Thorkild Grosboell was showered with flowers, hugs and kisses after holding a service in a church in this village eight miles north of Copenhagen.

"It was great, great," Grosboell said after the service, but refused to speak to reporters about the case, which he described in his sermon as "nonsense."

The country's Evangelical Lutheran Church suspended him in June 2004 because he said in an interview that "there is no heavenly God." Earlier this month, he was reinstated after renewing his vows, but will remain under the supervision of a bishop.

Some 250 people filled the small, 140-year-old, red-brick church and then gathered on a nearby lawn for a drink to celebrate the popular minister's return.

"It's a great relief, a great joy to have you back," Lars Heilesen, head of the parish council, told Grosboell.

"Welcome back, Thorkild, we missed you," one churchgoer said, kissing Grosboell, who has been the village minister since 1991.

In Denmark, where Lutheran ministers are employed by the state and only the government can fire them or take them to court, the church requested Grosboell be placed before a disciplinary labor court for doubting eternal life and the resurrection.

The government refused, saying he should be given another chance to explain himself to Jan Lindhardt, a regional bishop who has been one of his few defenders. Lindhardt has said that although he disagrees with Grosboell's views there should be room for him in Denmark's state church.

On May 20, Grosboell renewed his clerical vows before Lindhardt, but said his views about God remain unchanged.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2005/05/30/rev_who_denied_god_exists_back_in_pulpit/

[James T. Kirk]

1. Church and State

"In Denmark, where Lutheran ministers are employed by the state and only the government can fire them or take them to court, the church requested Grosboell be placed before a disciplinary labor court for doubting eternal life and the resurrection."

The government employs ministers? What the heck?!? That is just plain wrong. The Danish government is exerting authority where they should have none. This should be an internal matter within the Lutheran church.

[neweurope]

2. "That is just plain wrong." NO, its not :)

It is NOT wrong because it works for the Danes. I have a Danish friend and can assure you that no Dane feels oppressed because of this. It might not work in your country or in mine. But as long as it works for the Danes it's right, not wrong ;)

I think we can safely assume that other peoples are not more stupid than we. And that they are quite capable of administering their daily life whether in Denmark or in Iraq. The reason I'm saying this is because I think Americans - at least judging by this board - seem to often hear that a certain thing is being run differently in other countries, and instead of saying "Oh? That's interesting. Does it work?" they are very quick to state that something is "wrong". Which surprises me because in your country you have so many different cultures; I'd thought you'd be more open.

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[James T. Kirk]

3. You're right. Maybe faith-based government payments could work here, too.

Hmmm. Maybe we should subsidize churches so they can deliver social services here in the USA. That might work.