_Exposing the ELCA asked it’s readers:

Should the ELCA continue to use member tithes and gifts to fund their advocacy department and to promote their political positions?

40 people voted “Yes” (15.38%)
220 people voted “No”  (84.62%)
Total Votes: 260

There is now a new poll on the homepage.
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_It has been a busy 2011 for Exposing the ELCA.  A year of ministry, writing, researching, emailing, replying, designing and informing.  It has been a year of exposing darkness, encouraging conversations and correspondence.  It has been a year of persecution by the enemy for standing up for Christ.

Here are some of the most important happenings in Exposing the ELCA in 2011:

  • Exposed the ELCA’s close work with the Unitarians. (see here)
  • Exposed ELCA church’s goddess worship videos. (here and here)
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  • Exposed universalism happening in the ELCA. (see here and here)
  • Exposed 1500+ ELCA leaders position on Evolution and Creation. (see here)
  • Reported on many orthodox Lutheran churches and pastors leaving the ELCA (see this page)
  • Exposed the bias and anti-Semitism that continually shows itself in the ELCA.  (see here)
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  • Exposed that a top ELCA leader from the Office of the Presiding Bishop Presented Pictures of Jesus as a Female at an ELCA-run conference. (see here)
As you can see, God has used this ministry greatly over the past year.  Through our reporting, God has led us to impact many individuals and churches in their journey to stay faithful to Scripture in troubling times in our politically-correct culture.  It is my prayer that we have been faithful to  God’s calling on our ministry, Exposing the ELCA.  I look forward to the future as we continue to grow and expand our efforts, and I humbly ask that you lift up this ministry in prayer.  In order to grow and continue this important work, we also need monetary support.  Despite hearing many reports and personal emails testifying to our critical role in churches and in the lives of people seeking truth, frankly, there has been very little financial support for this ministry.  Perhaps you are like me, in that I really appreciate and utilize the resources of Christian organizations and programming, yet I haven’t always supported them financially even though they give me and others so much.  God has convicted me about this, and now I support those ministries.  If you have been resourced, helped or blessed by this ministry, I am asking for your help in keeping this ministry going and continuing to be a change agent in the ELCA and in the lives of individuals and churches who need to be equipped for the critical work of standing up for Truth.  (there is a link for anyone who would like to give at the top, right hand side of this page)

God bless you and happy new year!

Dan Skogen
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_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)
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_A simple video, yet a profound message.  Merry Christmas from Exposing the ELCA!

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_The ELCA made the decision to disobey God’s Word when they “RESOLVED, that the ELCA commit itself to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships.”  When the decision was made, many ELCA leaders tried to convince people that this did not mean “bless” homosexual unions and marriages.  It was a deceptive argument meant to keep as many biblically literate ELCA members (financial contributors?) as they could in the denomination.  We all knew, at the time, that ELCA pastors would soon be blessing and performing homosexual unions/marriages.

We were right.  Exposing the ELCA has documented it, showing ELCA pastors performing, supporting and offering to perform and bless homosexual unions and marriages.  (see here, here and here)

And now the list gets bigger.  There are some Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastors in Illinois who want everyone to know that they will “perform a religious rite for same sex couples entering a civil union AND perform it at the house of worship.”  Since these pastors have made it a priority to inform as many people as possible about their decision, Exposing the ELCA will help. (I give credit to the pastors for publicly admitting their willingness to perform homosexual marriages/unions.  There are some ELCA pastors who will perform them, but they will not talk about it openly.)  Here are the Illinois ELCA pastors’ names and the churches they serve:

Rev. Bill Veith - Trinity Lutheran Church - Alton IL

Rev. Elizabeth Palmer - Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park - Chicago IL

Rev. Dr. George Koch - Ebenezer Lutheran Church - Chicago IL

Pastor Craig Mueller - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Chicago IL

Rev. Michelle L. Miller - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Chicago IL

Pastor Monte Johnson -  Immanuel Lutheran Church - Chicago IL

Rev. Liala Beukema - Lake View Lutheran Church - Chicago IL

Pastor Timothy J. Brown - Luther Memorial Church of Chicago - Chicago IL

Rev. Brian Hiortdahl - Resurrection Lutheran Church - Chicago IL

Rev. Erik Christensen - St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square - Chicago IL

Rev. David L Lewis - Salem Lutheran Church - Chicago IL

Rev. Fred Kinsey - Unity Lutheran Church - Chicago IL

Rev. Olin Slett - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Elgin IL

Rev. Betty E. Landis - St. Paul Lutheran Church of Evanston - Evanston IL

Rev. Kathy Nolte - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - Oak Park IL

Rev. Suzanne Anderson-Hurdle - Good Shepherd Church- Romeoville IL

Rev. Melody Eastman St. - Paul Lutheran Church - Wheaton IL

Reverend Lloyd A. Heroff - Retired - Fort Myers FL
(see here)

Here are a few more Illinois ELCA pastors who will “perform a religious rite for same sex couples entering a civil union.”

Pastor Keith Fry - Elgin IL

Rev. Dr. Marnie Rourke - Oak Park IL
(see here)

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Over the past couple of years there has sprung some excellent ELCA-related, orthodox Lutheran organizations, associations, and blogs which spoke to the troubling things happening in the ELCA.  But lately, it seems many are disappearing or at least disengaging from confronting the ELCA of its heretical and non-Biblical ways.  Many of these organizations had websites addressing the issues with the ELCA, but the websites have been taken down or abandoned. 

This saddens me, because the mission field I am called to and passionate about is the ELCA membership (which is being deceived by our wayward denomination), as well as people who the ELCA is trying to draw into its body, and the ELCA leadership themselves.  However, with each orthodox organization, blog and association which disbands because of lack of funding or loss of interest due to those involved having escaped the chains of the ELCA, this mission is weakened.  I want to cry out, “This is an important mission field, even if you have left the denomination!”

Let’s take a look at what I am talking about:

-  WordAlone Ministries is no longer in operation.  Thankfully their website is still online, which is a tremendous resource that I pray remains. (http://wordalone.org)

-  Reform From Within - their website, http://reformfromwithin.com, is no longer operational.  I do not know if their organization is still running, but their opportunity to witness is greatly reduced by the removal of their website.

- Faithfulness Gathering - they closed their website down.  I don’t know if they are still “gathering.”

-  Call to Faithfulness - this organization’s website is still up, but it has not been updated for over 16 months. (http://calltofaithfulness.wordpress.com)

-  Association of Confessing Lutherans of Ohio - has not updated their website in over one year. (http://southernohiocore.wordpress.com)

-  Augsburg Lutheran Churches - it has been over one year since they posted a newsletter. (http://www.augsburgchurches.org/newsletters.shtm)

- Evangelical Lutheran Society of Texas - has not updated their website since May 4, 2010.  (http://www.evangelicallutheransynodoftexas.org/index.html)

-  EMN - Evangelical Mission Network (Southwest California) - the last action on their  blog was April 30, 2008. (http://www.evangelicalmissionnetwork.blogspot.com)

- Lutheran’s Persisting - their last blog entry was March 2011. (http://lutheranspersisting.wordpress.com)

- Solid Ground - a Canadian orthodox Lutheran group has just announced their intention to disband.  (this is not an ELCA-related entity, but it is an orthodox Lutheran organization concerned with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada)  (http://www.solid-ground.ca)

- The Lighthouse Covenant - this movement seems to have lost its momentum.  Their website hardly works and there is great silence on their facebook page. (http://thelighthousecovenant.com and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=102832969360)

- Shellfish - this blog has had one entry since March 2011. (http://saveelca.blogspot.com)

It has gotten a little more “lonely” out here on the frontlines.  Thank you to those people who support Exposing the ELCA’s mission.  Pray that God will send more workers into this mission field._
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_I recommend you take a look at the latest Lutheran CORE newsletter.  There are four articles that deal with the ELCA.  (see the newsletter here)

Look for these articles -

Farewell words from Pr. Mark Chavez  (p. 1)
Lutherans Reform! — South Central Pennsylvania (p. 4)
Why I am a member of Lutheran CORE (p. 5)
One congregation’s journey (p. 7)  - (be sure to read this one!)

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Exposing the ELCA is on twitter.  Follow us by going here.

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New video by Exposing the ELCA

Please share this with those you know.
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_I just came across a recap of the happenings at the now famous ELCA and worshippers of Isis conference, officially called “The 5th Annual Faith and Feminism – Womanist – Mujerista Conference,” that was held at the ELCA’s Ebenezer Lutheran church (herchurch) in San Francisco. (See the previous blog here).  The synopsis of the conference provided some extremely important information.  Dr. Mary Streufert, the ELCA Director for Justice for Women, from the Office of the Presiding Bishop (see here) was a keynote speaker at the conference.  During her teaching titled, "Jesus Christ Beyond the Divide: A Christian Feminist Proposal," she presented images of a female Jesus to the gathering. This comes from the account of Dr. Aldredge-Clanton, which was posted on Ebenezer Lutheran's website.  I think it is reasonable to assume they are giving a truthful account of what happened. Here is what Dr. Aldredge-Clanton said exactly, “. . . I experience Dr. Mary Streufert’s erudite and engaging presentation that includes female images of Jesus Christ, providing a bridge for feminism to move into traditional Christianity.” (read here)

On an older Ebenezer Lutheran church webpage, which detailed the then upcoming conference, a preview is given of Dr. Streufert’s talk.  At the end of the preview it says, “(y)ou can expect some interesting images!”  (see here)

I find it very troubling that a leader in my denomination, straight from the headquarters of the ELCA and Office of the ELCA's Presiding Bishop, is mocking our Lord and Savior like this. How fitting that Dr. Streufert does this at a conference at which many of the teachers and speakers are priestesses of Isis or of other goddesses.  Maybe even more troubling than Dr. Streufert’s blaspheme is the fact that the ELCA is allowing this.

I have to believe that showing images of a female Jesus is nothing new to Dr. Streufert.  In Dr. Streufert’s book, Transformative Lutheran Theologies: Feminist, Womanist, and Mujerista Perspectives, she writes a chapter titled, “The Person of Christ from a Feminist Perspective: Human and Divine, Male and Female.” (see here)

Propagating a female Jesus is blasphemous.  Changing Christ into a god of your own fashion and design, in opposition to the testimony of Scripture, is in reality, creating a new god.  This female Jesus, which feminists in the denomination love to call “Sophia,” is not The Son, Jesus.  It is a false god.  The ELCA is promoting and involving itself in idolatry.

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ELCA News Briefs 12/06/2011
 
_An ELCA e-Advocacy Network email was sent out recently calling on us to “Ask President Obama to Act on Climate Change.‏”

Here is an excerpt of this email:
“What are we asking him to do?. . .
- Ensure adequate assistance to poor countries that are already suffering most from the impacts of climate change.
- Guarantee climate justice for all: a transparent, participatory agreement that ensures the voices and interests of all are addressed.”

“Join other people of faith in asking President Obama and other leaders to commit to an agreement that will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and protect the most vulnerable from the impacts of a changing climate that we can no longer avoid.”

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Does the ELCA really want to encourage the sleeping with someone to whom you are not married?  ELCA publication, The Lutheran, under “Staff Blogs” has a story by the Web Manager / Associate Art Director, in which she says “Last month, my fiancé James and I went on vacation in Isle Royale National Park. One night we camped at South Lake Desor… I awoke at midnight to the sound of branches breaking. I woke James and said: ‘I think there's something outside our tent.’ I often wake James when I hear noises, which usually turn out to be birds or squirrels. ‘You're imagining things again,’ he said and went back to sleep.”
(see here)

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“Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul. The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.” (see here)  Seems that Yoga is popular with staff at ELCA headquarters in Chicago.  “Two days a week, churchwide employees carry yoga mats for Lunchtime Yoga at the Lutheran Center.”  (see here)

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Alcohol is being sold by an ELCA church.  Pastor Gretchen Mertes "works as one of the bartenders."

“When you belly up to the bar. . . You wont find a Bible.”  “Oh heaven’s, no!” (see here)

Don’t miss out on their “wine specials.”  (watch here)

Luther's Table, the bar/cafe, is a mission start of the ELCA (see here)

Pastor Mertes "salary is funded for the most part by grants from the ELCA and NW WA Synod." (see here)


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