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Since 2009 Exposing the ELCA has been contending for the faith. God's word says "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints." - Jude 1:3
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(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Below is a recent chapel service at Luther Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Seminary chapel at my alma mater has become radical in recent years with transgender and "womanist" preachers, prayers to "Mother God", Native American spirituality, and observance of both National Coming Out Day and the Transgender Day of Remembrance. In the below service, the preferred pronouns of each participant are listed (he/him/his, etc.) in order to be transgender-sensitive. And the closing benediction states "May the Spirit embrace your soul in her grace", even though the Bible never refers to the Holy Spirit as "her". Luther Seminary attendance has shrunk much since my days there and, as with other liberal seminaries, financial problems have led to the seminary selling off some of its buildings. Two ELCA seminaries in Pennsylvania had to merge into one United Seminary, whose new president, former ELCA Bishop Guy Erwin, is a homosexual with a "husband." The ELCA's Pacific Lutheran Seminary in California sold its building to a Muslim school. The ELCA, the Episcopal Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Church of Christ, the Disciples of Christ, and the United Methodist Church are the most liberal denominations in America, and they have lost many members in recent years as these denominations drift further and further from Scripture. Once again the verse comes to mind "You reap what you sow." Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock 
Rev. Emily Ewing is an ELCA pastor who is employed as a "Social Justice Pastor" at a United Methodist church.
In a Facebook post written Feb. 14, 2021, Pastor Ewing writes "FYI: TRANSfiguration Sunday is a celebration of Jesus being trans and nonbinary. Dazzling change and consistency." The ELCA is fine with denigrating and blaspheming our Lord and Savior. Why are you still part of this denomination? 
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Help Exposing the ELCA reach our goal of $75,000! Gifts can be given by credit card, or PayPal at www.paypal.com/paypalme/exposingtheelca Exposing the ELCA has been reporting on the ELCA for over 11 years. This has been a ministry of care and concern for people under the influence of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. God has used this ministry to help thousands of people and hundreds of congregations be equipped with truth and knowledge that has helped them to discern God's will and direction. Thousands have been reached through connections to articles in The New Yorker, The Jerusalem Post and other reputable news outlets. This work continues to be exceedingly valuable in the pursuit of people knowing the truth. After 11+ years of very limited financial support, and in order to keep this ministry going, it is time to ask those who believe in this ministry to help. The ELCA's minimum salary guidelines for a pastor of 10 years (with congregations of over 300) is $62,600 to $77.800. (See here on page 16). The goal is to raise $75,000 to support the work of Exposing the ELCA . Gifts can be given by credit card, or PayPal at www.paypal.com/paypalme/exposingtheelca. If you'd like to give by check send me a message (here) for more information. I believe a God-honoring ministry, which we no-doubt labor to be, should be supported at or above what people who teach heresy are given. If you believe this work is important, please give generously to help shine light in the darkness. With your help, we can continue to warn others and reveal the abandonment of God's Word happening in the ELCA, and in so doing, advance the Gospel. This is mission work, and I am thankful for your prayer and financial support thus far and your prayer and financial support in the future. In Christ, Dan Skogen Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Ephesians 5:11  Living Lutheran magazine continues to promote LGBTQAI+ agenda, won't allow conservative view1/31/2021 (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Living Lutheran, the national magazine of the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has an article highlighting Mikah Meyer, a runner who has run 210 miles to promote the LGBTQAI+ agenda. The conclusion of his five week run across Minnesota was “chosen to coincide with National Coming Out Day.” This is Living Lutheran’s second article on Meyer, who earlier visited every national park in America to promote LGBTQAI+ inclusion. Living Lutheran magazine often highlights homosexual and transgender persons in the ELCA. In 2009 when the ELCA voted to ordain practicing homosexual pastors, conservatives were assured that the more traditional view of homosexuality would also be allowed in the ELCA. However, Living Lutheran does not allow the conservative view. I am part of a Christian ministry called OnebyOne which helps people out of homosexuality. We inquired about putting a paid advertisement in Living Lutheran about our ministry but were denied because our viewpoint does not line up with “more recent decisions” of the ELCA. So much for tolerance and diversity of opinion--much less Biblical Christianity--in the official magazine of Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (See article here)  (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Living Lutheran, the national magazine of the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has an article giving advice on how to observe lent. It starts with this "Deep breaths.… Remember to breathe deeply. While doing so, perhaps you can meditate on a mantra such as "I breathe in peace. I exhale worry.” A mantra is the Hindu practice of repeating a phrase over and over to achieve magical and spiritual results. The article also recommends reading a “centering poem” each day and “Light a candle. Sit by its glow. Watch the flame and smell the scent. Repeat as often as needed, whether aloud or silently: “Jesus is the light of our world.” This incorporating of non-Christian religious practices reflects what the ELCA did at its last national assembly in affirming that we do not know what God thinks of non-Christian religions. One delegate tried to amend that saying, yes, we do know since Jesus said He is the only way of salvation (John 14:6). The delegate was voted down by 97 percent. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (See article on page 9 here) 
A letter signed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is calling for President Trump's removal from office. Even more shocking, the ELCA comes against anyone who believes the 2020 election was fraudulent saying, "In addition, we recognize the need to hold responsible not only those who invaded the Capitol, but also those who supported and/or promoted the President’s false claims about the election, or made their own false accusations." (See here)
Buckle-up God-fearing Christians, in a country that was built on freedom of speech, half of our society, big tech and the faux-Christian community have succumbed to hate and are now calling for repercussions for those with thoughts and beliefs that are not their own. It is time to reexamine your relationship with God, invest in your faith, grow in your knowledge of God's Word and train up those around you to do the same. Fear not, God is with you. Here is the article on the ELCA website announcing the "ELCA presiding bishop joins NCC leaders in letter to vice president, Cabinet and Congress." 
National Coming Out Day: ELCA bishop compares Lazarus' resurrection to gay people "coming out"1/3/2021
National Coming Out Day is like Christmas for the ELCA. In the video below the ELCA seminary United Lutheran, ELCA Bishop Patricia Davenport, gay ELCA seminary president Guy Erwin, and other ELCA leaders celebrate this important ELCA "holiday."
The video by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America seminary celebrates LGBTQIA living. (See below or here)
(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 continues to push for a feminist understanding of God and a diminishing of God the Father in its December, 2021 edition of Living Lutheran, the official magazine of the ELCA. In an article entitled "A Gift of Ministry: Embracing mom–pastors and a mothering God" the magazine quotes from ELCA Pastor LeeAnn Pomrenke's book "Embodied: Clergy Women and the Solidarity of a Mothering God". She writes "When I began recognizing the mothering behavior of God in my own experience, it made me feel less alone...We have fallen into a rut in referring to God mostly as "Father" in the church..." One must ask: Was Jesus in a rut when He taught us to refer to God as Father? Never once did Jesus refer to God as "Mother." Are we in a rut praying regularly "Our Father", the prayer our Lord taught us to pray? Do the people running the ELCA know more about God language than Jesus Christ? Another article in Living Lutheran written by Karoline Lewis, preaching professor at Luther Seminary, talks about God revealing "God's self". It is normal to talk about God revealing "Himself," but that is too patriarchal so now a new phrase has been invented. Living Lutheran magazine regularly eliminates masculine pronouns for God, using "God...God...God.." instead of "God...He...etc." This de-sexing of God language has been going on for a long time in the ELCA, the Presbyterian Church USA, the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, and the United Church of Christ, but at its last national assembly the ELCA voted to officially declare itself in favor of more "expansive and inclusive" language for God. The liberal mainline Protestant denominations are shrinking, and they should. Any denomination which is embarrassed by 'Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" language and desires to "expand" beyond it does not deserve to exist. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock 
Bill Tesch is excited, as you can read in the below post about Kevin L. Strickland, an openly homosexual man (married to a man), becoming bishop of Southeastern Synod, ELCA. Calling the Holy Spirit "her." Below Rev. Bill Tesch writes about NOT being elected as bishop of the ELCA's South Dakota Synod saying "I had thought I might be called, but the Holy Spirit, in her typically messy way, has revealed that I am not." What about false religions? Politics? Check out the following by the ELCA bishop:
ELCA church Dreams and Visions and their hyped ELCA pastor Emily Scott is hosting "A Drag Queen Storytime Queer Christmas Celebration."
Living off the dime of a century's worth of Biblical Lutherans, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has turned it's back on God, God's Word and its foundation, and become an institution that mocks God and harms souls. If you haven't left the ELCA you have some explaining to do. 
The ELCA's Delaware-Maryland Synod Bishop Bill Gohl attended Dreams and Visions Queer Christmas Pageant last year. (See here)
A sign held by Cassie Hartnett read, "When Jesus Comes Back She'll Be Gay." Cassie Hartnett is a former vicar at an ELCA church in Maryland and she attended Union Theological Seminary. When ELCA leaders openly blaspheme Jesus it is time to leave and never set foot in an ELCA church again.  (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Today I turned on TV and again saw a worship service from St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. In a previous post (October 4) I criticized their program in which the preacher called Jesus’ response to the Syro-Phoenician woman “ugly” and wondered whether Jesus had made a mistake. That grieved me because years ago this congregation was known for being more biblical and evangelical than many in the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. But St. Andrew’s has chosen to stay in the ELCA and it shows. On the program today the pastor gave the closing benediction and she said “In the name of the Parent, and of Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit”. Did you notice? She got rid of God the Father and replaced Him with “the Parent”. Why? The ELCA at its last convention committed itself to using more “expansive and inclusive” language for God. This means avoiding masculine images for God and coming up with new images which feminists find less oppressive and patriarchal. So now some ELCA congregations worship “God the Parent.” I live across the street from a liberal United Methodist church and visited one Sunday. The pastor baptized the child “In the name of the One who makes all things, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” I talked about this with a Catholic priest who said “I’d rebaptize the child.” I think I would too. Jesus taught us to baptize “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:10) and we have no right to play around with that. This “de-sexing” of God language has gone on for many years in liberal denominations like the ELCA, Presbyterian Church USA, the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, and the Episcopal Church. Back in 2006 the ELCA came out with its current hymnal in which all of the Psalms were de-sexed to get rid of masculine references for God. Some complained, saying we would stick with the Biblical language for God, but they lost. I pray that you attend a good, biblical church which unashamedly worships God the Father. In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock  By Rev. Tom Brock (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
Certainly Christians should oppose racism and white supremacy, but that is not the message of Advent. The word "Advent" means "coming" in Latin and refers to the four weeks prior to Christmas when Christians think about Christ's Second Coming at the end of time when he will raise the dead and judge the world. It is a time of self-examination and repentance from sin so that we may properly celebrate Christmas when it arrives. But in the Advent message below, liberal denominations have turned Advent into a time to fight racism. In the "Advent" message below, you will find no zeal for the salvation of the lost and bringing people to Christ before the 2nd Coming. The head bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has stated that she believes Hell, if it exists, is empty. You will also find no mention of repenting from the sexual sins of our culture like pornography, pre-marital sex, abortion and homosexuality because these denominations endorse abortion rights and homosexual relationships. You will also notice below, they don't talk about the "kIngdom" of God but the "kin-dom" of God. Feminism is big in the below denominations and some think the word "kingdom" is too male and oppressive so they have invented a new word. This contradicts the fact that Jesus repeatedly preached about the Kingdom of God. As we are now in the season of Advent, let us repent of racism, but let us also repent of our lukewarmness in bringing lost people to saving faith in Christ. And, yes, lost people do need to come to Christ to be saved. In Jesus the only Savior (John 14:6), Pastor Tom Brock From the website of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: ELCA presiding bishop and ecumenical partners address racism and white supremacy in Advent message 11/30/2020 1:30:00 PM CHICAGO — The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and leaders of The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have joined together to offer the following Advent message: Churches Beyond Borders Advent Call to Address Racism and White Supremacy Read the rest of the ELCA article here. 
Showing no concern over the claims of mass voter fraud which, if true, would completely undermine our country and our freedom, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has joined with other radical progressive "Christian" organizations saying "We invite all people of faith to recognize the outcome...the outcome of this election. Joe Biden has been announced as the President-elect. Attempts to delay the peaceful transition of leadership risk endangering our democracy in critical ways." (See video below)
Would the ELCA, under the same circumstance, delivered this same message if Pres. Trump had won? If allegations are true, the election was rigged and a usurper and his party have illegally taken control of the United States. The claims needs to be taken seriously and adjudicated. But the radical leftists who control the ELCA, from their pastors, to synod leaders, to ELCA churchwide leadership, and all the entities under their banner, want to ignore it all and want us to honor "the outcome of the election." See the video and transcript below. "As people of faith we cherish a democracy that guarantees freedom of speech freedom of worship, and a vote for every citizen. ...and a vote for every citizen. Throughout a contentious and divisive political battle, communities and congregations and families have struggled to maintain respect and love for each other. It is time we do the hard work of repairing the damage ...repairing the damage in relationships we value and cherish, and upon which all democracies rely. As President Lincoln wrote, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” We invite all people of faith to recognize the outcome ...the outcome of this election. Joe Biden has been announced as the President-elect. Attempts to delay the peaceful transition of leadership risk endangering our democracy in critical ways. We are all proud of our place in this democracy. We owe it to our country to unify - if not in celebration of the announced winner – at least in the belief that the common good is served by honoring the outcome ...by honoring the outcome of the election." |
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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