(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Bryan Penman is the newly elected bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He has a male partner and an adopted child. Penman says this about his election: “So the spirit moved today, and I have a new call. I stand on the strength of thousands who have helped me say yes to this call and who have paved the way in the church against the odds. Soli deo gloria.” As a person who has personally struggled with same-sex attraction most of my life, I abstain from this behavior for the sake of Christ and my eternal soul (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The Bible teaches that homosexual behavior is sin (see my article “What does the Bible say about homosexuality?” at pastorsstudy.org). Jesus taught us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him. Instead today in the ELCA people are taught to affirm homosexuality and transgenderism. This was done to 31,000 teenagers at the ELCA’s national Teen Gathering.  The homosexual bishop claims the Holy Spirit is the one who “moved” to get him elected. This, to me, is much too close to the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus the only Savior, Pastor Tom Brock P.S. If you struggle with same-sex attraction, go to restoredhopenetwork.org and see resources and a possible support group in your area
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Jen Negel is the second member of the LGBT+ community to be elected today (May 4, 2024) as an ELCA synod bishop. Pastor Negel was elected by the Minneapolis Area Synod. It will probably not be the last as synod assemblies are happening over the next 4 to 5 months.
You can read a bio of Bishop-elect Jen Negal from her current church here. For further confirmation you can visit the new bishop's Facebook page here. Here is the synod bio that she filled out for the election of bishop.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (SEPA) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has elected a gay man to be their synod Bishop.
(See his bio here)
See here.
Pastor Bryan Penman is a member of Proclaim. Proclaim, is a community for queer Lutheran pastor and candidates. (He states this in an article he wrote - https://www.elm.org/2018/01/ You can also learn more about Bryan here.
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
A friend of mine graduated from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, a school related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He recently received this communication from the university about the university’s specialty housing for LGBTQ+ students, its new LGBTQ+ Resource Center, and Midday Mindfulness yoga: “Susquehanna University recently dedicated the LGBTQ+ Resource Center as an on-campus space where queer students will feel supported and empowered. “We want to promote students and community visibility by empowering and lifting up queer students and giving them a bigger voice on campus,” said Kyoti Tavarez ’24, a QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) student liaison with the resource center. “This is a space where we want to highlight queer students and their accomplishments, talents and joy.” …the center’s creation was due in part to growing demand among LGBTQ+-identifying students, said Dena Salerno, senior director of inclusion & diversity. “…over 30% of a recent incoming class tell us that they identify as queer in some way,” Salerno said. In addition to opening the resource center, Susquehanna also created specialty housing for LGBTQ+ students this year….Midday Mindfulness sessions, led by a certified student yoga instructor, are scheduled…” My friend complained to the university and got this response from the university chaplain: “Theologically—and I speak now as the university chaplain—I want to be very clear: we do not in any way endorse theologies that frame same-gender attraction as wrong or disordered. Quite the opposite, we celebrate the presence of God in the lives and loves of our LGBTQ members, and our community and campus are blessed daily by their inspiring faith, abundant spiritual gifts, and all-around brilliance.” My response: 30% of students are LGBT? Highly unlikely. And never mind prayer at this Lutheran college, let’s promote mindfulness yoga. Yes, this chaplain celebrates LGBT behavior, but he stands in contradiction to the Scripture and 2000 years of Christian teaching (see my article “What does the Bible say about homosexuality?” at pastorsstudy.org). This wholesale embracing of the homosexual/transgender movement is also evident at Augsburg, Concordia Moorehead, Saint Olaf, Gustavus Adolphus, Augustana, Luther and Wartburg Colleges. The only ELCA college I know of that still has some Biblical faithfulness is Grand View University in Iowa. So don’t send your child to a college of the Evangelical Lutheran church in America thinking they will get a Christian education. Instead, they will be indoctrinated in the lies of our culture. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock Susquehanna’s chaplain also wants to make clear where he stands on abortion, see below. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has produced a confirmation curriculum for their youth titled "Queer Confirmation." It is a project originating from the ELCA's Wartburg Theological Seminary. "The Queer Confirmation curriculum (QC) is a 1-year (24 sessions), synchronous, online curriculum for LGBTQIA+ teens accompanied by a safe adult (parents/religious leader)." (See here) "Queer Confirmation is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)." (See here) The author of the curriculum "underscored the monumental impact of the ELCA's partnership, viewing it as a significant step toward churchwide accountability. The financial support from the ELCA, a tangible affirmation of their statements, marked a historic moment. Budgets are moral documents, and this funding represents a commitment to accountability, inclusivity, and healing within the Church.
The ELCA's support went beyond financial contributions, extending to visibility and access through national platforms and social media. The partnership opened doors to present at key events and engage with influential figures within the Church, creating a ripple effect of positive change." (See page 10-11 here) (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Many years ago, Elim Lutheran Church near my house in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, had a wonderful, Biblical pastor. He was willing to stand against the pro-homosexual movement that was being promoted by our bishop and others in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He eventually retired. Another pastor came and slowly but surely the church became more liberal. I remember a woman from that church calling me, upset that they wouldn’t allow the Christian men’s movement Promise Keepers into the church because one of the pastors said it was sexist. Today if you go to Elim’s website, you will see that the current pastor and all of the staff members list their preferred pronouns (see the “he/him” pastor below). The director of Elim’s children, youth and family ministries is a “they, them” who is studying “queer theology.” This is the danger of staying in a liberal denomination and I have seen it over again. A new pastor comes along, and slowly influences the congregation to accept the heretical beliefs of the ELCA. This is why I encourage every congregation to leave the ELCA and join a more Biblical branch of Lutheranism. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock Screenshots are from the church website. See here. The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Earlier this year, Luther Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America hired a gay theologian. He recently preached at Luther Seminary chapel (see sermon below) about the Parable of the 10 Virgins. Instead of preaching the true meaning of Jesus’ parable, that we must be ready for Christ’s return or we will be shut out, he instead preached about the oppression of those who have been shut out, thus turning the parable on its ear. As an example of oppression, he told the story of homosexuals who were denied Holy Communion by a Roman Catholic priest and so started their own church (minute 14 below). At one point, the preacher referred to the “Kin-dom of God” instead of the “Kingdom of God”. In recent years “Kingdom“ is considered too sexist since it refers to God as a male King, so a new word, “Kin-dom”, has been invented. Sometimes traditional Lutherans from Africa come to Luther Seminary to be trained as pastors and are aghast at what they find. Recently, a Lutheran from Ethiopia told me how the Mekane Yesus Lutheran denomination there, the largest Lutheran denomination in the world, has cut off ties with the ELCA because of its embracing of the LGBT movement. How far the ELCA has drifted from what the Bible teaches, “…homosexuals…will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). It reminds me of what an old Lutheran pastor said many years ago when some Lutheran bishops started to promote the acceptance of homosexual behavior, “We are nicing people right into Hell.“ In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock PS. And how tragic that yesterday the Pope authorized Catholic priests to perform blessings for same-sex couples. It seems everybody is caving. But Christians, let us follow Scripture though the whole world be against us. (See link to video of service here, on Tom Brock's Facebook page)
An article in the ELCA magazine Living Lutheran and posted on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Facebook page claims God's empowerment in the LGBTQ 'movement.' The article states:
"We call this an LGBTQ 'movement' and that image is apt. None of us are ever there at 'the beginning' of the movement, since the beginning is when God spoke the heavens and earth into being. We only enter this movement because of Christ’s redemption. Empowered by the Spirit, we move this movement along with our words and our actions, and eventually we pass it along to the next generation." (See here) The ELCA continues to push its liberal, anti-Biblical, LGBTQ views on its membership and two of the ways they do so is through their publications and social media. (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America this July will hold its national Youth Gathering for teens. This month, ELCA youth directors and children’s directors will gather at a conference for them.
Perhaps you read that back in 2018, the ELCA put an 11-year-old boy who thinks he is a girl on stage to promote transgenderism to 31,000 Lutheran teens. His—I can’t say “her”—mother is Jamie Bruesehoff, an activist for transgenderism. Bruesehoff will be a speaker this month at the ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza. The ELCA website says Bruesehoff is “rooted in her queer identity.” Many of the other Youth Extravaganza speakers appear to be very far left of center (click here, then hit “General Session Speakers” https://elca.memberclicks.net/extravaganza-2024). We have not been told yet who will be speaking at the Youth Gathering for teens in July, but if this month’s Youth Ministry Extravaganza speakers are any indication, it will not be good. In Christ, Pastor Tom Brock PS. The ELCA prides itself on being inclusive and diverse, so why don’t they have a speaker like me who has same-sex attraction but abstains for the sake of Christ (see my story at pastorsstudy.org)? But, no, only the liberal position on the LGBT issue is now allowed in the ELCA’s national magazine and also apparently at its youth conferences. From ELCA website: Jamie Bruesehoff is an award-winning LGBTQ+ advocate, heartfelt writer, and mother of three, including a transgender teenager. Rooted in her queer identity, her experiences raising a transgender child, and two decades of youth and outdoor ministry experience, Jamie equips leaders to create more inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA youth. She is the author of Raising Kids beyond the Binary: Celebrating God’s Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children. Clint Schnekloth, ELCA pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is hosting a Halloween party call The Nightmare Before Gay Christmas. One of the activities will be Tarot card readings. Tarot card readings is a form of divination. God' tells us "Do not practice divination or seek omens." Leviticus 19:26b. Read more about Tarot cards here. https://www.facebook.com/events/703571038291483 (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Somehow preaching from the book of Jeremiah, the below preacher at my alma mater Luther Seminary, a seminary of the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, calls us to repent. We need to repent of a laundry list of liberal concerns (listen to minute 14:55 below). I assume from her transgender statement that she believes those wanting to protect children from hormone blockers and sex change operations need to repent. I assume from her "book banning" statement that parents who desire to keep obscene and LGBT books from their children also need to repent. I got to thinking, I wonder when is the last time a preacher at Luther Seminary preached against abortion, homosexual behavior and transgenderism? I'm guessing it has been decades. Instead, Luther Seminary concerns itself with the biggest sins according to those on the left: homophobia, transphobia, sexism, climate catastrophe, etc., etc. And the preacher is very careful never to call God "He". Its all "God...God...God...God" in accordance with the ELCA's desire to use "inclusive language" for God. In Christ, Pastor Tom Brock
On September 17, 2023 Jeff Johnson was elected bishop of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod. Rev. Johnson is gay and is married to a man.
Below is a report by Pastor Tom Brock about the recent election of Jeff Johnson:
The following is some addition information about Bishop-elect Jeff Johnson: Rev. Jeff Johnson, and his church University Lutheran Chapel (ELCA) in Berkeley, CA were conducting a monthly "Goddess Rosary" service in 2010. (see here)
In 2017 Rev. Jeff Johnson signed a letter stating changes they want to see with the ELCA, among other things,
"Specific changes we would like to see include: - No longer privileging marriage as the only acceptable form of sexual relationality - Updating ELCA policies to reflect marriage equality in the United States - Editing out language that perpetuates heteronormativity and sexual oppression” (see here) It also said:
Rev. Jeff Johnson also signed a letter supporting evolution and rejecting truth of creation. (See here) June is Pride month and every year the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) displays their support and encouragement of LGBT+ ideology and lifestyles. With very little effort I found the posts below, coming from all segments of the ELCA. I did not come across any segment of the denomination stating the Biblical position on homosexuality, that it is a sin.
This is Edina Community Lutheran Church, an ELCA Church in Edina, MN. In the video below the congregation is confessing the Sparkle Creed:
The congregation was celebrating Pride Sunday.
During the children's message (starting at 6:00): - the children were given props and dress up clothes to help them celebrate. - the children were told Jesus says "'I love you just the way you are.' And sometimes we like to celebrate that." This is obviously gay pride related and that is confirmed by the children being told they can take their clothes/props and have their picture taken by the rainbow flag after the service.
At the beginning of the service the pastor acknowledged they worship on the traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota nation. And how they were complicit in injustices done to native people.
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Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Dan Skogen
Former ELCA seminary student and former ELCA member who is fed up with the ELCA's consistent mockery of God's Word. If you have been helped and blessed by Exposing the ELCA's ministry, please help us continue to proclaim the truth of God's Word to ELCA members who need to hear it.
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Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Ephesians 5:11
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