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California ELCA Churches Performing Same-Sex Weddings

10/28/2011

One day, in the near future, the ELCA will officially sanction same-sex marriage. It is inevitable.

Way back in May 2004, the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly passed a resolution entitled “In Support of Civil Marriage.” (Resolution 04-05) It said,
“Resolved, that the Sierra Pacific Synod in Assembly affirms that marriage and other civil rights protections are essential to making all families safer and more secure; and be it further
Resolved, that the Sierra Pacific Synod in Assembly affirms the right of every American to marry, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples; and be it finally
Resolved, that the Sierra Pacific Synod in Assembly supports the efforts to make civil marriage for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples a reality in our country and opposes any attempts to discriminate against lgbt couples and individuals.” (see here)

Exposing the ELCA has detailed a lot of information showing ELCA leadership who are in support of gay marriage. (see here) We now add this next piece of information to our collection.

A California-based Lutheran website claiming to be a “Christian Ministry for all sexual orientations and gender identities” goes so far as to list some Los Angeles ELCA churches who will perform same-sex marriages. The website says, “Can we get married in church? Yes!! There are pastors and congregations in Los Angeles that will welcome you and are ready to help you plan your wedding day!” (see here)

And a few sentences later, “You may also directly contact one of these churches in your area, whose pastors have already agreed to (and are happy to) perform same-sex weddings:

Altadena: Pastor Ruth Sievert, Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church

Canoga Park: Pastor Wayne Christiansen, Faith Lutheran Church

Glendale/Burbank: Pastor Keith Banwart, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church

Hollywood: Pastor Dan Hooper, Hollywood Lutheran Church

Hollywood: Pastor Mark Rasbach, Hope Lutheran Church, Hollywood

Los Angeles: Pastor Carlos Paiva, Angelica Lutheran Church

Manhattan Beach: Pastor Luther Martell, Trinity Lutheran Church

North Hollywood: Pastor Sue Devol, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church,

Santa Monica: Pastor James Boline, St. Paul's Lutheran Church,

West Los Angeles: Lutheran Church of the Master.”

God must be very sad that these church leaders are leading people into bondage. Like it or not, if your church stays in the ELCA, it will one day be happening there.

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ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop and Worshipers of Isis

10/24/2011

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Fellow members of the ELCA, don’t miss this.

Next month, an ELCA church in San Francisco, CA, will be hosting its annual heretical conference called “The 5th Annual Faith and Feminism – Womanist – Mujerista Conference.” The ELCA church hosting this conference is called Ebenezer Lutheran, otherwise known as “herchurch.” Ebenezer Lutheran is the church of Rev. Megan Rohrer, the first openly transgender minister ordained by the ELCA.

This year’s conference has many non-Christian events on the schedule, (see here), but I would like to highlight a few of the conference speakers.

On Friday night of the conference, at 10 p.m., you can participate in guided meditations with Lady Lorean of Isis Oasis. I looked up “Lady Lorean of Isis Oasis,” and I found that she is high priestess and proprietor of a Temple and mystical center dedicated to the goddess Isis. For those who may not know, Isis is the “ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility.” (see here)

Why is this person being brought in to speak at a conference conducted by an ELCA church? And why is the ELCA churchwide allowing it? Good questions to ask as we attempt to understand more about Lady Lorean. Her website says:

- “If you are called by the Goddess, the Temple of Isis is the largest active Iseum in the world today. The Temple has initiated over a thousand priestesses in it’s thirty year history.” (see here)

- “You are invited to visit our mystical center dedicated to the Goddess Isis.” (see here)

- “THE STAFF . . . provides massage therapy, tarot, past life and astrology readings by appointment.” (see here)

Lady Lorean’s website also says that each week they offer "prayers at the altar of the great goddess Isis." (see here)

A poem on the website says, "I am Isis the goddess, and I am the lady of words of power. Isis, the goddess and great enchantress at the head of the gods." (see here)

Elsewhere, on Lady Lorean’s website, we read, “We are hoping to create a spiritual community of like-minded people who can live by the Laws of Maat, the ancient Egyptian Goddess of Truth.” (see here)

Again, the website makes it clear, “The Temple practices magic using rituals of ancient Egypt which are taught in our gatherings on Sunday afternoons. These have amazing properties of manifestation . . . (w)e worship nature, and observe all the gifts bestowed on the planet.” (see here)

You can’t make this stuff up!

Also speaking at the conference is Cea T. Hearth, “Priestess and Shamana” (see here) “What is a Shamana/Shaman” you may ask? “The word ‘shaman’ is often used to refer to a person in a particular community who is chosen by the spirit world to be a spiritual healer (a soul doctor) for the group and its members. . . The shaman is one who is able to communicate with the spirits, enter trance at will and inspire ecstatic healing in others. These abilities come from the spirit world, but they are honed by the shamanic initiate through practice.” (see here)

Not to be left out is “Isis Priestess Katie Ketchum” who is also conducting a conference workshop. (see here)

God tells us in Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” Yet this ELCA church brings followers of other gods in to speak and teach at their conference!

The ELCA churchwide has known about the anti-Christian happenings at “herchurch” for years, yet they allow the church to remain in the ELCA.

Not only do they know about the practices of this congregation, but would you believe that, a key note speaker of the conference comes straight from the Office of the Presiding Bishop, Director of Justice for Women for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Mary Streufert. (see here)

If that isn't a big stamp of approval, I do not know what is.

See more information about this ELCA sanctioned church. (here and here)

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ELCA Leaders Pushing For Marriage Equality and Abortion

10/20/2011

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Almost 100 ELCA pastors and leaders have endorsed a declaration entitled, “Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing.” In this document, the ELCA leaders call for marriage equality for homosexuals, and they voice their commitment to abortion, among other things.

Concerning marriage equality and abortion, the declaration says, “We call for:”
- “Full inclusion of women and LGBT persons in congregational life, including their ordination and marriage equality.”
- “A faith-based commitment to sexual and reproductive rights, including access to voluntary contraception, abortion, and HIV/STI prevention and treatment.” (read here)

Here is the list of ELCA pastors and leaders who signed this public declaration:

Rev. Michael E. Allwein; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Gettysburg, PA

Rev. Dr. LaVonne Althouse; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Retired Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Lititz, PA

Rev. Glenn M. Anderson; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Park Rapids, MN

Rev. Kirk Anderson; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Prescott Valley, AZ; Dewey, AZ

Rev. Dr. Theodore W. Asta; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutherans Concerned; Worcester, MA

Reverend John F. Backe; Lutheran, Our Savior's Lutheran Church; Denver, CO

Rev. Ernest R. Barr; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Faith Lutheran Church; Wichita Falls, TX

Rev. Ruth Bosch Becker; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA, retired Campus Pastor; Cranberry Twp, PA

Rev. Joel Benbow; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Edina, MN

Rev. Arne Bergland; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, California Lutheran University; Thousand Oaks, CA

Dr. Charles Bergstrom; Lutheran, Lutheran Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; W Yarmouth, MA

Rev. James E. Boline; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. Paul Lutheran Church; Santa Monica, CA

Rev. Shawn Brandon; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Baudette, MN

Rev. Dr. Thomas Edwards Breed; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. Andrew Lutheran Church; Cedar Rapids, IA

Dr. Pamela Brubaker; Brethren, Associate Professor, California Lutheran University; Thousand Oaks Rd, CA

Rev. Laurie Larson Caesar; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Beaverton, OR

Rev. Paul Carlson; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Highlands Lutheran Church; Denver, CO

Rev. Dr. Herbert W. Chilstrom; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Former Presiding Bishop, ELCA; St. Peter, MN

Rev. Erin Clausen; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. James Lutheran Church; Western Springs, IL

Rev. Barbara Condon; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Idaho Falls, ID

Rev. Dr. Samuel Cruz; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Assistant Professor of Religion and Society, Union Theological Seminary; New York, NY

Rev. Sandra D. Dager; Lutheran, Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church; Palo Alto, CA

Rev. Dr. Amandus J. Derr; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Pastor, Saint Peter's Church; New York, NY

Rev. Dr. Thomas Dorsey; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church; New York, NY

Ms. Emily Eastwood; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutherans Concerned/North America

Rev. Dr. Sandra Ellis-Killian; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. John's Lutheran Church, Ambler, PA; Glenside, PA

Reverend Joanne Elise Engquist; Lutheran, Pastor, University Lutheran Church; Cambridge, MA

Dr. R. Guy Erwin; Lutheran, Professor, California Lutheran University; Thousand Oaks, CA

Rev. Paul Fauske; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, pastor, Evangelical Church in America; Mercer Island, WA

Rev. Travis Fisher; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Davenport, IA

Reverend Ray Flachmeier; Lutheran, Pastor, Resurrection Lutheran Church; Plano, TX

Rev. Robert Franek; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church; Galesburg, IL

Rev. John L. Freesemann; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church; San Jose, CA

Rev. Ruth Frost; Lutheran, Chaplain, Hospice of the Twin Cities; Minneapolis, MN

Rev. Sue Gaeta; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rev. Dr. Paula J. Gravelle; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Ellis Hospital; Watervliet, NY

Rev. Anne Hall; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Seattle University Lutheran Church, ELCA; Seattle, WA

Rev. Katherine Hellier; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Zion Lutheran Church in America; Portland, OR

Rev. Jill Henning; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Trinity Lutheran Church

Ms. Cheryl Heuer; Dean of Students and Registrar, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary; Berkeley, CA

Rev. Anita C. Hill; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Co-Pastor, St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church; Saint Paul, MN

Rev. Emory A. Hingst; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Florida Bahamas Synod; Tallahassee, FL

Rev. Alfred O. Hoerig; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Grace Lutheran SAWC, ELCA; Elgin, TX

Rev. Dr. John F. Hoffmeyer; Lutheran, Asst. Prof. of Systematic Theology, Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia; Philadelphia, PA

Rev. David Holmquist; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Calvary Lutheran Church, ELCA; Eureka, CA

Rev. Magdalene Holm-Roesler; Lutheran, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, ELCA; Austin, TX

Reverend Dr. John B. Hougen; Lutheran, St. John's Lutheran Church; Melrose Park, PA

Pastor Timothy Hoyer; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church; Lakewood, NY

Pastor John Hugus; Lutheran, Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Jacksonville, FL

Pastor Alexander Jacobs; Lutheran, Campus Pastor, Lutheran Campus Ministry at UW-Milwaukee; Milwaukee, WI

Reverend Denton R. Kees; Lutheran, ELCA; Stroudsburg, PA

Pastor Donald M. King; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Hope Lutheran Church; Cleveland Heights, OH

Rev. Donald J. Knecht; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, retired; Minneapolis, MN

Rev. Dr. Robert Kriesat; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Retired; Morristown, NJ

Rev. Frederick Lentz; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. Andrew Lutheran Church; Parsippany, NJ

Rev. Mark Lingle; Lutheran, St. Francis Episcopal Church; Stamford, CT

Rev. Dr. Barbara K. Lundblad; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Union Theological Seminary and Advent Lutheran Church; New York, NY

Rev. Catherine Malotky; Lutheran, ELCA Board of Pensions; Minnetonka, MN

Rev. Dr. David Miller; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Central States Synod, ELCA; Lenexa, KS

Rev. Gwendolyn E. Miller; Lutheran, Martin Luther Lutheran Church

Rev. Paul E. Mullins; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church; San Francisco, CA

Rev. Dr. Heidi Neumark; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Trinity Lutheran Church; New York, NY

Rev. Karen E. Norman Rees; Lutheran, Evangelical Lutheran Church; Peoria, IL

Reverend Edward D. O'Donnell Jr.; Lutheran, Reverend, VITAS Healthcare

Rev. D.M. Olson; ELCA Lutheran, Mother, ELCA; Milwaukee, WI

Rev. David C Parsons; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church (ELCA); Brooklyn, NY

Rev. David Ethan Olson; Lutheran, Berwyn United Lutheran Church; Berwyn, IL

Rev. Janis Pauliks; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, MNYS; Brooklyn, NY

Reverend Dr. Gary Pence; Lutheran, Professor of Pastoral Theology, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary; Berkeley, CA

Rev. Pamela Griffith Pond; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Marin Interfaith Worker Justice; Novato, CA

Rev. Mary Robinson; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; New London, CT

Rev. C. Franklin Samuelson; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA Retired Clergy; Moline, IL

Reverend Gilbert Rossing; Lutheran, Retired, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; Grapevine, TX

Rev. Ronald Rude; Lutheran, Lutheran Campus Ministry; Tucson, AZ

Prof. Loyal Rue; Lutheran, Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Luther College; Decorah, IA

Rev. Rodney W. Seeger; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Mill Valley, CA

Rev. Timothea Sharpe; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Midlands Pastoral Care Associates; Prosperity, SC

Professor Mary Shields; Associate Professor of Old Testament, Trinity Lutheran Seminary; Columbus, OH

Rev. Dr. Jim A. Siefkes; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Minneapolis, MN

Rev. Timothy Singleton; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, New Horizons Lutheran Church; Falcon, CO

Rev. Craig Sommer; Lutheran, St. Martin's Lutheran Church; Austin, TX

Rev. Susan F. Sprowls; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI

John Stendahl; Lutheran, Pastor, Lutheran Church of the Newtons, Newton, MA

Mr. William Stewart; Lutheran, Thornton Friends School; Alexandria, VA

Rev. Kevin Stickland; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church; Maryville, TN

Rev. Susan M. Strouse; Lutheran, First United Lutheran Church; San Francisco, CA

Rev. Wayne Tellekson; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Minneapolis, MN

Rev. Andrew Tengwall; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran Church of the Savior; Kalamazoo, MI

Rev. Gerald L. Thompson; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Reverend Paul A. Tidemann; Lutheran, St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church; St. Paul, MN

Ms. Julie Tillberg; Lutheran, Hosanna Lutheran Church; Plattsmouth, NE

Rev. Thomas Von Fischer; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Retired; Minneapolis, MN

Reverend Gloria Weber; Lutheran, Interfaith Voices for Peace and Justice; St. Louis, MO

Rev. June Wilkins; Lutheran, St. Martin's Lutheran Church

Rev. Susan E. Wolfe; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church; North Hollywood, CA; North Hollywood, CA

Rev. Phyllis Zillhart; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Hospice Chaplain, Fairview Home Care and Hospice; Minneapolis, MN

Reverend Jennifer E. Zima; Lutheran, Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Falls Church, VA

Rev. Martin Otto Zimmann; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA; Holland, OH

See the list of all endorsers here

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ELCA News Briefs

10/13/2011

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Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke, Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, was a featured speaker at the National Coming Out Day Prayer Breakfast in Portland, OR. (see here) During the event a letter entitled, "Faith Leader's Declaration of Support of the Freedom to Marry," was scheduled to be released (Oct. 10, 2011). It is not yet know whether Bishop Brauer-Rieke has signed the letter in support.

ELCA Church Run LGBT Youth Camp Featured in Homosexual Magazine. (see here) Exposing the ELCA reported on this camp and others like it - here.

The ELCA e-Advocacy Network recently sent an email asking people to “(t)ell the President that as a Christian who cares about a just peace for all, you want the U.S. to support the Palestinians' quest for self-determination. Tell him you believe this is a legitimate way to pursue a just and lasting peace for the benefit of Palestinians and Israelis.”

Taking an idea from the “Occupy Wall Street” protests, a blog on the ELCA website written by Kate Sprutta Elliott, editor of the ELCA magazine Lutheran Woman Today, suggests the idea that the government force creditors to cancel individuals debts, including their home mortgage debt. (read here)

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Help Our Brothers and Sisters in the United Methodist Church

10/10/2011

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The radical deniers of Scripture are at work in the United Methodist Church (UMC) as well as the ELCA. "(M)ore than 900 (UMC ministers) . . . have pledged to perform same-sex weddings, despite the church's prohibition against such ceremonies. This widespread ecclesiastical disobedience threatens to tear apart the covenant which holds The United Methodist Church together." (read here)

In response, a website called faithfulumc.com is gathering signatures from faithful UMC clergy and laity for two letters which communicate their deep concern regarding the pledge made by the 900 ministers. These letters will be sent to the UMC's Council of Bishops. Please pass on the following link to your Methodist friends and family members who may be interested in signing their name to one of the letters. (link)

Those of us who are ELCA members know the destruction that happens when the world's thoughts supplant the Word of God in our denominations. Please keep the United Methodist Church in your prayers so that they would continue to stand on the clear teaching of Scripture.

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The Word of the Lord

10/3/2011

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But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.
Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” - 2 Peter Chapter 2

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California ELCA Churches Performing Same-Sex Weddings

ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop and Worshipers of Isis

ELCA Leaders Pushing For Marriage Equality and Abortion

ELCA News Briefs

Help Our Brothers and Sisters in the United Methodist Church

The Word of the Lord

Dan Skogen

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