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In an ugly display of anti-Semitism, the ELCA, which continually demonizes Israel, came out with a series of articles and news releases against Israel for what the ELCA views as the annexation of Palestinian land. The ELCA writes that they want "liberation not annexation." In truth, Israel is "extend(ing) its rightful sovereignty over Judea and Samaria." (Quote from here)
But the ELCA showed their anti-Semitic cards, in plain sight, when in a news article the ELCA tried to point to Israel as a reason George Floyd died: "The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director of ELCA Global Mission, said that one should be aware of the connection between the Israeli government’s repressive tactics against Palestinians and those taking place against people of color in a number of localities around the United States. 'As it has been reported, the kind of police tactics used to kill George Floyd are among those taught to a number of police departments that have taken part in training by Israeli police and military forces,” Malpica Padilla said. “For example, 100 Minneapolis police officers received counterterrorism training from Israelis at a conference held in 2012.'” (Read here) It is disgusting that the ELCA is trying to capitalize on the wrongful death of George Floyd and the anger this has generated, to try to infuriate people against the only Jewish country. How can anyone stay, support and pay the salaries of people who would do such a thing? Read more about the ELCA's demonization of Israel here. Kathryn Mary Lohre, Assistant to the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA and Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations & Theological Discernment, writes on the ELCA website about this action of Israel, calling Israel racist toward "Palestinians." She also tries to connect George Floyd and racism in America to what is happening with Israel toward "Palestinians" in a biased advocacy letter, she says: "The racism that has kneeled on the necks of Black Americans for 400 years is part of the same global pandemic as the racism that has been kneeling on the necks of Palestinians for 53 years of military occupation, and that has been even more suffocating under Israel’s nation state law, adopted in 2018." (See here) ELCA's top bishop Elizabeth Eaton is so passionate about advocating against Israel that she took to her official Twitter account to display more of her biased understand of the Israeli situation: 
— Bishop Eaton (@ELCABishopEaton) June 29, 2020
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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recently shared a LGBT+ organization's article with the comment "Each of us is a beloved child of God, perfectly and wonderfully made, just as we are. Thanks to ReconcilingWorks for this Lutheran introduction to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression."
Rev. Tom Brock had this to say about the ELCA Facebook post: "A man used to be 'he' and a woman 'she'. Not anymore in the 'enlightened, woke' world of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. If there is any doubt that this denomination has gone radically liberal, look at the below article from the official Facebook page of the ELCA. And, again, if you are still a member of the ELCA, time to take your money, time and talents elsewhere and join a Biblical denomination." (See here)
(The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
Listen to the one and a half minute video below to hear how excited the leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is to affirm homosexuality and transgenderism. The Bible declares these behaviors to be sinful, but you won't hear that from the ELCA. I have struggled with same sex attraction most of my life, but I abstain for the sake of Christ and my soul (I Corinthians 6:9-11). You can read my struggle at pastorsstudy.org and also see there my article "What does the Bible say about homosexuality?" I don't appreciate that the ELCA never acknowledges people who have same sex attraction but are celibate for the sake of the Kingdom. The ELCA is all about celebrating those who practice homosexuality and their "loving, committed relationships." Once again, if you are still a member of the ELCA, it is long time past to get out. In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock PS I just put this comment on the ELCA's facebook page, where almost all the comments love what Bishop Eaton says: Bishop Eaton's video is tragic. I personally have struggled with same sex attraction most of my life but for the sake of Christ and my soul, I abstain (see my story at pastorsstudy.org). The Bible teaches that those who continue in impenitent homosexual behavior will not inherit the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-11). It is not loving to tell people that sin is no longer sin. The ELCA leadership and publications regularly highlight clergy and others who live in homosexual behavior ("loving, committed relationships") but you will find no word in Living Lutheran magazine about people with same sex attraction who are celibate for the Kingdom. 
The ELCA has an agenda. They want to instill their beliefs into people including children and teenagers. That is why you should not send your youth to ELCA Youth Gatherings. The ELCA has demonstrated this indoctrination for the last decade at the ELCA National Youth Gatherings (see here, scroll down the page) and they did it again last few months in these posting on the official Twitter page of the ELCA Youth Gathering -
(The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) I have same-sex attraction, and I don't appreciate yet another promotion of homosexuality by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America If you go to my website, pastorsstudy.org, you will see the story of my personal struggle with same-sex attraction. Because the Bible teaches that homosexual behavior is sin (I Corinthians 6:9-11), I abstain from this behavior. But below is yet another example of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America promoting homosexuality.  Emmy Kreger is a lesbian pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who is "married" to a woman. She has been featured before in the ELCA's national magazine, Living Lutheran, and is featured again this month (May 2020). In this article she refers to herself as "queer" and "married to a woman." She states "We dwell in a world that--from the moment of "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!--binds us up in boxes that shut out some of the best among us." She talks about a man "who sent me a long diatribe about my sinfulness" and referred to I Corinthians 6:9-11 "as if I hadn't known those verses would be used to condemn me since I was old enough to read my third-grade Good News Bible." Sadly, Pastor Kreger and the ELCA have found a way around I Corinthians 6:9-11 and similar verses. The argument normally goes like this: "The Bible does not condemn loving, committed same sex behavior, only promiscuous, exploitive homosexual behavior". That doesn't work because the Bible never says "Its okay if you love each other". Romans 1 says homosexuality is "against nature" and never adds that it becomes natural if you are in love (see my article "What does the Bible say about homosexuality?" for all the verses). Kreger's article talks about "out" parents of her church and "exiles from megachurches and family churches who wander through our church doors", presumably LGBT people, who discover "We might be OK here." What I think that means is "You will never hear a sermon against homosexuality here, you can be safe in your sin here, in fact, I, the preacher, am an out lesbian." I remember years ago when an old Lutheran pastor bemoaned that a liberal Lutheran bishop was promoting homosexuality, saying "We are nicing people right into Hell." If I Corinthians 6 is correct and people who live impenitently in homosexual behavior will not inherit the Kingdom of God, then we must humbly, lovingly urge people to turn from this behavior. But instead the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA, the Disciples of Christ and the ELCA Lutherans have all found a way of circumventing Scripture--and of "nicing" people into Hell. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock PS If you or someone you love struggles with homosexuality, there is help at restoredhopenetwork.org 
Some of our more extreme members of society are calling to abolish and defund police in the United States. Not surprisingly, ELCA pastors have been joined in, voicing this radical and dangerous idea. Below is a sampling.
ELCA pastor, Elle Dowd, posts continually on this topic. Last week she shared an article that is seeking to "Defund Police," "Remove Police from Schools," and "Free People from Jails and Prisons." Here Rev. Elle Dowd is posting information about abolishing the police. ELCA Rev. Emily Scott has been active on social media encouraging the defunding of police: Marching in a protest, ELCA pastor, Adam Dowd writes "#abolishThePolice." On another post, Rev. Adam Dowd writes, "This is why we need #AbolitionNow #veteransforpeace #NoGoodCops" (see here) Infamous ELCA pastor, Lura Groen, wants to abolish police: Atticus Zavaletta, an ELCA trans vicar, wants to defund the police: 
See link here. Then we have ELCA Rev. Clint Schnekloth posting an article about the police abolition movement: 
ELCA seminary student, Amy Courts, posted this article about abolition of the police: Amy Courts goes on:
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Joelle Colville-Hanson, Director for Evangelical Mission, Northeastern Iowa Synod of the ELCA posted this:
(The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) This past summer the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in convention passed a resolution calling for more expansive, inclusive language for God. The national magazine of the ELCA, Living Lutheran, is very liberal and I am sure happy to oblige. So here is their recent article telling us to pray to “God the Mother”. When God the Father is no longer “enough”, something has gone terribly wrong. Yet another reason to flee this unbiblical denomination. In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock https://www.livinglutheran.org/2020/05/god-or-mother-both/ 
The leader of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presiding Bishop, issued a statement via Twitter and Facebook:
"The president used federal troops to clear a path through peaceful protesters in order to stand before an Episcopal church make a statement and hold up a bible. Neither the priest nor the bishop were consulted or warned. Not only was this manipulative it was desecration" (See below). This statement is highly political, bias and an abuse of her office. Going to a church building, with your Bible, is manipulative? President Trump doing so is an act of desecration? This should be eye-opening to any conservative Bible-believer who remains in the denomination. Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has gone full-blown extremist in thinking this, let alone making a public declaration of this sort. This denomination has turned their keys over to liberal leftists who Bible-twisting seminaries have been raising up for decades. They are doubling up their efforts to indoctrinate all who will listen. Staying in the ELCA harms your soul, funds false teaching and the ELCA's destructive efforts, provides a facade of Christianity to onlookers and gives power to the ELCA's collective voice. It is time to free yourself from the chains of destruction and falsehood that the ELCA has embraced. 
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Facebook page then shared Presiding Bishop Eaton's statement: Bishop Michael Rinehart of the ELCA's Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod also voiced his approved of statement:
(The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) This is so tragic and difficult to watch, I couldn't make it all the way through. Austen Hartke is a transgender person who has been featured in Living Lutheran, the official magazine of the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In the below video, Hartke interviews Reverend Dr. Megan Rohrer, the first ELCA transgender pastor. Rohrer uses the pronoun "they" and identifies as both male and female. Rohrer talks about the medical decision on whether to become "Ken or Barbie" and reveals that her child is also transgender. A different transgender pastor preached at my alma mater, the ELCA's Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, to commemorate the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The transgender pastor led in the Lord's Prayer, saying "Our Mother in Heaven." This is the strange new world of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America which has decided to reject God's intention for sexuality and has opened itself to a variety of "sexualities" for its pastors. May the Lord lead you out of this denomination if you have not left yet. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock 
Many ELCA leaders are stating that churches should remain closed because of Covid-19. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton took it to the next level, going political, by criticizing President Trump for his statement over allowing in-person church services.
Below are just a couple statements by ELCA leadership telling churches not to meet in response to President Trump -
With a rainbow flag and the hashtags #QueerEye and #Pride the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America took to their official Facebook and Twitter accounts to promote an a LGBTQ+ based television show "Queer Eye" which features an ELCA pastor on an upcoming episode. An ELCA bishop and an ELCA transgender pastor also make appearances on the episode.
In an subsequent post, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America expresses gratitude:
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries and ReconcilingWorks are LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. It is obvious to see that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is in complete support and celebration of homosexuality, despite Scripture's admonitions to turn from it. The ELCA's encouragement is harmful to individuals and they are quashing the work of the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sinful ways. Bible-believing ELCA pastors have little choice but to get on the front lines and publicly call the denomination to repent, or they need to lead their congregations away from the danger they are surrounded by in being in the ELCA. 
(The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)  10 years ago the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to ordain practicing homosexuals as pastors. This caused the largest church split in American history and the ELCA lost many members and donations. One ELCA seminary building was sold to Muslims, two other seminaries merged, and my alma mater Luther Seminary has had to sell off some of its buildings. Nevertheless, some ELCA bishops celebrate the move to have non-celibate homosexual and transgender pastors. Here is a statement from Bishop Jim Arends of the La Crosse Area Synod: "This is the 10th anniversary of the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ clergy and deacons. As we celebrate the work of the gay pastors in our synod we seek to grow in understanding and inclusion. The Synod Council voted this spring to provide training in the issues and realities of the LGBTQIA+ community. As opportunities are offered in the months to come, please take advantage of them." (See here, a little over half way down the page) So it appears it is not enough that liberals in the church got the ELCA to approve homosexual relationships in 2009, now in 2020 they want to train Lutheran church members to be on board with the LGBTQIA+ movement. Your ELCA offering dollars at work. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Rob Bell once served as pastor for an evangelical church but became controversial when he denied the existence of Hell. He has appeared on Oprah's network. Lutherans believe in eternal punishment because this is the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 25:46) and also of the Lutheran Confessions, which Lutheran pastors pledge to uphold. But the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America continues to go down the road of denying Hell with this promotion on the Minneapolis Area Synod's website: "An evening with Rob Bell and Peter Rollins. Hear inspiration, challenge, hope, and promise from two of the best tellers of good news in the world" (to be held August 17th). (See here) ELCA head Bishop Elizabeth Eaton was asked by a Chicago newspaper "Does Hell exist?" Her response: " It may, but i think its empty." This past summer the ELCA in convention passed an interreligious resolution saying that we don't know what God thinks of non-Christian religions. One delegate tried to make an amendment, saying that we do know what God thinks because John 14:6 says Jesus is the only way of salvation. He was voted down by 97 percent. During my first year in college, I tried not to believe in Hell. That year I re-read the New Testament and every time Hell was mentioned, I wrote it down. I came to believe that we cannot be faithful to the words of Christ and the New Testament and deny the existence of Hell. If you attend a church where the pastor does not believe in Hell, I encourage you to find a church--and a denomination--which does. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock  
ELCA pastor Lura N. Groen has been highlighted on Exposing the ELCA many times. She is one of the most radical and heretical ELCA pastors I have come across. (See here and below for a number of things she has been saying. Some of it is blasphemous and vile.)
With that said, Pastor Lura N. Groen has been endorsed and placed into postions of influence and leadership by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Below are some writings and social media content from Rev. Groen. Sorry for the shocking and odious content. How can the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America leadership allow someone, who speaks and believes as this pastor does, to rise in their leadership ranks? How can they allow Rev. Groen and many ELCA pastors like her, to mock the One True God? The ELCA is culpable and responsible for this. They allow it and give it a platform in their midst. The true God of Scripture is not the God the ELCA serves. The Holy Spirit does not dwell in it. 
Continuing from Rev. Lura N. Groen's article posted above "I Hope You Have Only Good Sex" (see the complete article here), she writes, "This is, for me, an open expression of a deeply faith based sexual ethic. My Christian way of saying the same thing is to hope that each of you has sex in way, and only in a way, that is set free to love God, self, and neighbor. And that every time you have sex you respect the image of God in yourself and in your partner(s). That you treat yourself and every other body involved as holy, a temple, beloved by God, created beautifully, fearsomely and awesomely made."
Some of Rev. Groen's comments get even worse:
In the next post Rev. Lura Groen shared an article titled "What Promiscuity Taught Me About God's Love." The article was from QueerTheology.com.
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Sadly, the ELCA has rejected Jesus' own way of referring to God as Father. They must "know better" than Him. This is not just a one time thing. It has been happening for awhile. See a few instances of that here. (click and scroll down)
The ELCA wrote this prayer in their publication, Bread for the Day and yesterday they posted the prayer on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Facebook page. (See here or below) 
Radical ELCA seminarian Elle Dowd claims to be the author of this "Mother God" prayer, that the ELCA chose to use in their devotional book and on their official Facebook page. Why is ELCA leadership using her as a source for the denomination's prayers/material? See more about the author here. 
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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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Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Ephesians 5:11
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