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Luther Seminary, ELCA, is holding a festival, a "Festival of Homiletics" (the way of writing sermons and preaching).
The festival's theme is "Preaching a New Earth: Climate and Creation." We learn from their website that, "Our God needs our help to speak the truth about where and how God’s Earth groans for renewal, even resurrection, how our very climate changes are God’s cries for help." God is crying for help? Their site continues "The 2020 Festival of Homiletics theme invites preachers to imagine their own role in God’s creative work, to be courageous in preaching about God’s creative activity, and to claim boldly our role in caring for God’s creation, when God’s very creation is at stake." (See here) Also, notice the great effort to which the ELCA seminary goes to avoid using male pronouns for God in those sentences? "The Festival’s ownership, leadership and planning efforts are with Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota." (See here) One of the speakers is controversial ELCA pastor Lenny Duncan. (See here and learn more about Rev. Duncan here)
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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America cares about this planet, and that is admirable. But all too often this platform results in extreme measures and calling for policies based on questionable-science and conclusions. In an article from the ELCA's Living Lutheran website, Amy Reumann, Director of ELCA Advocacy, states, "Climate change is the result of human sinfulness, as we in the U.S. consume more than our fair share of natural resources through unsustainable lifestyles and energy use while those who contribute least to greenhouse gas emissions are suffering its impacts the most.” (See here) Ruth Ivory-Moore, the ELCA Program Director for Environment and Corporate Responsibility, similarly states, “All of creation is experiencing the impact of global warming. These extreme weather patterns result in unprecedented floods, droughts and wildfires, and rising sea levels that are leading to the degradation of the earth. And the consequences are not being borne equally. The most vulnerable among us are paying a higher price; that is, they are disproportionately impacted with extraordinary losses and damages. We are truly in a dire situation, but there is hope—both spiritually and scientifically.” These are highly questionable statements. Offering dollars given to the ELCA go to pay for this kind of advocacy. 
Just days ago, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) displayed their support for "climate justice" by posting an article on Facebook titled "As Climate Summit begins, Churches Call for Action Now!"
The ELCA Facebook post quoted the article saying, "As people of faith, we call on the nations gathered at this summit to act ambitiously to address the impact of climate change.” ELCA Advocacy also chimed in on climate change with this post: From the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA: More on climate change from ELCA Advocacy:
The ELCA also offered a webinar called "Moving Forward: A Guide to Climate Action For Your Congregation and Community." More can be found on the ELCA website on their "environment" page. 
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America produced a new video that tells people to "Talk about climate change with your families, friends, colleagues and local congregations."
And, states, "Studies have shown that congregations where pastors talk about climate change have people who are more likely to engage in taking care of creation and to advocate for climate solutions." See the video below. It is good to care about the Earth, but there is a great deal of debate about climate change and if it is caused by humans. The ELCA has decided it is. But beyond that, why isn't the ELCA encouraging people to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins? You don't hear that message, and it is of utmost importance. Life on Earth is certainly important, but this is how we have true life now and eternal life in heaven. Here is an environment page on ELCA.org where the video can also be found. 
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) The latest edition of Living Lutheran, the official magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, deals much with "environmental justice" and the dangers of global warming. One article quotes Ruth Ivory-Moore, ELCA program director for environment and corporate responsibility. Who knew the ELCA had such a position? The number of missionaries being sent out by the ELCA is down, but this environmental position has been created. Also in this issue is an article by Bishop Guy Erwin, the ELCA's gay bishop who has a "husband."
Eaton's article talks about dangers to the environment, mentions Earth Day, and then she gives this disturbing definition of the Gospel:
"Here's the gospel. Human beings are part of the creation. Human beings are connected to everything in the cosmos. Human beings are connected to God. We are not doomed to alienation. That God is more present than we are to ourselves gives us a path to reconnect with God, each other and all of creation. The judgment is that we do not even perceive that the One who created all things is intimately present. The promise is that the One who created all things is intimately present. We--all created things--are family." No, that is not the Gospel. The Apostle Paul defined the Gospel in I Corinthians 15:1-5: Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. Paul doesn't say the Gospel is that "we are connected to the cosmos." Eaton's "gospel" in this article does not mention Jesus or the cross. This is the strange, new world of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a denomination far removed from Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, but closely allied with liberal politics, the LGBT movement, and "environmental justice". Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock
Madeline Burbank is a Master of Divinity student at the ELCA's Luther Seminary. Below is an announcement she made on her Facebook page about her education choice and the motivation behind it. Madeline Burbank does not mention telling people about Jesus and His free gift of salvation. It is about "Effective relief efforts, lifelong service, environmental stewardship, anti-racism, immigrant and refugee support, intersectional feminism, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, interfaith dialogue, sex positivity, and improving education..."
Everyone should be frightened about the pastors the ELCA is and has ordained. 
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) ELCA former bishop to teens: “I’m pissed off” about school shootings, “I grieve” unclean water, “I am furious” about separation of children at the border, but says nothing about separation of children in the womb Former bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Reverend Stephen Bouman, told 31,000 Lutheran teenagers at the ELCA’s youth assembly last week that he is angry about school shootings, the unclean environment, blaming Muslims, and separating children at the border. But in his speech he said nothing about the tragedy of separating children in the womb. Why? The ELCA is so radically pro-choice that it pays for abortion for any reason in the ELCA healthcare plan, which is funded by offering dollars. That’s right, your ELCA offering dollars at work, killing unborn children. I believe people who are pro-choice should sit out the discussion about separating children from their mothers. If you have any doubt that the ELCA wants its teenagers to be liberal democrats, endorse things like “Black Lives Matter”, etc., watch the below video. The ELCA claims to be a “big tent” which welcomes everyone, including conservatives. No sign of that in this message. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (The following two articles were written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)
Today ELCA Lutherans pray for manatees and sea turtles, not the lost We have noted in a number of postings how the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America--the large, liberal branch of Lutheranism in the United States--very regularly prays for saving the environment in its weekly "Prayers of the Church". I am still waiting for ONE prayer that asks God to bring lost PEOPLE to saving faith in Christ. Today, the Augsburg/Fortress ELCA prayers included prayer "For polluted oceans and rivers, we seek your healing...Restore the homes of manatees and sea turtles. Teach us to love the earth as you do." I don't know of a verse in the Bible that talks about God's love for manatees and sea turtles, but there are many verses that talk about God's love for lost human beings. What is going on? My guess is that the person(s) responsible for writing the ELCA prayers is highly interested in saving the environment but has little zeal that lost people to come to saving faith in Christ. The heresy of universalism teaches that all people will be saved, regardless of whether they believe in Jesus or not. John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 16:31 and numerous other verses teach otherwise. But universalism has invaded ELCA seminaries and is taught in the ELCA's official magazine The Lutheran. This, even though the ELCA's official founding documents teach that we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. As long as more prayers are made for the environment than for the lost, it indicates that one thing is officially professed, but something quite different is being lived out in the ELCA. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org And, Hijacking the Lutheran Reformation for “Eco-justice” In the year 2017 Lutherans will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s rediscovery of the Bible’s teaching that we are saved by grace alone through Christ alone. Some liberal church leaders don’t like to talk about saving people from Hell and such. Instead, they would rather talk about saving the planet. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has a publication called “Seeds for the Parish.” Some of us years ago referred to it as “Weeds for the Parish” because of its liberal slant. Here is an excerpt from its most recent edition: What is your congregation doing to prepare for the 2017 observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation? There are many activities and resources being prepared across the church. Included in these efforts is a group of ELCA pastors, teachers and laity that have formed the Eco-Justice Reformation 2017 Working Group. The group grew out of a conviction that the continuous reformation of the church leads its members to address the ecological crises facing humanity and the Earth. Of course, nothing is wrong with being good stewards of the environment. What is wrong is that one rarely hears about Jesus saving PEOPLE from eternal hell in ELCA publications. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org (The following article was written a week ago by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)
Today in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s “Prayers of the Church”, this prayer was made: “Make your church a prophetic voice for the voiceless…” I thought of the voiceless cries of over 3,000 unborn children who die daily in American abortion clinics. To my knowledge, the ELCA has never had a prayer for unborn children. Perhaps this is because the ELCA pays for abortion for any reason in its healthcare plan—which is funded by offering dollars. That’s right, your offering dollars can be used to pay for elective abortions. Way back in 1996 when I was an ELCA pastor I sent letters to all 11,000 ELCA congregations upon discovering the ELCA pays for elective abortions. Sadly, the ELCA bishops sided with the current (and still current) policy of paying for abortion for any reason, including sex selection. The issue came before the 1997 ELCA assembly. It was proposed that the ELCA limit abortion payments to rape, incest and fetal anomaly incompatible with life. For some of us, these exceptions are not valid reasons for abortion, but it was hoped that this compromise would pass and limit the vast number of reasons that the ELCA would pay for abortion. We lost. Two-thirds of the assembly voted to continue to pay for abortion for any reason, and no reason, in its healthcare plan. As one pastor said back then “Real churches don’t kill babies.” But the ELCA does. Back in those days I received a letter, I believe from a pastor’s wife, who said she was so glad the ELCA “was there” to pay for her 16-year-old daughter’s abortion. So is it any wonder that the ELCA never prays for unborn children? And again this week the ELCA offered an environmental prayer: “Guard all creatures that fly, swim, creep, and walk upon the earth. Defend and preserve threatened lands and waters.” But again, no prayer that God would bring lost human beings to saving faith in Christ. No prayer that God would guard the unborn. But they can pray for the environment. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org (The following two articles were written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)
Still waiting for one ELCA prayer for the lost The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's weekly "Prayers of the Church" printed in the bulletin are less than evangelistic. Prayers are regularly made for the environment, but I am still waiting for one prayer asking God to "save the lost" or "bring unbelievers to Christ". Instead, this Sunday we prayed: "... For coastlands and mountains, rivers and deserts, prairies and valleys; for wilderness and cities, lakes and oceans; for farmlands and pastures, forests and rangelands; and for orchards, vineyards, and gardens. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer." There was a prayer for the Church, pastors, bishops, teachers and missionaries, but that is as close as we get to pleading for God to bring people to Christ. Wouldn't a prayer like the following be great? "Lord, bring Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, atheists and all kinds of people to saving faith in the Lord Jesus, and use our missionaries to save the lost." But we never hear an ELCA prayer like this. Instead, we often pray for plants. I fear part of the reason is that many in the ELCA hold to the heresy of universalism, namely, that all people will be saved, regardless of whether they believe in Christ. The number of missionaries the ELCA sends out has gone done dramatically since its founding in 1988. Head bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the ELCA was quoted to say "The work of the Church is not so much saving souls, that's God's work." It is God's work, but it is a work that Jesus has given into the hands of the Church in His last words (Matthew 28:19-20). Until the ELCA realizes that Jesus' main command is to "go ye therefore", I am afraid there will be more prayers for "lakes and oceans, vineyards and gardens." Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org (And) More ELCA prayers to save the planet, not the lost Again, today's prayers from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Augsburg/Fortress Press that are used in ELCA worship services had no mention of praying for the lost to be saved. Instead we asked the Lord to "preserve the whole creation so that animals, plants, and land flourish. Protect endangered species and renew polluted waterways....Lord, hear our prayer." "Endangered" grabbed my attention. Do we care that human souls are endangered with a Christ-less eternity? Or do we care more about "endangered species and polluted waterways"? Years ago, when I was still in the ELCA, some conservative pastors and I offered a resolution reaffirming the Bible's teaching that Jesus is the only way of salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). It lost. But a statement warning church coffee drinkers about the dangers of the non-biodegradable styrofoam cup was received warmly. I got to the microphone and pointed out that if we cared half as much about the dangers of Hell as we do about the dangers of styrofoam cup, there might be hope for the ELCA. That was years ago. The number of ELCA missionaries has gone down dramatically since. In Christ, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)
Today is Reformation Sunday, the day Protestants praise God for Martin Luther's rediscovery of the Bible's teaching that we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Sadly, many in liberal, mainline Protestant denominations no longer believe we are saved by faith in Christ alone. Many pastors and seminary professors have embraced the heresy of universalism which teaches that all people, whether they believe in Jesus or not, will go to heaven. The problem with universalism is that Jesus taught the opposite. Jesus frequently preached about Hell, more than anyone else in the Bible. Jesus insisted He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), and those who reject Him are condemned (John 3:18). This was also the preaching of the Apostles (Acts 4:12). But universalism has zapped the missionary zeal of the Church. The number of missionaries sent out by liberal denominations has fallen dramatically in recent decades. Back to the prayers from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Augsburg/Fortress Press. Today in church we prayed: Reinvigorate those places that have become desolate through human intervention or natural disaster. Breathe new life into plants, animals and watersheds, Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Nothing is wrong with praying for the environment, but when we pray regularly for the salvation of the planet and rarely or never for the salvation of unbelievers, something is wrong. I am waiting for one prayer from the ELCA that goes something like this: Lord, we pray for the missionaries to bring the Good News to the lost, that Jesus is the only Savior who can bring salvation from Hell, forgiveness of sins and eternal life for all who believe. I have yet to hear the words "only Savior", "lost", or "Hell" in ELCA prayers. In Jesus, the only Savior, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org (The following article was written by Rev. Tom
Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.) I attend a Missouri Synod Lutheran church. The Missouri Synod is much more Biblical than the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but for some reason my Missouri Synod church is using the Augsburg/Fortress "Prayers of the Church" of the ELCA on Sunday mornings. Here is what I have noticed in the past two years. The Augsburg/Fortress prayers regularly pray for the environment, the planet, etc., but I don't remember one prayer for the salvation of the lost. Recently we prayed that God would help our churches practice "radical hospitality". I don't think most people know what that means, but in ELCA circles it can mean the affirmation of homosexual and transgender behavior. This past Sunday the Augsburg/Fortress prayers asked the Lord to "Strengthen the bonds between humans and the animals...Teach his to value all animals." I thought to myself "I have never heard an Augsburg/Fortress prayer asking us to value all human life, born and unborn." Most of the Augsburg/Fortress prayers sound very nice, but don't hold your breath for the ELCA prayers to ask God to save people from eternal Hell through Jesus Christ or to save unborn children from the horror of abortion. In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org The following is by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. Follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.
The April issue of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's official magazine, The Lutheran, has on its cover "Helping Save the Earth". The articles inside are about saving the planet. Yes, we should be good stewards of the environment, but I got to thinking: When is the last time The Lutheran had a cover article "Saving lost human souls through the Gospel of Christ"? I have never seen such a cover. Maybe because the ELCA doesn't know if it believes people are really lost without Christ. The Lutheran has printed a number of articles espousing universalism, the heresy that faith in Christ is not necessary for salvation (ultimately everyone universally will be saved, Christian or not). Where in the ELCA is the zeal for saving lost human souls? Tragically, I believe it has been replaced with concern for saving the planet, changing immigration laws, Middle East politics, gay advocacy, etc. etc. Just go to ELCA.org and look at its "News releases". Its mainly liberal politics. Perhaps the reason the number of ELCA missionaries has dropped dramatically since the ELCA's founding in 1988 is because many in ELCA leadership do not believe in Hell anymore. And in the ELCA's hymnal, the line in the Apostle's Creed that Jesus "descended into hell" has been left out. Years ago when I was still in the ELCA, some conservative pastors and I went to our Minneapolis Area Synod conventions every year and raised questions like: Why does the ELCA pay for abortion with offering dollars in its healthcare plan? Why is the ELCA promoting homosexuality? Why are we changing the Biblical "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" language for feminine images of God? One year we even had a resolution reaffirming the Bible's teaching that Jesus is the only way of salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). It lost. What did pass one year was a resolution that we go back to our churches and encourage that we drink coffee out of ceramic cups because styrofoam cups are dangerous to the environment. I could take it no more and got to the microphone: "If we cared half as much about the dangers of hell as we do about the dangers of the styrofoam cup, there might be hope for this synod." Well, in three days we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, when He triumphed over sin, death and Hell for us. And yes, according to the Bible and Jesus Christ Himself, Hell really does exists. In the love of our Risen Savior, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org The statement below is written by an ELCA pastor who posted this on an ELCA facebook page -
“After last night I am close to despair. There are so many now who will be out of the scope of concern in policy and practice. More time will be wasted trying to take new health insurance from those newly covered. Keystone will probably be approved to the detriment of the land, creatures and people from whom it will be taken. National parks and sanctuaries will be in danger. Safety nets will be cut to pay back the money poured into this election. Any new Supreme Court justices will be anti Roe v Wade and pro Citizen's United. Global climate change is now in the hands of people don't believe in science and creationism will be supported in science classrooms.... These are the platforms that our newly elected politicians won on. I am so disappointed that we are the self elevating, it's all about me, to Hell with the poor nation owned by money. Here is Iowa we now have Steve King and Joni Ernst in Washington. As John Steward said, last night money won. Ideas lost. As advocates for the least among us we will need to be vigilant and even more counter cultural. Kyrie eleison.” 60 ELCA people “liked” this post. Anybody else have problems with this ELCA pastor's lament? The 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly elected William Chris Boerger the new secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Rev. Boerger is the former bishop of the Northwest Washington Synod, a position he held for 12 years. He made a name for himself, over those twelve years, showing himself to be a vocal gay rights, liberal activist. So let me tell you more about the man the ELCA has voted to hold the second most powerful position in the denomination.
The Homosexual Rights Activist: Here is a statement made by Bishop Boerger to the Washington state Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee: "Mr. Chairman, I am Chris Boerger, the bishop of the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Church in America . . . In 2009, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to commit itself to find ways to allow congregations who choose to do so, to support and hold publicly accountable lifelong monogamous same gender relationships . . .One of the people who had questions about our doing this said, "Bishop, isn't that marriage?" And my response is, "Well, in everything but name." The reality is, the Lutheran church has always held that it is the state that defines what marriage is; it's the church that then blesses people who enter into that relationship. We have now stated our desire to bless those who are publicly accountable in lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships. We can't call it marriage, you can . . . we ask for that freedom." (see here, beginning at the 1:12:20 mark) The Lutheran LGBT rights organization ReconcilingWorks celebrated the election of Rev. Boerger to his new office and Executive Director, Emily Eastwood said, “Pr. Chris Boerger has been an ally for full participation for many years. His prophetic witness in favor of civil marriage equality for same-gender couples before the Washington State legislature was remarkable in its clarity. Chris ordained our own regional director, Pr. Kari Lipke, and has been an avid supporter of clergy in same-gender relationships as their bishop...We applaud his election and look forward to the ways in which we may partner with him in the years ahead.” (read here) ReconcilingWorks also reports that in 2012 “Bishop Chris Boerger said in his remarks closing the synod assembly that he pledged to continue speaking in favor of civil marriage equality until it became the law of the land in Washington State.” (read here) At a retirement party/roast for Bishop Boerger “Jan Nesse said that in this unique time to be the church she and the Bishop had more talks about sex than in all the years she taught sex education.” (read here) The Anti-Israel Activist: Bishop Boerger and Presiding Bishop-elect Elizabeth E. Eaton were two of 58 ELCA bishops who signed a letter to President Obama in 2009 concerning Israel and Palestinians. In the letter it was written, “We express profound concern at the stalemate that persists and at the fading hopes for a two-state solution due to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.” And “We urge the U.S. to insist upon an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land...” and “ The ELCA has long called for a halt to settlements, and we reiterate that call now with a deep sense of urgency.” (read here) The Environmental Activist: “ELCA Bishop Chris Boerger (NW WA) stated that it 'is “blatant sin” for human beings to fail to protect creation' (ELCA News Release 11/23/2010). Boerger represented ELCA bishops as leaders from 56 denominations and faith-based organizations called on the US Senate to leave intact the power of the US Environmental Protection Agency to regulate pollutants.” (read here) Also, “Chris Boerger, who serves as bishop for the Northwest Washington Synod, came to Washington, D.C., as part of a delegation of senior religious leaders to speak to members of Congress and to Obama administration officials about a proposed gold and copper mine, which threatens the world’s largest wild salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska.” (read here) |
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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