|
Bill Gohl, bishop of the Delaware-Maryland Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America officiated the wedding of a transgender person (who is a vicar at an ELCA church and an ELCA seminary student) and well known ELCA pastor Emily Scott. Rev. Scott was a keynote speaker at the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering. (see here beginning at 2:23:20 and read more about her here)
Are there any Biblically led leaders in the ELCA anymore? 
2 Comments
Just days ago, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) displayed their support for "climate justice" by posting an article on Facebook titled "As Climate Summit begins, Churches Call for Action Now!"
The ELCA Facebook post quoted the article saying, "As people of faith, we call on the nations gathered at this summit to act ambitiously to address the impact of climate change.” ELCA Advocacy also chimed in on climate change with this post: From the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA: More on climate change from ELCA Advocacy:
The ELCA also offered a webinar called "Moving Forward: A Guide to Climate Action For Your Congregation and Community." More can be found on the ELCA website on their "environment" page. 
Ilhan Omar, the highly controversial U.S. Representative, has appeared many times on social media posts by the ELCA's Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). One LIRS Facebook post about Ilhan Omar says, "We are so proud of you!"
Please note, ELCA offering dollars go to fund LIRS. 
Who is the ELCA lifting up as leaders of influence in the denomination? Who are they endorsing, by way of placing them in view of members, to speak into their lives? A new video from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America video features some interesting persons of "influence":
- ELCA bishop-elect Leila Ortiz, who made news this summer for her supportive comments in a news segment about polyamory. (See here) - And ELCA Rev. Kwame Pitts, (read about her here) who is wearing a t-shirt that says "I met God. She's tired of your lying on her." The ELCA video also has still-shot of an ELCA bishop participating in a transgender renaming service for an ELCA pastor. (See below) 
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met last month for their 2019 Churchwide Assembly. One event scheduled was a march to an ICE building in support of migrants, immigrants and illegal immigrants. Below are social media entries of the event from the ELCA, ELCA participants and observers:
Jessica Harren is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. (ELCA). Pastor Harren proposed the following in one of her sermons:
“Here is an idea for you…Adam is basically the word for human…so this is the first human. So Adam, may very well have been intersex. Adam being the only human would have encompassed male and female and all the genders in-between. Because there was only one human.” Listen to more of her thoughts in her sermon here.
Our God, as we see in Scripture, knows the future. God knew He would make both Adam and Eve before He did it. Claiming Adam was intersex is foolish and self-serving. That is the ELCA for you. Rev. Jessica Harren is a bisexual person, serving as a pastor, (see here) who "is passionate about LGBTQ* inclusion in the church, decolonizing Lutheranism, and learning to be anti-racist with true allyship. She is working on decolonizing her brain, undoing her own internalized oppression, and writing.” (See here) 
The spring and summer of 2019 saw synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America holding their assemblies. It is a time when the liberal of liberals, the radical of radicals put down their keyboards and take a pause from their social media rantings to go to their ELCA synod assembly in order to vote for their favorite causes and elect their leaders.
Some of this year's attendees and happenings are contained below: Homosexual bishop, Guy Erwin was re-elected to another 6-year term by the Southwest California Synod. The synod Facebook page shared the news and a picture from SoCal Lutherans, which says they are "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Allied Lutheran Christians in Southern California." 
During the Delaware-Maryland (DE-MD) Synod Assembly one of the most vile pastors in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was elected to the synod Discipline Committee, Rev. Lura Groen. (Read about her here)
Pastor Tamika Jay claims she is part of the DE-MD Synod and she wants attendees to know that "...not 'agreeing' about the rights and welcome of all of G-d's people is not about unity. That is bigotry."
Pastor Jay goes on to say that she is "proud of us" (the DE-MA Synod) for voting be a RIC (LGBT approving) Synod.
An article from the ELCA magazine Living Lutheran reports the Northeastern Minnesota synod passed resolutions on "polices that welcome migrants, opposing conversion therapy and calling for a commitment toward gender justice": 
A Pacifica Synod of the ELCA resolution was approved for "full participation of rostered ministers in equality, diversity and anti-racism training." Another resolution passed calling for "the use of inclusive and expansive language for humankind and God." (See page 38 here) I do not know exactly what this Tweet and the list of "Questions for Candidates" by the Upstate New York Synod means, but it doesn't sound good.
The Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly passed Resolution 2019-4 Regarding a Social Statement on Gender Identity and Gender Expression. It said: "RESOLVED that the Sierra Pacific Synod memorialize the 2019 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA to commission a study leading to a social statement on gender identity, gender expression and human sexuality; and be it further RESOLVED that this study should facilitate education among our members so as to build awareness of the broad varieties of gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation among God's people, as well as provide pastoral care insights regarding concerns and issues of the transgender experience and gender non-conformity." (See here) ELCA Pastor Emily Scott, a past speaker at the ELCA Youth Gathering, wrote to those attending the Delaware-Maryland Synod assembly encouraging people to write on their name tag which pronouns people should use when addressing them.
Someone at the Oregon Synod Assembly of the ELCA Tweeted:
The ELCA's Saint Paul Area Synod Assembly's action:
At the Metropolitan New York Synod they "set the agenda for the Synod's strategic plan for the upcoming year, including major initiatives surrounding ecumenical efforts, inclusion of immigrants, and programming celebrating LGBTQIA+ congregants. The group also passed a resolution for consideration to the ELCA National Church Assembly in August, to declare itself as a "Sanctuary" Denomination, ready to seek justice and protection for refugees and undocumented people; and a resolution to endorse the Poor People's Campaign and encourage its members to participate where appropriate in the organizing, advocacy, and actions of the campaign." (See here)
Also the Metro New York Synod:
The Northwest Washington Synod passed the following resolutions:
The South-Central of Wisconsin ELCA synod passed resolutions "in support of immigration reform and refugee resettlement" and "human rights of Palestinian children." (see page 38 here) A workshop called "Transgender 101" was held at the Southwest California Synod Assembly. Below is a bunch of news from the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America:
Finally, the Metro D. C. Synod of the ELCA passed a memorial about the "process around revising" Vision and Expectations:
Below are comments by our friend, Rev. Tom Brock about resolutions and ELCA assemblies: Can you help Exposing the ELCA continue its ministry work? Your gift helps us do so. |
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.
Give online by clicking the "donate" button below: Categories
All
Archives
September 2024
 Exposing the ELCA is on Facebook 
Follow Exposing the ELCA on Twitter
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Ephesians 5:11
|
RSS Feed