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Bethel Lutheran Church in White Rock, South Carolina (see church website) recently held an congregational vote on whether to end their affiliation with the ELCA. The following report was sent to me by a reader. Please keep all in your prayers.
“Bethel lost the vote to withdraw as a church from the ELCA by 7 votes last week. The pro ELCA crowd brought in members who do not participate in Services other to pad their votes. In protest, the entire Church Council, both Parrish Office workers, and the Organist resigned. The Church who is already running with an interim Pastor is now missing it's leaders as well as spiritual direction as the ELCA can only offer damnation. Along with the Council members, every family with children in the junior and senior youth have also pulled out. These members with council intact plan to meet to have Sunday services with Communion this Sunday at a local building and will be meeting with someone from the NALC to help the rebuilding process. Bethel which means house of God was betrayed by the ELCA in it's position to place the world in front of the Word. Please pray for both groups.”
7 Comments
Carl Cole
6/16/2013 01:08:37 pm
Exactly the same thing happened at Faith Lutheran in McDade, Texas. We left and started meeting at a rented site for a year but then acquired 8 acres with two older buildings that were a closed VFW property. New Hope Lutheran (LCMC) has a great church family of hard workers and great tithers. The ones believing that the Bible is the inspired word of God all came with us.
Gale
6/17/2013 12:49:25 am
Praying for all those who left. Praise God for their faithfulness.
Dan M.
6/17/2013 02:22:36 am
It has been a little over a year since we started our new church after having our vote fail due to the same tactics. One person that voted had not been to our church in over 15 years. We did not keep track of those that have taken communion so there was no way to stop this from happening. Have faith in god as wonderful things are in the near future. Our first service was inspiring! No hidden agendas, smiles everywhere. One comment that was made during our struggles stuck with me, the people make the church, not the building. We will pray for you as you work thru this amazing yet painful process. Matthew 10:14 has a new and special meaning for us and should for you also! 6/17/2013 05:30:42 am
Thank your for the wonderful comments. I was part of the group which worked on the affiliation report to leave the ELCA as still posted on Bethel's Website link above. We did change a few minds but due to the demographic of the church and outright fear tactics used by the pro-ELCA, it wasn't enough. I attended our first service graciously housed by local NALC St Jacobs, and we had around 56 members present. it wasn't until I got up to the door that it hit me, that we were in fact refugees from our home church. Bethel's service later that morning had a turnout of about 80 and they were able to proceed with their service just fine, but there were no young people or teenagers present. I don't believe Bethel will ever be able to open their eyes to the wrongness being pushed on God's people by the ELCA. again thanks to all who read and posted and God Bless.
Jeff Brumbach
6/19/2013 01:54:46 am
Same thing happened here in Boyertown, PA back in the fall of 2010. Now, 2 1/2 years later Living faith Lutheran Church (AFLC) is moving into its very own building and holding its first service at this new location on 6/23/13. God is good - All the time! 6/19/2013 09:35:59 pm
A friend in Menomonie, Wisconsin (who's now part of an NALC church) writes me: "This is exactly the way our ELCA church split. People I never saw in church were voting." Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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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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