The Spiritual State of the ELCA, Illustrated With Answers to One Question

The ELCA’s Saint Paul Area Synod held a number of visioning process gatherings asking ELCA members this question: “Where do you sense God calling us to be more deeply present as the ELCA?” What kind of answers do you get from people attending a denomination that has little desire to evangelize and tell people about the good news of salvation in Christ for those that believe? You get responses regarding liberal social policies and very few responses about God.

Here are the answers they received:
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• “…one table group suggested that the synod continue to lift up LGBTQ issues.”
• “One person sensed that we need to be more deeply present with the changing immigrant communities.”
• “Another table group impressed upon the need for the synod to be equipping people to talk comfortably about Jesus, to share our own stories, and listen to others.”
• “someone championed that we must address gun violence as it relates to race, mental illness, and suicide.”
• “Another table group sensed that the synod needs to be deeply present in things that are bigger than ourselves, such as income inequality, climate change, and addressing racism.”
• “there was a call for tools and training to address racism.”
• “Another person asked how can ELCA Lutherans keep relevant with millenials?”
• “someone sensed that the synod must be actively aware of human trafficking and intervening to stop it.”
• “There was a call for divestment in fossil fuels.”
• “Another table group advocated for more churches to keep vegetable gardens, engaging families and children from the communities in learning about growing their own food, and donating produce to local food shelves.”
• “Yet another person sensed a need for shared meals with congregations and faith practices outside of the ELCA.”
• “Another person made the analogy that the ELCA must be a ‘remarkable experience, with depth, like a triple Belgium in a Bud Lite world.’”
• “A table group wrote that we must switch our obsession with numbers to an obsession with impact.”
• “One person sensed the need to issue unique pastoral calls to specialized ministry, such as specific family issues or ministry for people with special needs, as well as more ministry in jails and prisons.”
• “There was a call to evangelize pop culture.”
• “Another table group sensed a need to be present with those who are homeless.” (see here)​ 

This provides a clear picture of the spiritual state of most of the leadership and members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.