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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.)
At its recent convention, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America passed a resolution to take a second look at its 2009 decision to allow both conservative and liberal views on homosexuality. Some feel this needs to be amended because the LGBT community does not feel “welcomed“ in some ELCA congregations. Conservatives, on the other hand, have not felt welcomed in the ELCA for years. Here are a few examples: As ELCA seminaries become more radical and shrink in numbers, some seminaries have had to sell off buildings. Two ELCA seminaries in Pennsylvania had to merge. When it was discovered that the new president of the newly merged seminary held a conservative viewpoint on homosexuality years ago (she has now become more liberal), people became upset and she had to resign. Who replaced her? The ELCA’s first homosexual bishop with a “husband” is now the president of the ELCA’s United Seminary in Pennsylvania. Another example is the ELCA’s national magazine Living Lutheran, which regularly highlights the liberal view on transgenderism and homosexuality but will not allow a conservative viewpoint in its pages. The ELCA‘s head bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, in recent years has done an annual “gay pride video“ celebrating homosexuality and transgenderism. Such examples show the “tolerance“ of the ELCA is a tolerance of the left. If you are a conservative, you are being pushed to the margin. I remember many years ago when I was still in the ELCA, we were asked at a church convention to get to the microphone and answer the question “Who is the ELCA pushing out of our church?“ Liberal pastors immediately said “Our LGBT brothers and sisters” (that was back when you could say “brothers and sisters“, which is now too binary, Elizabeth Eaton talks about “our LGBT siblings“). I got to the microphone and said “No, the people being pushed out of this denomination are Bible-believing Christians who desire to follow the Word of God.” That was true back then. It is tragically much more true today. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock
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Day 4
The ELCA cares nothing for sharing the Good News of Christ's death and resurrection, the forgiveness of sins for those that believe. With the prevailing belief in universalism in the ELCA, the Good News is not important. Instead they turn to transgender talks in the church, pushing conservative voices out of the denomination, women's marches, gun marches, refugee marches, declaring your pronouns, anti-Israel advocating, abortion love, free sex, pushing leftist beliefs, collecting money, race baiting, making a name for themselves, indoctrinating members and the youth, LGBT everything, destroying faith in God's Word, encouraging and binding people in their sin.
I began this ministry, Exposing the ELCA, in 2009, as a mission of love for those being lied to, whose faith was being destroyed, for those being encouraged to sin and the ELCA’s blessing of sin.
Over the past 13 years Exposing the ELCA has reached many people with over 3.2 million pages viewed, have been quoted on national media, and have heard stories from many who have been helped and blessed by this ministry. I wouldn’t doubt if you know those who after reading some of Exposing the ELCA’s information, left the ELCA and are now part of your church family. The teachings and actions of the ELCA grow colder and bolder in wickedness every year and the need for this ministry is greater than ever. Exposing the ELCA is the primary source in the nation documenting the ELCA's deception, showing people their heresy and disregard and twisting of God's Word. The ELCA would love to see this ministry silenced. They are watching this fundraiser in hopes that it fails. We have a long way to go to meet our goal of $15,000. Is there someone who would give a gift of $10,000? We need your support both large and small, monthly gifts and one-time gifts. Thank you for supporting this ministry! Checks can be sent to: Exposing the ELCA 1390 Forest LN Marion, IA 52302
Here are three newly added ELCA exposing articles:
God has used this to open the eyes of faithful Christians in the ELCA and many are not willing to stay and participate in this evil.
Before we look at some more recent examples of what the ELCA is doing and saying, would you give to the ministry of Exposing the ELCA so we can continue to provide evidence of the ELCA's departure from Truth, God's Word and the Good News of Jesus? Checks can be sent to: Exposing the ELCA 1390 Forest LN Marion, IA 52302 Below are articles detailing what the ELCA has been doing, teaching and advocating for over the last few years: More Universalism from the ELCA
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
The liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has just concluded its national assembly. At the assembly, smoke was dispersed to cleanse from evil spirits and negative energy according to the Native American ceremony called smudging. No, ELCA, evil spirits are not driven out by smoke but only by the name of Jesus Christ. If you tap on the second link below, you can watch pagan smudging going on during an ELCA worship service. Also, the ELCA took up the issue of "bound conscience". Back in 2009 when the ELCA voted to ordain practicing homosexuals, conservatives were assured that their "bound conscience" against homosexual behavior would be allowed in the ELCA. But now, some want that reconsidered so that LGBT people will feel more welcomed in the ELCA. The ELCA already has two practicing homosexual bishops and a while ago elected the world's first transgender bishop. But that is not welcoming enough, some say, and they want the "bound conscience" language to be reconsidered. Kevin Strickland, an ELCA homosexual bishop with a "husband", took to the microphone to share his angst that someone refused to receive holy communion from him because the person objected to the bishop's homosexual behavior. The bishop said that he is tired of having his "personhood" challenged. He wants the church to "reconsider the church's current concept of bound conscience" because the ELCA should be a place where all are welcomed and loved, not condemned. I personally have struggled with homosexual temptation most of my life but for the sake or Christ and my soul, I abstain from this behavior (see "My struggle with same sex attraction" at pastorsstudy.org). I would say to the ELCA's homosexual bishops that no one is challenging their personhood. People are challenging homosexual behavior which the Bible condemns and in which the bishops engage. It is out of love that we tell people to turn from sin since sin dishonors God and hurts us. Indeed, it is very unloving to condone a sin which can eternally separate people from the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-11). So now the ELCA has reached the point where it will examine whether to even allow the traditional, biblical view of homosexuality in its ranks. Indeed, the ELCA's national magazine already bans the conservative viewpoint in its pages. Given the ECLA's syncretism with pagan practices and its affirmation of homosexuality and transgenderism, it is long past time for Bible-believing Christians to leave this denomination. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (To see Bishop Strickland's convention remarks, tap on second link below). Smudging at the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly https://www.facebook.com/100075432623373/videos/839357237232129/ Last week the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America held it's Churchwide Assembly. The assembly brought ELCA leadership from across the nation together. A social media post that includes a picture shows one unofficial gathering that took place (see below) and it includes a comment saying "@ELCA how many rostered ministers you think we can get in a gay bar? #elcacwa #cwa2022". The picture posted below shows ELCA Synod bishop Kevin Strickland, ELCA seminary president (United Lutheran Seminary) R. Guy Erwin, along with apparently many other ELCA ministers. The person in the front row with red hair and in blue is unknown.  (or see here) The person who wrote the social media post was apparently under 18 years old in April of 2021 according to an ELCA biological information for nominees form this person filled out. (The ELCA form is posted on an ELCA run website but I am not posting a link because it contains personal information). The ELCA official Twitter account shows its approval by retweeting the post/picture and saying "Having an awesome time in #Columbus for #ELCAcwa!" (See below) 
The 2022 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Churchwide Assembly is happening this week.
The unbiblical native American practice of "smudging" was one of the events taking place in the large gathering that included all of the ELCA leadership. "Smudging is a Native American ritual that links smoke with spirituality... This is a common ceremonial ritual among indigenous people, held closely within these cultures to purify, spiritually cleanse, rid physical spaces of negative energy, and bless." "Smudging is the bridge between mortal life and higher realms, bringing in good spirits and eliminating any negative, stagnant ones. This ceremony lifts away any sadness, impurities, anxieties, and remediates poor health, leaving nothing but peace and harmony for both individuals and the environment after the cleansing." (Read here) In the comment section of this post by the East Central Synod of Wisconsin are additional pictures and another video. (See here) ELCA Lutherans to incorporate Native American worship and praying "to the four directions"8/6/2022 (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
The increasingly heretical Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will meet in assembly August 8-12 in Columbus, Ohio. The ELCA will denounce "the doctrine of discovery" (Christopher Columbus). Head Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will open the assembly acknowledging their meeting is taking place on the ancestral homelands of the Shawnee, Miami, and Kaskaskia peoples. The worship service will "include a prayer to the four directions, which will incorporate a gathering of waters from the four directions within the territory of the ELCA, and a time of repentance as called for in the Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery." (see here) 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. Please take a moment to pray for the ELCA and its upcoming assembly. Pray that the ELCA will remember the First Commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods. In Christ, Pastor Tom Brock "Goodness and Mercy can be the names of God's righteous lesbian angels, mercilessly (and consensually) flirting with you your whole life. If you like that sort of thing. Ruthless and sacred pursuit from lesbian angels." A pastor in synod leadership in the ELCA, Lura Groen, wrote that on her Facebook page. (see below) Anything seems to go in the ELCA, from polyamory, to goddess worship, to sexual thoughts about angels and so much more. The ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a denomination that has twisted the Bible for years. Satan is the biggest perpetrator of twisting the words of God and it looks like Satan is active and in many ways controlling this denomination.  2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly happens in a couple weeks. On the docket:
"Proposals (known as memorials) from the ELCA's 65 synods that address social justice issues and matters relating to the structure of the ELCA, including greenhouse gas reduction; gun violence; LGBTQIA+ welcome; pastoral counseling as a result of changes to Roe v. Wade; the land back movement; ELCA governance restructure; specialized ministries and on leave from call status; and review and revision of the ELCA social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust, adopted by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly." ttps://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/8163 (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
Now she proclaims on a sign that the Virgin Mary is evidence that we should be pro-choice and she calls her opponents "mother-f....ers". This isn't just some rogue pastor who to my knowledge has never been disciplined by the ELCA for her blasphemy. The head bishop of the ELCA herself, Elizabeth Eaton, went to the White House recently and stood up for abortion rights, desiring to uphold Roe v. Wade. I want to believe that most ELCA Lutherans would not be comfortable paying the travel expenses of Elizabeth Eaton so she could promote abortion rights at the White House. And I have to say it again: it is far past time to leave this on unbiblical denomination and join a good, biblical church which upholds Christian values. In Jesus our Savior, who is the Lord of life, Pastor Tom Brock ELCA’s new gay pride video, but do they support Christians who abstain from homosexual behavior?7/5/2022 (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 video from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's head bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, in which she promotes gay pride. She celebrates and supports her “LGBTQAI+ siblings” (can’t say “brothers and sisters”, too binary). She especially is troubled about bills “targeting transgender youth.” I sure hope this doesn’t mean the bishop supports allowing sex change operations for children. But does the bishop support people like me, who believe the Bible’s teaching that homosexual behavior is sinful? Eaton has never produced a video supporting the traditional, biblical viewpoint. I personally have struggled with same sex attraction most of my life, but for the sake of my eternal soul, I abstain from this behavior (I Corinthians 6:9-11). Countless Christians with same sex attraction for 2000 years have abstained from this behavior. Why are such people not so much as mentioned in the bishop’s video? At pastorsstudy.org you can read my story "My struggle with same sex attraction." You will not find such a story in an ELCA publication, it is not allowed. In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock
The ELCA supports and advocates for abortion (see here), and their bishop's and pastors are overwhelming in support of abortion.
ELCA pastor Elle Dowd, who is a minor celebrity within the ELCA crowd, says, "I love abortion" and "Any reason someone needs - OR WANTS - an abortion is a good reason." 
Michael Rinehart, Bishop of the TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod, of the ELCA made numerous abortion related FB posts, including this one that ends with "Enter the Taliban":
The ELCA's pastor of public witness, Nadia Bolz-Weber, tweets: 
Transgender ELCA pastor Drew Stever says, "I will help you find a safe abortion." 
ELCA pastor Lura Groen took to Facebook with these abortion-related posts: 
Lesbian ELCA synod bishop Brenda Bos writes: The East Central Synod of Wisconsin's synod bishop Anne Edison-Albright posted this: As you can see, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was against this decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. How can anyone support this faux Christian denomination that is against a coach praying to God? 
(The following article was written a number of months ago by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. Pastor Rohrer is no longer a bishop, which is a whole nother story itself. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
In the video below, the world’s first transgender bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America reads her children’s book to help children affirm transgenderism. Apparently, children should be free to choose whatever gender they please, regardless of their God-given anatomy. Bishop Rohrer is “married” to a woman and has two children. Rohrer refers to herself as “they.” Before 2009, a pastor engaging in lesbian behavior would have been disciplined by the ELCA. Today “they” are made a bishop. If you are still in the ELCA, time to run from this denomination. 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.) Below is last week’s memorial service for Lowell Erdahl, long-time bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Bishop Erdahl was a difficult bishop for me. As you may know, I have struggled with same sex attraction most of my life but I follow the Bible's teaching and abstain from such behavior. But Erdahl championed it. I remember a difficult meeting I had years ago with Erdahl in which another pastor and I urged Erdahl to follow the Bible's teaching on this issue, but we left grieved by Erdahl's stance. Erdahl co-authored a book with head ELCA Bishop Herbert Chilstrom entitled "Sexual Fulfillment: For Single and Married, Straight and Gay, Young and Old" in which both Lutheran leaders affirmed gay sex, masturbation and more. At minute 1:09 below you will see a homosexual pastor praise Erdahl for championing the LGBT cause and that Erdahl "unlearned" what he had been taught. May you and I never unlearn the Scriptures. May we follow God's Word even if it goes counter to our desires and to the direction of our culture. What a tragedy to be praised at one's funeral for violating the Word of God and for causing such damage to Christ's Church. Erdahl's view won over the ELCA in 2009 when the ELCA voted to ordain practicing homosexuals. Today the ELCA has the world's first transgender bishop and many ELCA congregations perform homosexual and transgender "weddings". But at the below funeral service, Erdahl was praised as a "faithful servant". Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock PS Tap this link to see Erdahl's "testimony time" of how he came to believe in homosexual behavior. Erdahl states that he ordains practicing homosexuals because “I try to follow Jesus “. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5ZNWtPRGF8&t=226s |
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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