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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.) Bishop Stacie Fidlar of the Northern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is staunchly against the belief that there are only two genders, even though that is what Jesus taught in Matthew 19:4. She claims to love transgender, non-binary and non-conforming people. But part of loving people is telling them the truth, and if God created a person a male then you are lying to tell him he can be a female. And it is not loving to destroy children by giving them hormone blockers and destructive surgeries. With leadership like this, no wonder ELCA membership is shrinking into oblivion. In Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (See here.) 
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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.) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America now has seven practicing homosexual bishops. Below you will see a Pennsylvania homosexual bishop is flying off to help install another homosexual bishop in Massachusetts. And the gay bishop says this is going to make the ELCA “very fabulous”. The ELCA also had the world’s first transgender bishop, but “they” had to step down over alleged racism. At my house tonight, we had a prayer meeting and we prayed for the ELCA. But I made the point that I see absolutely no sign that this denomination is turning around. Yes, God can do anything and He can turn this denomination around, but for decades it just keeps getting worse. I told the prayer group that my belief is that God will continue to let the ELCA go its own way and we will see biblical churches grow and evil churches shrink into oblivion. In Christ, Pastor 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.) Bishop Deborah Hutterer of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is hosting a Fall Gathering to inspire her pastors. One speaker will share Native American spirituality and the other speaker is a pro-abortion rights, pro-transgender pastor who has used the “f” word when preaching. First, the Native American… “This year, our gathering is blessed to feature Elder Perci Ami, an esteemed Hopi/Tewa grandmother, author, and storyteller. Elder Perci Ami is renowned for her work in healing broken spirits and minds through her traditional beliefs and compelling storytelling…Her journey as a healer, educator, and earth protector brings a unique and enriching perspective.” I have a question. Is this speaker a Christian? Nowhere in the retreat’s description of her is Jesus or Christianity mentioned. To me, it sounds more like a New Age type message. The second speaker is ELCA Pastor Andrea Roske-Metcalfe. A few years ago Roske-Metcalfe preached that church members should refer to a woman who identifies as a man as "they". She also preached at the ELCA’s Augsburg University, using the f-word, and saying that Jesus screwed up and the Syrophoenician woman had to redeem Jesus. At a pro-choice gathering she held a sign proclaiming that the Virgin Mary is evidence that we should be pro-choice and the sign called her opponents “mother-f....ers". These are the people this Arizona bishop brings in to inspire her ELCA pastors. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock -- (See article here) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has elected it's third homosexual bishop this year. The ELCA has a total of six practicing homosexuals who currently are bishops. (likely to grow in number this summer) ELCA pastor Nathan Pipho was elected bishop of the New England Synod. He is gay, as he explains in an article he wrote, "It was the saints at Good Shepherd, North Quincy, who took a chance on a pastoral candidate who was gay. This was seven years before the 2009 Churchwide Assembly lifted prohibitions on partnered LGBT persons serving as ordained ministers. It also coincided with the height of the clergy sexual abuse crisis that was hitting the Archdiocese of Boston at the time. Some of my friends counseled me this was not the best time for me to be open with them about my sexuality, that it was none of their business, that I should stay in the closet …but I knew for the sake of authentic witness I needed to be open." (See here) Rev. Nathan Pipho is a "...past chair of the New England Synod Team for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Inclusion." (See here) Since we are talking about Bishop-Elect Pipho, here is his position on a controversial transgender topic: "Earlier this year, the Charlotte City Council passed an ordinance that affirmed the right of transgender individuals to use the bathroom of their gender identity. It was right and fair." (See here)   See photo here - https://www.masslive.com/galleries/TDQWQH3E3BDT3MOAXKH4J34Z2U/ (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Bryan Penman is the newly elected bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He has a male partner and an adopted child. Penman says this about his election: “So the spirit moved today, and I have a new call. I stand on the strength of thousands who have helped me say yes to this call and who have paved the way in the church against the odds. Soli deo gloria.” As a person who has personally struggled with same-sex attraction most of my life, I abstain from this behavior for the sake of Christ and my eternal soul (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The Bible teaches that homosexual behavior is sin (see my article “What does the Bible say about homosexuality?” at pastorsstudy.org). Jesus taught us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him. Instead today in the ELCA people are taught to affirm homosexuality and transgenderism. This was done to 31,000 teenagers at the ELCA’s national Teen Gathering.  The homosexual bishop claims the Holy Spirit is the one who “moved” to get him elected. This, to me, is much too close to the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus the only Savior, Pastor Tom Brock P.S. If you struggle with same-sex attraction, go to restoredhopenetwork.org and see resources and a possible support group in your area
Jen Negel is the second member of the LGBT+ community to be elected today (May 4, 2024) as an ELCA synod bishop. Pastor Negel was elected by the Minneapolis Area Synod. It will probably not be the last as synod assemblies are happening over the next 4 to 5 months.
You can read a bio of Bishop-elect Jen Negal from her current church here. For further confirmation you can visit the new bishop's Facebook page here. Here is the synod bio that she filled out for the election of bishop. 
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (SEPA) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has elected a gay man to be their synod Bishop.
(See his bio here) 
See here.
Pastor Bryan Penman is a member of Proclaim. Proclaim, is a community for queer Lutheran pastor and candidates. (He states this in an article he wrote - https://www.elm.org/2018/01/ You can also learn more about Bryan here. (The following article was written last year by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) United Lutheran Seminary in Pennsylvania is a seminary of the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church an America. The President of the seminary, Guy Erwin, is a man “married” to a man and Erwin was also the ELCA’s first practicing homosexual bishop. United Lutheran Seminary is advertising a retreat for women in ministry called “Kindling Faith: Calm in the Chaos” and the main speaker is Dr. Crystal Hall described thus: She is a frequent speaker in churches and denominational conferences on topics including women’s leadership, LGBTQIA+ inclusion and immigration. She resides in Philadelphia with her fiancé and their cat, Lady Blue. The seminary is not shy about advertising that Dr. Hall is living with her fiancé, which used to be called “fornication” and is a serious sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). But if the ELCA affirms homosexual sex and abortion rights, why not fornication? The ELCA is not biblical, but, sadly, it is consistent. In Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (See United Lutheran Seminary retreat information here)
On September 17, 2023 Jeff Johnson was elected bishop of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod. Rev. Johnson is gay and is married to a man.
Below is a report by Pastor Tom Brock about the recent election of Jeff Johnson:
The following is some addition information about Bishop-elect Jeff Johnson: Rev. Jeff Johnson, and his church University Lutheran Chapel (ELCA) in Berkeley, CA were conducting a monthly "Goddess Rosary" service in 2010. (see here)
In 2017 Rev. Jeff Johnson signed a letter stating changes they want to see with the ELCA, among other things,
"Specific changes we would like to see include: - No longer privileging marriage as the only acceptable form of sexual relationality - Updating ELCA policies to reflect marriage equality in the United States - Editing out language that perpetuates heteronormativity and sexual oppression” (see here) It also said:
Rev. Jeff Johnson also signed a letter supporting evolution and rejecting truth of creation. (See here) Former ELCA head bishop: Jesus was hurtful and mean to Syrophoenician woman, but He changed His mind8/21/2023 (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) I have reported before on Elk River Lutheran Church in Elk River, Minnesota, and their gay pride worship services. It makes sense that they have twice invited former presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Mark Hanson, to speak since it was during his leadership in 2009 that the ELCA voted to perform gay weddings and ordain practicing homosexuals. In his sermon, Hanson defended “children who are transitioning” (to the opposite sex). Hanson then preached that Jesus was mean and hurtful in His response to the Syrophoenician woman. Gratefully, according to Hanson, Jesus changed His mind and showed mercy to the woman. Also, Hanson stated that the woman’s daughter was not really demon possessed in Matthew 15:21 but instead she had a mental illness. Hanson could have pointed out that Jesus was challenging and testing the Syrophoenician woman’s faith and then He rewarded her faith. Instead, Hanson stated that Jesus used despicable language to her. Hanson states that he was “flummoxed” by the way Jesus treated her (start about minute 35:24 below). But if Jesus sinned against this woman, then He would not be the innocent Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. If Jesus sinned, He would have to die for His own sins and could not die for ours. For this reason, the New Testament insists that Jesus was sinless (I Peter 1:18-19, 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, I John 3:5). Sadly, this former head bishop of the ELCA did not insist on that point. In Christ, Pastor 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.) In yet another gay pride video produced by a bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the below bishop regrets the “harm” done by prior ELCA teaching that homosexual behavior is wrong. That teaching changed in 2009 (not 2012 as the bishop states) when the ELCA supposedly became enlightened and compassionate and started ordaining practicing homosexuals and performing gay weddings. I myself personally struggle with same-sex attraction but I abstain for the sake of Christ and my soul. I can tell you that the below video is not loving. It is not loving to condone a behavior that will exclude people from God’s Kingdom for eternity. The bishop needs to follow the Bible’s teaching in I Corinthians 6:9-11 and stop kowtowing to the culture. Back in 2009 when the ELCA approved homosexual behavior, conservatives were assured that their viewpoint would also be honored in the ELCA. I know of not one ELCA bishop who publicly upholds the traditional, biblical point of view. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor 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.) Lutherans believe in "Sola Scriptura", that the Bible alone is the highest authority for the Christian. Since the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible, and since the Holy Spirit and Jesus are one in the Trinity, Jesus and the Holy Spirit-inspired Bible are not going to contradict each other. But read the below in which the bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approvingly quotes the belief that Jesus and the Bible can contradict each other. "We Lutherans believe that the Bible truly matters. But, it doesn’t matter as much as the Word made Flesh. It doesn’t matter as much as Jesus. To quote Marcus Borg, “Jesus is the norm of the Bible. When the Bible and what we see in Jesus conflict, as they sometimes do, Jesus trumps the Bible. … In Jesus, Christians see more clearly than anywhere else the character and passion of God.” Years ago my Minneapolis bishop was Herbert Chilstrom who went on to become the first national bishop of the ELCA. He did not want anyone teaching in our Lutheran seminaries who believed in the infallibility of Scripture. Today, years later, this is the result: Lutheran bishops, pastors, and seminary professors who believe Jesus and the Bible can contradict each other. In Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (Read article from ELCA bishop here)  (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 picture from the current issue of Living Lutheran, the national magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Pictured is Guy Erwin leading a worship service at the National Assembly. Erwin is the ELCA’s first homosexual bishop with a “husband“ and he is now the president of an ELCA seminary. The article mentions that the Native American practice of smudging occurred during the assembly, along with the Native American “Prayer to the Four Directions of the Earth.” Smudging is a Native American practice of burning sage in order to get rid of evil spirits and energy. In a previous post here was my comment on incorporating pagan practices into a Christian worship service: “Years ago when I was still a pastor in the ELCA, I went to one of our conventions where we turned to the north, south, east, and west in order to pattern our prayers after Native American spirituality. I got to the microphone and said "I am German, my ancestors worshiped Thor and Odin. Are we going to incorporate Thor worship at our next convention?" When I returned home, I told that story to my congregation and a Native American woman with tears in her eyes said "They're trying to take us back to what Jesus saved me from." This is called syncretism, when people mix various gods and religions together. It is what got the ancient Jews in trouble when they tried to mix Baal worship with the worship of Jehovah.” It is interesting that the ELCA’s national magazine put all of this on display for everyone to read. I hope many ELCA Lutherans will become upset over what happened, but I’m afraid the “frog in the kettle“ syndrome has dulled the senses of many in the ELCA. But I must say to the ELCA: No, ELCA, smudging and sage do not drive out evil spirits, but only the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, Pastor 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.) Pope Benedict passed away recently and the head bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Elizabeth Eaton, has written the below letter of condolence.
I got to thinking. Pope Benedict believed abortion is a sin. Bishop Eaton works for abortion rights. Pope Benedict believed homosexual behavior is a sin. Bishop Eaton has produced gay pride videos. Pope Benedict believed in Hell. Bishop Eaton has said that, if Hell exists, she believes it is empty. Martin Luther believed in Hell and in the sinfulness of abortion and homosexuality. It is ironic that we live in a day when a Catholic Pope is more Lutheran than a Lutheran head bishop. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock --- ELCA presiding bishop issues message on death of Pope Benedict XVI Dear church, Yesterday we awoke to the news of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. As part of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), we mourn his death and celebrate his life eternal in Christ Jesus. In the LWF statement, which I commend to all of you, General Secretary Anne Burghardt reminds us of Pope Benedict's enduring commitment to the unity of Christ's church and, in particular, "his appreciation of the 'Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification' that has enabled many advances in Lutheran-Roman Catholic relations." His brilliance as a theologian and his ecumenical spirit will continue to challenge us to build bridges of mutual understanding and visible unity through dialogue, cooperation and common witness. We also pray for Pope Francis, who will continue to lead the Roman Catholic Church in this historic time – the likes of which haven't occurred since nearly a century before the Reformation. We extend our condolences and unceasing accompaniment to all our Catholic neighbors, including the bishops, priests, deacons, scholars and laypeople with whom we are in dialogue and partnership. Pope Benedict lived in the surety that "whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's" (Romans 14:8). Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: your word has been fulfilled. Amen. In Christ, Elizabeth A. Eaton Presiding Bishop, ELCA (view here)
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
In the video below, the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America makes a plea that Lutherans should become allies of the transgender movement. Lately the ELCA teaching seems to be that men who identify as women don’t need to repent, we who believe something is wrong with that do. The ELCA used to be liberal, now it is radically so. If you are still a member, it is way past time to leave for a more biblical denomination. In Christ, Pastor Tom Brock |
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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