|
Last week, Holy Week, the Metropolitan New York Synod embarked on an effort to encourage people on social media (see April 18th post here) to visit an exhibit called “Stations Of The Cross: The Struggle For LGBT Equality.” The exhibit was held at St. John's Lutheran Church (ELCA) in New York City. This exhibit, that ties Christ's arrest and crucifixion to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights (LGBT), was promoted last year by Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. (WELCA) In a blog I wrote last year (see here) I describe some of the artwork and the artist's descriptions -
The artist's last painting is called “Station 15: Resurrection of Christ.” Here she paints our resurrected Lord and Savior along with two homosexuals, passionately kissing. (see exhibit here)
Why is this acceptable?
2 Comments
ELCA Bishop Robert Alan Rimbo of the Metropolitan New York Synod announced last week that he will be officiating a same-sex wedding this summer. To my knowledge, Bishop Rimbo will be the first ELCA bishop to do this.
Jesus tells us, “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life” (Matt. 7:14). God then warns us of false teachers that teach contrary to God's Word, leading people the wrong way and down the broad road to destruction (Matt. 7 +). Bishop Rimbo and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are acting contrary to Scripture and are leading people into bondage to sin. Bishop Rimbo's actions and words tighten the chains of bondage around people who are embracing their sinful desires and are being affirmed in them with the blessing of clergy and the Church. The ELCA and Bishop Rimbo are those whom Jesus warned us about. Last week Bishop Rimbo was featured in a Wall Street Journal article, where we learned of his intentions to officiate at a same-sex wedding. It is greatly disappointing to read of the extent to which Bishop Rimbo will go to embrace worldly values which go against God's Word. Readers of the article also learned a lot more about the high-ranking ELCA leader – like his unique, gospel-less ways to try to “rebuild his flock.” Here are some highlights from the article:
Throughout the whole article there was not one mention of Jesus or God. Five years ago Bishop Rimbo was quoted by a reporter saying, "After years of personal struggle, of study, of conversations, I believe that people who are gay are created that way. Who am I to deny something that God has created?” (see here) Bishop Rimbo's personal belief goes completely against Scripture. Who is he to deny what God has said in His Word? Pilot Douglas Corrigan, in 1938 filed a flight plan saying he was going to fly to California but he somehow ended up in Ireland. He later said that he must have made a navigational error and flown the “wrong way.” (see here) This incidence earned Douglas Corrigan the nickname “Wrong Way.” Much like Corrigan, Bishop Rimbo and the ELCA leadership, who are supposed to lead people to Christ, are leading their flock and all those listening to them the wrong way, down a road that is broad but leads to destruction. ELCA Bishop Rimbo and his denomination, in my view have also earned the nickname, “Wrong Way.” Read more about Wrong Way Rimbo here and here - The ELCA's Metropolitan Chicago Synod has taken steps to force its ELCA pastors and leadership who are in a sexual relationship with someone of the same-sex to be married.
A November 2013 letter was published by Metropolitan Chicago Synod Bishop Wayne N. Miller titled, "Implications of the Illinois Marriage Equality Act with Respect to ELCA Positions and Policies on Same-Gender Relationships.” In the letter, Bishop Miller writes, “Although the people of the ELCA remain divided on the question of whether the church should or should not use the word 'marriage' to describe life-long, monogamous, intimate partnerships between two people of the same gender, we recognize the authority of civil law on this matter. In this state, same-gender marriage will be a fact rather than an opinion.” Bishop Miller later states, “In Illinois, as of June 1, 2014...pastors and other rostered leaders of our synod will be expected to be married or sexually abstinent, regardless of their gender or sexual self-understanding. Non-compliance with this uniform standard subjects any rostered leader to the Guidelines for Discipline established for leaders of this church.” (read here) The ELCA synod is forcing pastors and ELCA leaders to make a lifelong commitment to God to be in a sinful lifestyle --a lifestyle that God has clearly declared wrong and sinful. A lifestyle God does not want his people to be in or remain in. A lifestyle God wants to free people from. So not only has the ELCA encouraged sinful sexual behavior, this ELCA synod is forcing their gay leadership to make a promise to God that they will continue in it until their dying breath. Matthew 18:6 - "If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
The ELCA will have to answer to God for their wickedness. They continue to encourage Christians who struggle with same-sex attraction to act on their sinful desires. In 2009 the ELCA essentially declared homosexuality good, that it was not sinful but the way God created some people. At the 2013 churchwide assembly the ELCA passed three more memorials centering on homosexuality. The articles by ReconcilingWorks, a Lutheran LGBT rights organization explain the memorials from their point of view:
Also at the 2013 ELCA CW Assembly the newly-elected Presiding Bishop let it be known that she believes the 2009 ELCA homosexuality votes were the right decision (read here) and the man voted to be the Secretary of the ELCA is a vocal advocate for homosexual marriage. (read here) While we are on this topic check out the letter 3 ELCA Bishops in California wrote affirming the right for ELCA churches to perform gay marriages. Of course ReconcilingWorks applauds the statement. (read here) The ELCA... leading people deeper into sin. 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) The ELCA magazine The Lutheran recently reported on the happenings at this spring's ELCA Synod assemblies. It is no surprise that the synods of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, who continue to become more liberal and less Biblical, are fixated on promoting homosexuality and denigrating Israel. The Lutheran reported on the 26 synod assemblies that took place in May 2013, highlighting some resolutions brought before those assemblies; it was not a comprehensive list. Of the resolutions highlighted, 22 were focused on and supportive of homosexuality and related issues and 11 dealt with Israel, promoting positions held by anti-Israel supporters. (see here)
Here are some of the anti-Israel resolutions mentioned in The Lutheran:
Here are some of the pro-homosexuality resolutions:
Also, in a recent news release by the ELCA addressing the upcoming 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburgh, PA, they summarized the actions that the voting members at the assembly will consider this year saying, “Proposals (known as memorials) from the ELCA’s 65 synods include topics such as gender identity discrimination, the Uniting American Families Act, community violence, ministering to same-gender couples and their families, immigration reform, hydraulic fracturing, and the Middle East.” (read here) The Rev. Shelley Wickstrom, Bishop of the Alaska Synod participates in Alaska Gay Pride Festival. (see here and this is another picture of the bishop for verification here) Metropolitan New York Synod posted this on their Facebook page: “Hey--we recognize those people! Pastor Mark Erson and Pastor Heidi Neumark celebrated the overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act yesterday at the Stonewall Inn.” (see the Metropolitan Facebook page here) Sierra Pacific Synod Bishop Mark Holmerud referencing the ELCA 2009 decision to ordain practicing homosexual pastors said the ELCA is now “a better reflection of the light of Christ." (see video below) Based on the bishop's comment, it must mean that those that disagree with the 2009 ELCA decision must be a “poorer reflection of the light of Christ.” The Bible says it well - “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15 As the ELCA encourages people to sin exuberantly, all the way to hell (oops...I forgot they don't believe in hell), real Christian leaders respond to the recent Supreme Court ruling on homosexuality and marriage.
The state of Minnesota recently made same-sex marriage legal. In response to this, Minnesota ELCA bishop, The Rev. Peter Rogness of the Saint Paul Area Synod, has published a statement regarding the new law. (see here) In a nut shell, Bishop Rogness said that each ELCA church in Minnesota should decided for themselves if they will perform same-sex marriages. This statement by the bishop is confirmation that the ELCA officially allows gay marriage ceremonies to be preformed in any ELCA church that desires to hold them if it is legal in their state.
The ELCA has allowed their churches in other states to perform gay marriages where it is legal (see here and here for instance), so this is not new news. But it is another proof for those ELCA members who hide their heads in the sand, saying they believe God's Word, that marriage is intended to be between one man and one woman, (see Mark 10:6-9 and 1 Timothy 3:2) yet they continue to attend and support the ELCA. People, wake up! The ELCA leadership is wrong. The Bible is God's Word, but the ELCA leadership constantly denies its truth while claiming they have a high view of it. They are leading people down the path to destruction. Millions of ELCA members who, not long ago, formally stood by the teachings of Scripture on this matter, are now acquiescing to what their leadership is telling them, despite it being against Scripture. You are sitting under this leadership. Your view and belief of God's Word has already been weakened because of the ELCA, no doubt. You need to attend and be connected to a congregation that actually believes the Bible is God's authoritative Word! Attend and be connected to a congregation that wants to help people out of sin rather than encourage people to embrace and celebrate sin. Attend and be connected to a congregation that leads people to faith in Christ and salvation in Him for those that believe (John 3:16) and receive the amazing gift of God's grace through Jesus' work on the cross (Revelation 3:20) and His victory over the grave, not a denomination that thinks every one is saved no matter what they believe. Many will end up in hell thinking they would go to heaven because of the universalistic false-teaching which is so very prevalent within the ELCA. An Exposing the ELCA poll presented this statement, "Gay marriage is against the will of God."
477 voters said the statement was "True." (72.05%) 185 voters said the statement was "False." (27.95%) 662 people participated in the poll. Almost every other month we get another group of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America bishops and pastors publically advocating for same-sex marriage and calling on voters to do that same. This time it is comes from the state of Illinois.
Twenty-seven ELCA pastors and ELCA bishop Wayne Miller, ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod, signed a letter, along with 230 other clergy saying, "As people of faith and as citizens of Illinois, we ask you to . . . support the freedom to marry." (read here) A newspaper article in The New York Times, "Illinois Clergy Members Support Same-Sex Marriage in Letter Signed by 260" reported that the Illinois legislature is likely to take up legislation on same-sex marriage in January. Speaking to The New York Times, "The Rev. Kim L. Beckmann of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, who lives in the Chicago area, said she was drawn into the movement 'as my gay and lesbian parishioners were welcomed into our congregation.' 'I have participated in blessings of these unions for longer than we’ve even been talking about marriage,' she said. 'I’m thrilled to take this step.'” Laurie Higgins, cultural analyst for the Illinois Family Institute, who supports traditional marriage, commented that the clergy letter "is signed quite obviously by faith leaders who have adopted radical, ahistorical, heretical theological views . . . Their views are informed not by careful exegesis, but by personal desire and political convictions.” (read here) Here is a list of the ELCA leadership who signed the letter - Bishop Wayne Miller, ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod Rev. Dan Hoeger, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, ELCA Pastor Paul Carlson, New Life Lutheran Church, ELCA Dr. Esther Portnoy, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Dr. Kim L. Beckmann, ELCA Pastor Liala Beukema, Lake View Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Erik C. Christensen, St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, ELCA Rev. Michael Fick, Ebenezer Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Fred Kinsey, Unity Evangelical Lutheran Church, ELCA Pastor Craig Mueller, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. John Roberts, Unity Lutheran Church, ELCA Pastor Julie Ryan, Christ the Mediator Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Seminarian Kyle Severson, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA Pastor Michelle Sevig, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Carrie Smith, Bethany Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, Bethany Lutheran Church, ELCA Pastor Keith Fry, Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, ELCA Pastor Lloyd Kittlaus, University Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Betty Landis, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, ELCA Pastor Jim Honig, Faith Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Patrick McGuire, St. John’s Lutheran Church Rev. William Veith, Our Lord's Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Dennis Kelly, Lutheran Church of the Ascension, ELCA Pastor Kathy Nolte, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Dan Schwick, Lutheran Advocacy of Illinois, St. Luke's Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Kenneth Storck, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, ELCA Pastor Stacie Fiedlar, St. John's Lutheran Church, ELCA Rev. Suzanne Anderson-Hurdle, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, ELCA Over 500 Pastors signed a document from “Minnesota Pastors for Marriage.” (see here) “These 500+ Christian faith leaders joined together to state that their love for God, His Word, and their neighbor lead them to vote YES on Amendment 1.” (read here) The Minnesota Marriage Amendment (Amendment 1), which will be voted upon next week, seeks “to place the traditional definition of marriage – one man and one woman – into (the Minnesota) state constitution.” (read here)
Of the over 500+ pastors who signed this letter, I did not find one ELCA pastor on the list. There were many pastors from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, but NONE from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. What does that tell you about today’s ELCA leaders? Since its infancy, Exposing the ELCA has been covering the story of Rebecca Julius, a Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) student who is standing up for Biblical truth in the confines of the liberal pro-homosexual, pro-gay marriage ELCA college.
With Rebecca’s permission, I posted a letter/blog that she wrote explaining her concerns and her idea of how to be, much needed, “salt and light” at Concordia. Here is a link to that blog - Be a Witness for Truth Since that blog was posted on August 23, 2012, there has been a great deal of media attention given to this situation, allowing Rebecca to be a witness for God’s Truth in the many new reports which have resulted. Here are links to a number of them.
I googled, - rebecca julius sin is sin - and came up with hundreds of articles. (see here) Looking through the first six pages of links you can see that a bunch of them are critical reports from the gay community. Please continue to hold Rebecca up on prayer. Minnesota’s Saint Paul Area Synod Bishop Peter Rogness (ELCA) continues to push for gay marriage and make attempts to thwart voter ID laws in his state. Minnesota has two state amendments up for vote, one that declares marriage is between one man and one woman, the other amendment says people have to present photo identification in order to vote in elections. This week, Bishop Rogness sent out an email saying, “It's time to be reminded that our synod assembly encouraged the people of this synod to recognize the reasons to oppose both of the proposed constitutional amendments.” (see here) He then writes a paragraph on each amendment touching on why his readers should not support the amendments.
Additionally, Bishop Rogness’ synod sent out a Facebook message saying, "The Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC), of which the Saint Paul Area Synod is a member, announced its opposition to the voter identification amendment at a press conference on Oct. 16. Bishop Peter Rogness, as president of the organization, delivered a statement outlining the decisions why the MCC took this step.” (see here) All six Minnesota ELCA synods are members of the MCC, of which Bishop Rogness is the president. (see here) The ELCA synods in Minnesota are making every effort to stop these amendments. I wish they would put this kind of effort into bringing the message of salvation to the lost, but to most ELCA leaders that isn’t necessary. This is typical ELCA leadership. They proudly stand against God when it comes to marriage and many leaders have no desire to protect the voting process by stopping voter fraud. (strange how everyone must show your ID to fly, to take the ACT and SAT and even to attend Michelle Obama’s book signings) (see here), yet the ELCA doesn’t want voters to prove they are eligible voters. Exposing the ELCA readers, let me show you what real and faithful Christian leadership looks like. “On November 6, the day before my 94th birthday, our nation will hold one of the most critical elections in my lifetime. We are at a crossroads and there are profound moral issues at stake. I strongly urge you to vote for candidates who support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman, protect the sanctity of life, and defend our religious freedoms. The Bible speaks clearly on these crucial issues. Please join me in praying for America, that we will turn our hearts back toward God.” - Reverend Billy Graham The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America officially allows homosexual marriages, so says the “number two man” in the denomination, David Swartling. At the 2012 Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly it has been reported that, “(I)n response to a query from the floor of the assembly, Secretary of the ELCA David Swartling, at the assembly as the representative of the national church, said that the marriage of same-gender couples in states where that was legal was neither endorsed nor precluded by ELCA policy. Marriage in those circumstances was at the discretion of pastors and congregations.” (read here)
One of the duties of the Secretary of the ELCA is to “prepare interpretations, as necessary, of the Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.” (read here) So the Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, David Swartling, is the highest authority in the ELCA when it come to interpreting ELCA policy. He says the ELCA allows the performing of homosexual marriages. An Executive Director of a gay rights advocacy organization responded to Secretary Swartling's statement this way, “The clarification by Secretary of the ELCA Swartling is a benchmark of the position that ELCA policy takes nationally on the subject of pastors and congregations marrying same-gender couples where that is legal." (see here) What the Executive Director says is true. There should be no doubt that this is the ELCA's official stance. Do not allow anyone to tell you otherwise. The media even confirms this. The Santa Fe New Mexican news site reported, in an article this summer, “Today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America allows ordination of clergy in same-sex relationships. Blessings of same-sex marriages — and marriages in states where they are legally permitted — are performed.” (read here) This is important information because people continue to be given conflicting messages about the ELCA's position on gay marriage. One reader shared with me his concern about leaders trying to lessen or diminish the impact of the ELCA’s 2009 actions, stating, “ . . . ELCA bishops continue to tell congregations that the ELCA has not approved gay marriage taking place in its congregations.” Do not be fooled. ELCA policy allows gay marriages in states where it is legal. |
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.
Give online by clicking the "donate" button below: Categories
All
Archives
June 2026
 Exposing the ELCA is on Facebook 
Follow Exposing the ELCA on Twitter
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Ephesians 5:11
|
RSS Feed