Nebraska Church Takes First Step to Leave ELCA

EXPOSING THE ELCA

Nebraska Church Takes First Step to Leave ELCA

8/18/2014

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Posted on facebook by Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, NE -

Post by Bethel Lutheran Church.

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Didaskalos link

8/19/2014 11:30:56 pm

Confessional Lutheran churches are still trying to break free of the ELCA, but thanks to tighter denominational constraints on congregational exits, the getting away isn’t as good as it once was.

Three years ago, as the ELCA’s 2011 convention approached, the erstwhile Lutheran denomination was in a pickle, having suffered massive membership and revenue losses: "In the past three years, mission support for ministries through the churchwide organization has declined from $65.3 million to a projected $47 million for 2012. Subsequently, the churchwide organization’s budget has been reduced by nearly 24 percent.” [Wyvetta Bullock, 2011 convention budget presentation]

The ELCA also couldn’t hide the fallout from its Bible-defying endorsement of sin. Witness the 2011 Pre-Assembly Report: Report of the LIFT Task Force: "Finally, a majority of lay leaders and clergy believe the Churchwide Assembly action on the human sexuality social statement and related policy changes has negatively impacted their congregations.”

"Churchwide Assembly action on the human sexuality social statement and policy changes

"Open: 26 percent positive, 45 negative

"Clergy: 16 positive, 53 negative

"Lay leaders: 9 positive, 61 negative"

The ELCA’s solution: tighten the iron curtain around congregations yearning to breathe free of denominational heresy and apostasy.

A page that no longer exists (surprise!) on the ELCA website -- page 21 of the updated report on legislative actions, Sec. 9.62 in the ELCA's 2011 convention -- listed the new exit requirements:

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Office-of-the-Secretary/ELCA-Governance/Churchwide-Assembly/Actions/Sermons-and-presentations.aspx

Lutheran CORE reported on the ELCA's proposed congregational shackles before they were voted on by convention delegates:

"How ironic that ELCA leadership is so committed to disregarding the Law of God on sexual ethics but so determined to use the law of humans to coerce congregations to remain in the ELCA," said the Rev. Mark Chavez, director of Lutheran CORE. The ELCA's proposed departure language, according to Lutheran CORE, includes the following:

* A congregation must hold a 30-day consultation period with its bishop before taking a first vote to leave the ELCA, in addition to the current 90-day consultation after a congregation's first vote.
* The synod bishop is given authority to determine how the consultation will be conducted "in consultation with" the congregation's council.
* The bishop will be able to appoint "designees" with whom the congregation will be required to consult.
* The bishop or his/her designee must be granted the opportunity to speak at special congregational meetings regarding ending ELCA affiliation.
* A congregation will be required to vote by a two-thirds majority to join a new Lutheran church body, or else it will be "conclusively presumed" to have become an independent Lutheran congregation, potentially forfeiting its property.
* Congregations will be required to meet any financial obligations to the ELCA before leaving.
* Congregations must wait at least six months before taking another first vote if the original first vote does not achieve the required two-thirds majority.
* Congregations must wait at least six months and restart the process if their second vote does not achieve the required two-thirds majority.
* Congregations which fail to follow the specified process must obtain synod council approval in order to leave the ELCA.

Congregational escape from the ELCA is still possible, but the largest numbers of current emigrations are undoubtedly those individuals and families and groups of families who simply shake the dust off their feet and leave the Erstwhile Lutheran Church in America.

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Nebraska Church Takes First Step to Leave ELCA

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Dan Skogen

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