Exposing the ELCA - Exposed Blog

Resolutions From the Saint Paul Area Synod Assembly (ELCA)

Sat, 19 May 2012 21:46:40 -0600

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)

Retired ELCA Leaders Rail Against Those Who Support Traditional Marriage

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:19:37 -0600

The state of Washington passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage which will take effect June 2012. Opponents of this law have started gathering signatures for a petition which would cause the law to be subject to a state-wide voter referendum (Referendum 74). In response to the petition, retired Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastors Donald Heinz, Paul Borg, Don Clinton, Daryl Daugs, Richard Hermstad, Bob Keller, Bob Olmsted, Dick Werner and Lyle Miller wrote a letter published in the Peninsula Gateway, a news publication in Gig Harbor, WA. In the letter, the retired ELCA pastors proclaim their support for same-sex marriage and ask people to not sign what they call the “anti-gay” petition.

Calling the petition “anti-gay” shows me that these ELCA leaders have little respect for people who believe God’s Word on homosexuality. They feel that they sit in a position to judge those in favor of traditional marriage, and to deem them with derogatory terms. I also find it interesting that these are retired ELCA pastors, people who most likely have been leaders in the denomination for many, many years.

The retired ELCA pastors’ letter also states:

“We do not oppose Referendum 74 because we are moral relativists who merely want Christianity to adapt itself to shifting winds. But we do note that all demographic studies make obvious that the anti-gay prejudice will be obsolete by the next generation.”

“. . . the real threats to marriage and family in the United States come from heterosexuals.”

“. . . We are particularly dismayed that the lovely sounding ‘family values’ pitch is, in fact, Christian code for homophobia and historic prejudice.”

“Conservative Christianity, whether evangelical or Catholic, seems preoccupied with the dangerous sexuality of women and the cultural border-crossings of gays.”

“. . . Christians must not simply tolerate but welcome and embrace gays and join in celebrating their life together.” (see here)

As you can read, these retired ELCA leaders are very devoted to the cause of gay marriage and they have little regard for those who disagree with them.

So why are some of you content with being a member in the ELCA?

Hardline ELCA Supporter Says ‘God is Gay’

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:30:54 -0600

Check this out from an extreme ELCA supporter, blogger (I have only seen her identify herself as “Kelly”)

“We are taught early in our Sunday School years that humanity was made in God’s likeness. So if you take that concept to heart, then God is not only our Father, he is our Mother. God is straight and God is gay.” (see here)

This blogger describes herself as “. . . a Reconciling Lutheran. I embrace progressive politics. I believe in reproductive rights, health care reform and support GLBTQ rights. I strongly believe in Social Justice. I am pro-science and believe in evolution.” (see here)

Kelly also says, “. . .I have never been prouder to be raising my daughters to be strong members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.” (see here)

ELCA College Professor Says Jesus Was a Muslim

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:08:53 -0600

At Luther College (ELCA) there is a teaching professor who claims Jesus was a Muslim. The professor is Robert F. Shedinger, an Associate Professor of Religion and Department Head at Luther. (see here) Professor Shedinger wrote a book to promote his view titled, Was Jesus A Muslim? in which he writes:

“‘Was Jesus a Muslim?’ I will answer with a very qualified yes.” (page 10)

“. . . I firmly believe that the life and work of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels resonate more with particular interpretations of the nature and essence of the Islamic tradition than with common Western articulations of the nature and essence of Christianity. It is in this hermeneutical sense that I conclude that Jesus was really a Muslim.” (page 12)

“. . .the world is in dire need of a movement of Christian-Muslim solidarity . . . Positioning Jesus as a point of commonality between Muslims and Christians may be a first step toward this goal, and this book seeks to accomplish just that.” (page 12)

“It is necessary to conclude that the historical figure of Jesus outlined here accords better with a Muslim than with a Western Christian worldview. Jesus really was a Muslim in the sense that his mission stands outside the discourse of sui generis religion.” (page 136)

“And the world has the most to gain when Christians and Muslims work together and demand that global political, economic, and social institutions be reconfigured to promote justice and the dignity of every human being. Jesus may really have been a Muslim. Let the dialogue begin.” (page 170)

In a video interview Professor Shedinger tells how he came to this view saying a student challenged the way he taught Islam and it led him “. . .over eight years to completely rethink the whole way that I think about Islam and the whole concept of religion which culminated in me asking the question 'Was Jesus a Muslim?' and answering it 'Yes,' even as a Christian I still have to say 'yes' to that.” (Laughter by Professor Shedinger) Be sure to watch this video because the professor’s answer and laughter speaks volumes.

Professor Shedinger went on to say that the purpose of his book “is a call for Muslims and Christians to learn how to work together for social justice.”

Later he says, “And I think that is who Jesus was in the first century so I conclude Jesus is more like a Muslim than the Christianized Jesus that is more a spiritual savior and not as interested in issues of social justice.”

During a different interview with Professor Shedinger regarding his book he said, “Muslim readers really like the book and don’t find the idea of Jesus being a Muslim at all controversial . . . What does surprise them is seeing such an idea coming from someone who identifies as a Christian. But overall Muslim readers have embraced the book . . .The Christian reaction has been mostly silence . . .” (read here)

So while the Luther College website boasts that professor Shedinger, "has been a regular speaker in mosques and Islamic Centers around the country," (see here) Bible-believing Christians everywhere should let the leadership in the ELCA and Luther College know that they disapprove of anti-Christian teaching happening in their church supported and congregational supported denomination’s schools. Let us not be found silent.

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Luther College is an ELCA affiliated school. (see here)

Shedinger, Robert (2009). Was Jesus A Muslim? Questioning categories in the study of religion. Fortress Press, Minneapolis. ISBN 978-0-8006-6325-4

Who is Teaching Our Pastors?

Mon, 07 May 2012 23:31:37 -0600

Planned Parenthood is in the business of aborting babies. That is how they make most of their money.

In my opinion, it is a grievous sin to support the abortion factory of Planned Parenthood. Today we highlight Rev. Dr. Paul T. Jersild, an ELCA Professor of Theology and Ethics, Emeritus at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and former dean at the ELCA’s Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa. Obviously a man who has trained up and instructed many ELCA pastors and leaders.

Rev. Dr. Paul T. Jersild is listed as being on the Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia’s board of directors for 2010. (see here)

Rev. Jersild is listed as a financial donor in the Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia 2010 Yearbook (see here)

Rev. Jersild wrote an article entitled, “Response to the accusation that Planned Parenthood is a racist organization” which is listed as a resource on the Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia website. (see here)

One more detail about Rev. Jersild, he was one of the early proponents of homosexuality in the ELCA saying, “we need to move away from the kind of rational, universal thinking about human sexuality that coerces everyone into the same heterosexual mold . . .” (see here)

The ELCA's Poor Judgement?

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:45:11 -0600

Over a year ago, ELCA Presiding Bishop chose to join forces with Dan Savage and his “It Gets Better” anti-bullying project by making a video aimed toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. (see Exposing the ELCA’s blog about it here) Dan Savage is an author, media pundit, journalist and sex advice columnist. He is also a well know gay activist.

Mr. Savage must have liked Bishop Hanson’s video because he chose to include Bishop Hanson’s transcript from the video in a “It Gets Better” book Mr. Savage was editing. Not only that, but Bishop Hanson must have been proud of this because the ELCA sent out a news release about him being in the book. (see here) And as of today the ELCA is promoting Dan Savage’s work on the ELCA website. (see here)

So lets learn more about this person Bishop Hanson chose to work with.

Not more than a month ago Dan Savage made news for the anti-Christian, Bible-bashing attack speech he gave to a large group of high school journalism students. Below are just a couple of things Dan Savage said there: (warning for foul language)

“We can learn to ignore the b******* in the Bible and what it says about gay people.” (see here)

“It’s funny as someone who is on the receiving end of beatings that are justified by the Bible how pansy-assed people react when you push back.” (read here)

ClitizenLink blogger, Candi Cushman, said this about Savage and his speech, “Using profanity to deride the bible – and then mocking the Christian students after they left the room — is obviously a form of bullying and name-calling.” (read here) Remember that Savage is the founder of the anti-bullying project Bishop Hanson participated in.

Just so you know, Dan Savage has been saying vile things for a long time, things that any God honoring denomination would not want to be part of. In July 16, 2011 Dan Savage was videotaped saying some things that are so vile, hateful and disgusting I can not post them. (Go to the linked reports here and here if you want to read/see it.)

Just for good measure, two more article about Mr. Savage, “‘Face of Progressive Hate?’ Gay Rights Activist Dan Savage Goes on Graphic Rant About Homosexuality & the Pope.” (see here) and

“In 2000, Savage boasted of licking door knobs at then-presidential candidate Gary Bauer's campaign office in an attempt to give Bauer the flu.” (see here)

For someone who talks and acts like Savage, who spews such filth and seems to hate Christians who believe the Bible, I find it disturbing that the ELCA's Presiding Bishop chose to work with him and that the ELCA's website continues to promote his work. Maybe its a case of the ELCA leadership using poor judgement. . .at least I hope that is their reason.

ELCA Promotes Controversial 60 Minutes Report

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:55:30 -0600

Last week, the long running television show 60 Minutes broadcast a news report that has been widely criticized for its bias, false statements, and anti-Israel sentiment. (see here and here for examples) Not surprisingly the ELCA has posted the 60 Minutes news segment video on their official elca.org website. (see here). Even before the 60 Minutes news segment aired, the ELCA e-Advocacy Network sent out an email promoting the segment and trying to encourage everyone to watch it.

One issue asserted by the 60 Minutes program was that Israel is to blame for the Christians leaving the Muslim-controlled territories of Israel. This is a popular claim by the anti-Semitic crowd. Highly regarded Pulitzer Prize–winning syndicated columnist, Charles Krauthammer took on that claim while appearing on Fox News by saying, “. . . the untold story is the story of the Palestinian territories. Bethlehem, for example, has been almost emptied of its Christians and sort of the Orwellian reporting of the West has attributed this somehow to Israel, when in fact it’s been the rise of militant Islam, Hamas and other radical sects within the Palestinian territories that have lead to a large immigration of Christians from the Palestinian territories . . .”

CBN News reported on the plight of Christians in Bethlehem in 2009, and it is nothing like the 60 Minutes report. Here is the video -

The 60 Minutes report also praised the Kairos Palestine document, which is outrageously bias and anti-Israel. (see here and here)

One of the signers of that document, Pastor Mitri Raheb was highlighted on the 60 Minutes news segment. For those of you who may not remember, Pastor Raheb was the focus of another Exposing the ELCA blog (see here) in which the accused anti-Semitic pastor was praised by ELCA’s Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson.

ELCA Synod Removes Dual-Affiliated Church From ELCA

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:41:28 -0600

Below is a letter from St. Mark's Lutheran Church (Marion, Iowa) church council president and senior pastor indicating that this ELCA and LCMC dual-affiliated church has been removed from the ELCA roster of churches by the Southeastern Iowa Synod Council.

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April 24, 2012

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:5-6 NIV

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As you know, the church council has been in continuing conversations with Bishop Michael Burk regarding our denominational affiliation. It has been and continues to be our desire to keep you up to date. We were informed yesterday that on Saturday, April 21, the Southeast Iowa ELCA Synod Council removed St. Mark’s congregation from the roster of ELCA churches. St. Mark’s remains a Lutheran church, our building remains the property of St. Mark’s, and our congregation’s mission continues as before. We neither celebrate nor grieve the synod’s actions, but we desire to listen to those who may be hurting or confused as a result of these actions.

After the decisions of the ELCA church-wide assembly in 2009, our congregation spent much time studying our denominational affiliation. Our congregational votes to leave the ELCA ultimately resulted in St. Mark’s remaining part of the ELCA. To bring healing and unity to our church family, the church council held discussions with congregational members and Bishop Burk, and reviewed the precedent set by other congregations who are dual-affiliated. After these actions, the church council voted to join Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) while remaining in the ELCA.

Soon after St. Mark’s dual affiliation with the ELCA and the LCMC, the synod placed our congregation under censure and admonishment. In addition, Pastor Fruhling was recently removed from the clergy roster of ELCA pastors. The synod’s unprecedented action to remove St. Mark’s from the ELCA because of our dual affiliation is saddening and disappointing. We remain a distinctly Lutheran congregation in the Cedar Rapids area as a part of the LCMC, and we belong to no one but Christ.

St. Mark’s will continue to support and work with our brothers and sisters in the ELCA and remain faithful to our mission partners in the ELCA, such as CrossRoads Mission, San Lucas and Cristo Rey Lutheran churches in Texas and Mexico, and World Hunger Appeals, among others. Our focus remains on outreach and our mission is to share Christ’s love with others.

We will continue our pastoral call process and begin to look at constitutional updates that will be needed. While there are challenges ahead, there are opportunities for strengthening our witness as the body of Christ, and we are confident that St. Mark’s will move forward in mission for our Lord.

Yours in Christ,

Kurt Beenen
Church Council President

Pastor Perry Fruhling
Senior Pastor

Previous article about St. Mark's Lutheran Church:

- Dual Rostered Church Censured, Pastor De-Rostered By ELCA Bishop (see here)

Gender Neutralizing God in the ELCA

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:16:11 -0600

Using masculine terms for God seems to be a big deal to the ELCA. What I should really say is, they don’t seem to like using masculine terms for God. A couple of years ago Exposing the ELCA reported (see here) on a page published within the ELCA's official website called, “What is the proper use of language in worship?” (see here) On that page, the ELCA says, "The metaphorical use of the term ‘father’ continues to be used in worship, alongside many other biblical metaphors for God. However, because sin can distort even the fundamental relationships of parents to children, the image of a father may be difficult to comprehend for some who have experienced alienation in their relationship to a human father." They then, in an obvious attempt to get you to stop using male terms in reference to God, offer this, “Titles that suggest the activity of God may be used to address God . . .” Moments later they say, “Second-person pronouns, instead of gender specific and third person pronouns, may be used to address God.” (An example of a second-person pronoun is “you.” An example of a third-person pronoun is “he.”)

The ELCA’s webpage then tries to dismiss the maleness of Jesus saying “the humanness of Jesus has always been viewed as more significant than his male gender.” Continuing they state, “Although the use of male pronouns is appropriate when referring to Jesus, care should be taken to find other ways to speak of Jesus that emphasize humanness rather than maleness.”

Please read the page I’m referring to. It seems clear to me that the ELCA has a problem with using male gender terms to refer to God the Father. They are doing everything they can to steer you away from using male terms for God, except for being straight forward with us and saying, “Don’t use them.” With Jesus, it looks to me like the ELCA wants people to de-emphasize the maleness of Jesus.

On that same ELCA page, strangely enough, the ELCA seems to be pretty supportive of calling the Holy Spirit “she.” I quote, “Throughout the history of the church, feminine pronouns have often been employed in reference to the Spirit. Some see this usage as balancing the masculine Father and Son references.”

Just so you know how seriously the ELCA considers the issue of using gender neutral language for God, check out the ELCA magazine Gather. On their “Writer guidelines” page they give a list of “Requirements.” One of the requirements is to “use inclusive language.” They go on to explain “Generally, avoid using pronouns (he, she, his, her) when referring to God, and words for God that are exclusively masculine should be used only rarely (for example, use ruler, not king).” (see here)

ELCA Bishop's Slanderous Accusation

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:09:28 -0600

A few weeks ago I shared with you that a synod bishop had made a slanderous statement to a congregation who was considering whether to stay or end its affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The statement was made in reference to me. (see here)

The bishop in this situation is Bishop Steven L. Ullestad of the Northeastern Iowa Synod. Through an attorney, I contacted Bishop Ullestad by letter. This is the letter he received - here.

In order to clear my name, to stop possible future deceptive slanderous attack against myself, and to inform ELCA members who may have been subject to hearing this false accusation, I decided that I needed to share this letter with you.

As of today, I have not received an apology or any reply from Bishop Ullestad.