← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · friedrich braun
Thread ID: 13792 | Posts: 1 | Started: 2004-05-19
2004-05-19 20:49 | User Profile
Mindaugas Sabutis is only 28 years old.
[QUOTE]On April 24, 2004 at Tauragė the new bishop of the Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Church was elected. Chosen was Mindaugas Sabutis, pastor of the Vilnius parish.
At the beginning of the synod, a discussion arose as to whether it was necessary to change the Churchââ¬â¢s statutes. According to the statutes, pastors who have advanced theological attainment and have served in the church not less than ten years may be candidates for bishop. These criteria were met by pastor Darius Petkūnas, who has served for thirteen years. If ordination to the deaconate is counted as ministerial service, Pastor Saulius Juozaitis and Virginijus Kelertas are also eligible. Debates arose in the synod about the matter. Some argued that it was necessary to change the statutes so that more pastors could be candidates. Others asserted that it is not correct legal practice to change the law to favor particular individuals. By secret ballot it was decided that the statues would be changed, however the synod confined these changes to these points, concerning which there would be no extended discussion. The delegates changed statute 6.6f, revoking the restrictions for episcopal candidates, i.e., the requirements of advanced theological attainment and ten years of service in the church.
The synod nominated three candidates: Pastor Darius Petkūnas, Pastor Saulius Juozaitis, and Pastor Mindaugas Sabutis. Each presented his program, and then there was a secret ballot, in which Pastor Petkūnas received 21 votes, Pastor Juozaitis - 25 votes, and Pastor Sabutis - 41 votes. In the second round of balloting, Pastor Juozaitis received 39 votes, Pastor Sabutis - 44 votes, and 4 ballots were spoiled. Pastor Sabutis gained 50.5% of the 87 ballots cast in the synod. Audit Commission chairman Almutas Dravininkas raised a question whether the ballot could be certified, since no candidate had received 51% of the ballots cast. The synod declined to consider the matter further.
The Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Church congratulates Pastor Mindaugas Sabutis of the Vilnius parish. He is 28 years old, and has become the youngest Lutheran bishop, perhaps even the youngest bishop in the entire present ecclesiastical world. We wish the new bishop Godââ¬â¢s blessings to lead the church in the way of Godââ¬â¢s Word, as was done so ably by the previous bishops Jonas Viktoras Kalvanas, Sr. (1914-1995) and Jonas Viktoras Kalvanas, Jr. (1948-2003). [url]http://www.liuteronai.lt/titulinis/straipsniai/2004/sinodas/sinodas_ang.htm[/url][/QUOTE]
[img]http://www.luteranie.pl/www/info/0405/sabutis.jpg[/img]