Nebraska Church Being Sued by ELCA Faction

4/17/2013

Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska held two successful votes to leave the ELCA in 2010. The Nebraska Synod Council voted 11-1 to deny the congregation's wishes. (read more about that here) Now Bethel is being sued. (please hold them in your prayers) The statement below is from Bethel's Pastor Jamie Strickler:

Tomorrow April 18th between 1-2 pm Bethel will be in court defending our religious freedom and our belief in the authority of Holy Scripture. 31 plantiffs are suing Bethel on behalf of the ELCA Nebraska Synod to over turn the decision of a 75% majority vote of the congregation to leave the ELCA.

Please pray that the judge will see this law suit for what it is, frivolous, as well as to see that this is a matter of difference in religious doctrine thus the court has no subject matter jurisdiction and throw it out. Although this is our prayer we at Bethel are willing to continue to stand and confess our faith in the face of continued persecution if the Lord wills it to be so.

Please also pray for the repentance of the 31 plaintiffs. Please pray that the Lord will send them a true preacher, one who points to Christ alone, that will preach to them the Lord's authoritative Word of law and gospel in a way that causes them to turn from their current action and return to orthodox confession of faith.

Please stand in agreement with us in the Name of Jesus Christ.

4 Comments

Jonathan C.

4/17/2013 10:10:48 am

Exodus 9:1

Didaskalos

4/19/2013 11:47:23 pm

Come to think of it, Pharaoh's Egypt and the ELCA do have a lot in common: essentially iron-fisted secular regimes, acting out of self-interest, covered by a veneer of man-made religiosity.

Pharaoh comes to Holdredge: “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” [Exodus 5:2]

Dave from Minnesota

4/17/2013 04:11:58 pm

They voted twice, 3-1, to leave the ELCA, yet the ELCA is suing to prevent that? From my experience in dealing with non-profits with internal conflicts, this tells me that the ELCA is in panic mode. The ELCA feels they need to stop this one (and Grace Lutheran in Eau Claire) to prevent a flood of chruches leaving.

Didaskalos link

4/21/2013 05:14:42 am

Wonder if the 31 litigants are also trying to strong-arm Bethel into signing the Orwellian "loyalty covenant" the 2011 national convention passed. A foundering denomination has to keep those shekels coming in, you know.

[from "Bishops Tighten Control," THE LUTHERAN HEDGEHOG, Fall 2011]

New loyalty covenants for congregations. The [2011] Churchwide Assembly also adopted the following:

"To request congregations, in collaboration with synods, to begin, develop, review or redefine their unique mission plans by the end of 2012, so that each congregation strengthens its capabilities and resources for witness and mission;"

The sample covenant (Exhibit 1D) emphasizes that every congregation “shall ... motivate its members to provide financial support” to the ELCA.

Bethel knows who they really are. The website proclaims [ http://bethel-lutheran-church.com ] Bethel Lutheran Church, Associated with Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.

[ http://bethel-lutheran-church.com/about/history.htm ] "In 2010 the congregation elected to leave the ELCA with two successful votes. On February 13, 2011 the congregation of Bethel Lutheran Church voted to join Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC)."

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Nebraska Church Being Sued by ELCA Faction

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Dan Skogen

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