Here is an interesting list of the resolutions adopted at the Saint Paul Area Synod Assembly. Of course they voted to oppose the Minnesota Marriage Amendment (the MN amendment defines marriage to be only between one man and one woman. - Resolution 2012-1: Native American Reconciliation - Adopted with amendment
- Resolution 2012-2: A Resolution Opposing Voter Identification Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution - Adopted
- Resolution 2012-3: Facilitate Lutheran Discernment Relative to Military Participation - Adopted with amendment
- Resolution 2012-4: A Resolution Opposing Marriage Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution - Adopted
- Resolution 2012-5: Becoming a Multicultural and Anti-Racist Church - Adopted as amended
From the Saint Paul Area Synod website. (see here)
The ELCA’s Minneapolis Area Synod assembly “went on record against changing the state Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.
Their vote made them one of the largest faith groups yet to formally oppose the amendment that will go before voters Nov. 6, which would ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota.”
Lauren Morse-Wendt, an author of the ELCA resolution in support of gay marriage, said, “(T)his marriage amendment to define marriage between a man and a woman is a discriminatory amendment which would deliberately deny justice to a portion of the population of Minnesota.”
A Minneapolis Area Synod spokeswoman said she “hopes congregations will study the resolution and ‘consider how they will respond.’”
“The Minneapolis synod's resolution states that the amendment ‘would prevent one group of committed couples and their families from pursuing ordinary legislative or legal means to gain the support and protections afforded to all others.’” (see here)
The ELCA leadership is on an all-out offensive to legalize gay marriage. So much so that they have taken an aggressive position against defining marriage to be only between one man and one women.
The ELCA likes to say they are loving and welcoming, but the truth is that they are acting in hate for God and for their fellow man. God warns us to stay away from sin because He knows how destructive it is. The ELCA leadership’s position results in those with same sex attraction being bound in sin. How evil is that?
Only those who support the ELCA’s policies and theology should remain members. If you disagree with the ELCA it is time to get yourself, your family and your friends out. The ELCA has turned its back on the God of the Bible and is running full speed with the god of this world, the god who wants us to be bound in sin and separated from God.
_Synod Assemblies are coming up, which means that now is the time to submit resolutions. Every year a host of liberal affirming resolutions are submitted and passed. Very few represent orthodox Lutherans, so we encourage you to start writing. If you have a resolution prepared, or when it is written, please send it to Exposing the ELCA and we will post them for others to use for submission to their synod gatherings. I have heard that a resolution has been submitted to the Northern Great Lakes Synod, ELCA called "Welcoming Traditional Lutherans." If anyone has a copy of it, we would be happy to post it on this website.
Pastor Eric Carlson wrote this about resolutions:
“One avenue of access for congregations, conferences, synod organizational units and voting members to address issues and propose a plan for action is the resolution. Resolutions help organize the work of the assembly by clarifying important issues or concerns. Resolutions are first reviewed by the reference and counsel committee, which will make recommendations to the assembly to facilitate its work, but the resolutions belong to the assembly and may be amended, rejected, or adopted after consideration by the voting members. Resolutions may be submitted until 45 days prior to the first day the assembly meets.” (see here)
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Rev. Julie Boleyn, on January 14, 2012 became “the first lesbian to be ordained in the Greater Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”
Rev. Boleyn “spent about four years working for Planned Parenthood.” (see here)
Is that where we are now getting our pastors? Planned Parenthood?
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Reverend William E. Flippin, Jr., “a staunch supporter of Barack Obama and an ELCA pastor,” wrote a blog posted in The Huffington Post entitled “Would Martin Luther Vote for Barack Obama?” Rev. Flippin implies that Luther would. He says he believes “wholeheartedly that the political views of President Barack Obama would resonate with his (Martin Luther’s) vision of universal needs for all.” (see here)
_Here is a statement made by ELCA Bishop, Chris Boerger, of the Northwest Washington Synod to the Washington state Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee:
"Mr. Chairman, I am Chris Boerger, the bishop of the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Church in America . . . In 2009, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to commit itself to find ways to allow congregations who choose to do so, to support and hold publicly accountable lifelong monogamous same gender relationships . . .One of the people who had questions about our doing this said, "Bishop, isn't that marriage?" And my response is, "Well, in everything but name." The reality is, the Lutheran church has always held that it is the state that defines what marriage is; it's the church that then blesses people who enter into that relationship. We have now stated our desire to bless those who are publicly accountable in lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships. We can't call it marriage, you can . . . we ask for that freedom." (see here, beginning at the 1:12:20 mark)
I find it very interesting that this high level ELCA leader said that the ELCA sanctioned gay marriage in 2009. The ELCA leadership used to claim that they did not. They wouldn’t even admit they were “blessing” gay unions.
This isn’t the first appearance of Bishop Boerger on Exposing the ELCA. Here is a story we linked to in which he boldly stated, “It is ‘blatant sin’ for human beings to fail to protect creation.” (see here) The Bishop makes a highly questionable and subjective declaration like this, yet he encourages people to embrace a sinful lifestyle which is clearly in opposition to scripture. What a picture of the leadership of our dying denomination.
_One would think, with the financial struggles the ELCA is having, that they would at least try to be wise with the gifts and tithes to God that they receive from people. However, much like the United States government, they love to spend on their agenda.
For example, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America wants you to come to “Ecumenical Advocacy Days.” (March 23-26) At this gathering you "will explore economy, livelihoods, and our national priorities . . . hear from theologians and policy experts, equip ourselves to speak confidently on key policy issues, and take our message to our elected officials in Congress." But wait, is "(m)oney tight? We understand, and to help more people attend EAD, the ELCA is providing scholarships." (read here)
"ELCA scholarships for Ecumenical Advocacy Days cover the conference registration fee, hotel costs, and travel expenses to Washington D.C. (either flight or mileage reimbursement)." (read here)
Isn’t that nice? Your tithe is going to train people to be lobbyists and political activists, and you can be sure the training will be centered around the ELCA’s political priorities.
That’s not all. You know the money you sent to ELCA World Hunger? It is being used to send lobbyists to the Iowa State capital. Called "Lutheran Day on the Hill," "passionate advocates" will be going to lobby state legislators. "This opportunity is offered at no cost to attendees." Lunch is provided and you also get a t-shirt.
"This event has been made possible through a grant from ELCA World Hunger. We are proud to be a partner in Lutheran Day on the Hill with the three Iowa Synods of the ELCA." (read here)
And lastly, another example of how our denomination is quick to spend God’s money on their ideology. "Lutheran School of Theology Chicago Offers LC/NA Course Free For CEU's." This ELCA seminary is offering free Continuing Education Units for a course called "Transformation + Action = Oxygen." The course "is designed to empower, equip, inspire, and activate participants to have life-giving, well-timed, appropriately-framed conversations with their congregants regarding the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities." (read here)
This course comes from Lutherans Concerned / North America, whose purpose is "to unite gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their supporters within the Lutheran churches." (read here)
And it’s free at this ELCA seminary!
_The Rev. Dr. Barbara K. Lundblad is a professor at Union Theological Seminary and an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She is a noted gay rights advocate and lesbian pastor (see here) who proposes baptizing in the name of “the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Mother, Lover, Friend; Wisdom, Word and Breath of Life. Amen.” (see Barbara K. Lundblad, “Baptizing in the Name....,” Word & World 9 (Fall 1989) 384.
Not only that, she also had this to say about the reaction to the news of Osama bin Laden’s death.
“I was immediately distressed when I heard . . . a crowd that had gathered outside the white house. I could hear them chanting ‘USA, USA, USA.’ It was such a sad sound for me. It didn’t feel like the right response at all . . . That is absolutely what we don’t need right now, in our country, to boast about this . . . We should stand together, in that way, holding hands together against the voices that call for revenge . . . It has never done any good in the world. That sense of ‘I’m going to get my enemy.’” (see here)
What kind of ELCA leader would openly object to a state governor calling for a day of prayer? The Bishop Michael Rinehart of the TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod and other local Houston ELCA pastors, that’s who. The bishop and pastors signed a statement which said, “we express our concern that Governor Rick Perry has called for a full day of exclusionary prayer on August 6, 2011. This religious event is not open to all faiths, as its statement of beliefs does not represent religious diversity.” (read here)
Here we have supposed Christian pastors upset that this is a Christian prayer event. If that doesn’t tell you something about the ELCA, I don’t know what will.
The ELCA signers of this letter are: Bishop Michael Rinehart of the TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod; Rev. Bradley Fuerst, Houston Lutheran Campus Minister; Rev. Lura N. Groen, Pastor, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church; Rev. Dr. Robert G. Moore, Senior Pastor, Christ the King Lutheran Church; R. Marcus Otterstad, Senior Pastor, House of Prayer Lutheran Church; The Rev. David A. Roschke, Senior Pastor, Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church; Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Stein, Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and Rev. Rich Wolf, New Hope Lutheran Church
The letter also speaks of the principle of separation of church and state saying, “Governor Perry is expressing an official message of endorsement of one faith over all others; thereby sending an official message of religious exclusion and preference to all Texans who do not share that faith. We believe our religious freedom is threatened when a government official promotes religion.”
I guess these leaders do not know their history. “There have been 136 national calls to prayer, humiliation, fasting and thanksgiving by the President of the United States (1789-2010).” (see here)
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson continually calls on Israel to divide its land. He wants Israel to give the “Palestinians” large amounts of Israeli territory and half of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. One of the reasons Bishop Hanson gives for constantly belaboring this position is the ELCA’s “commitment to our companions in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land." (read here) Bishop Hanson must feel that the Lutherans living in the “Holy Land” would be better off if that land was controlled by followers of Islam rather than a democratic Jewish society.
Now I’m sure Bishop Hanson cares about Lutheran Christians in Israel and Jordan, but Hanson’s demands are not in the best interest of any Christian living in Israel. Does the bishop not know that Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where the Christian population has grown in the last half-century? Doesn’t he know how Christians are treated under Muslim law? If he knew this, why would he want these Lutheran Christians to leave the safety of Israel and become part of a new “Palestinian” country which will be controlled by followers of Islam?
When you look at the ideology and theology of the Arabs, who are in leadership of Gaza and the West Bank, it is inconceivable to think that the leader of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America would push this plan, a plan that would put Christians in grave danger. But that is what he is doing.
Look at what has happened to the Christian population living in the Palestinian Authority (PA) controlled city of Bethlehem. “According to a report by the Jerusalem Institute for Global Jewish Affairs, the Muslim Fatah-controlled PA is encouraging a ‘sharp demographic shift’ in Bethlehem, where the Christian population went from a 60 percent majority in 1990 to a 40 percent minority in 2000, to about 15 percent of the city's total population in 2008. (read here - the article also talks about the persecution Christians have experienced in this city)
Presiding Bishop Hanson certainly knows it is dangerous for Christians to live in Islamic countries, and he knows that Christians are leaving these Middle Eastern countries in droves. So why in the world would this be the position of Bishop Hanson? What is the real reason?
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On November 8, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's presiding bishop went to The White House to discuss his opinions on the state of Israel.
Bishop Hanson and his likeminded faith leader friends blamed Israel's construction of homes, many of them in the capital of Israel, for the lack of discussions on peace between the Jewish state and "Palestinians."
A statement released by the faith leaders said, "‘The position of the Palestinian Christian community is precarious . . . There are constant problems of obtaining visas for clergy who must travel outside Jerusalem and the West Bank. Restriction on movement between Bethlehem and Jerusalem is a problem that undermines Christian life. Church leaders are humiliated at check points.’"(read here)
Issues at check points? Seriously? This is a reason they want Christians to reside in a newly created, Muslim-dominated “Palestine”?
There would be no need for check points if people in the Middle East would treat the Jewish people as children of God and if the "Palestinians" would stop blowing themselves up next to innocent Jewish men, women and children. Oh, but the poor church leaders don’t like security check points. It all makes sense to me now, Bishop Hanson.
I wish Bishop Hanson took the Great Commission seriously and put half the effort into leading people to Christ as he does trying to lead people against the Jewish nation.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America leadership is at it again. Pushing and pressuring our government to spend money we don’t have on the ELCA’s leftist, radical agenda. This time, the ELCA is asking its members to help pressure our government to give the Palestinians $340 million dollars. (read here) The ELCA leadership knows that the Palestinians ruling party in Gaza is a U.S. government-recognized terrorist organization (Hamas), which the Palestinians voted into power, and that the Palestinian rulers in the West Bank are not much better.
So as the ELCA pushes for tax payers’ money to go to terrorist organizations, we find out what the Palestinian leadership spends their money on in this next story.
“Fresh off reports that Hamas lavished cash and free luxury hotel rooms on terrorists released last month from Israeli prison, it appears the Palestinian Authority (PA) headed by President Mahmoud Abbas is offering them even more financial perks.
Hamas gave a $2,000 golden parachute to the freed prisoners in Gaza. Now, President Abbas is more than doubling that amount – to a $5,000 grant. The U.S. gives annual aid to the Palestinian Authority – about $600 million just last year – raising the question: are American tax dollars funding handouts to convicted terrorists?”
“A Palestinian Media Watch study found that the Palestinian Authority spends more than $5 million per month in salaries for 5,500 convicted terrorists and other Palestinians serving time in Israeli prisons.” (read here)
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