An ELCA Synod Assembly Resolution and New Bylaw

'Tis the Season for ELCA Synod Assembly Resolutions and Actions

7/7/2017

A recently passed resolution by the New England Synod Assembly says the following:

"Be it resolved that the New England Synod memorialize the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to initiate a process to amend the phrase 'bring all people to faith in Christ' in C4.02b and its constitutional parallels in order to achieve greater consonance with both our understanding of Christian witness and sensitivity to our interfaith contexts." (see here)

They want "to amend the phase 'bring all people to faith in Christ...'" What kind of true Christian denomination and Christ-following church leadership would want that? None.

A resolution like this is the result of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's radical rejection of the truth of Scripture. When leaders in the ELCA teach universalism, that there is no hell, and their missionaries do not seek to convert the lost, why not remove the phrase “bring all people to faith in Christ” and all similar words from ELCA official documents? Watch to see if this comes up in upcoming ELCA churchwide assemblies and other synod assemblies and if the resolution passes.

Additionally, at this year's Oregon Synod Assembly, there was the “Adoption of a bylaw allowing congregations to send additional Voting Members to Assemblies who can speak to us about concerns of the LGBTQIA community.” (see here)

Is this like stacking the deck? They are allowing churches to bringing additional voting members specifically because of their supportive view on LGBTQIA issues. I wonder what pro-homosexual, pro-transgender initiatives will result from future Oregon Synod assemblies? As if they were not liberal enough. The same people who passed this resolution would throw a fit if someone presented a resolution saying the synod should also allow congregations to send additional voting members to assemblies who hold traditional views of marriage and can speak to heterosexual concerns.

2 Comments

george

7/7/2017 01:36:28 pm

To minimize the meaning of what Jesus says in Matthew 28 is to obscure what Jesus is saying. Jesus' word is to be taken at Jesus' word! Missiology is grounded in making disciples of Jesus not by relativizing his word, but by believing, obeying and doing it. The synod's resolution washes out the intent of what Jesus is saying. It substitutes a general mindset and world-view that we should love everybody in their own way. It is to actually despise our neighbor by leaving them in their unbelief. The resolution substitutes the Gospel for another gospel which St. Paul vehemently rejects as sub-gospel, see Galatians 1.

Didaskalos

7/7/2017 01:54:27 pm

Consider again what the ELCA used to be before it sold out to the world and calculatingly lied to its members:

The 1993 Statement of the ELCA Conference of Bishops states: “We, as the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, recognize that there is basis neither in Scripture nor tradition for the establishment of an official ceremony by this church for the blessing of a homosexual relationship. We, therefore, do not approve such a ceremony as an official action of this church’s ministry. Nevertheless, we express trust in and will continue dialogue with those pastors and congregations who are in ministry with gay and lesbian persons, and affirm their desire to explore the best ways to provide pastoral care for all to whom they minister.”

The 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly asked “that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America continue to respect the guidance of the 1993 statement."

The 1996 ELCA Church Council Message Sexuality: Some Common Convictions states the Christian understanding of marriage: “Marriage is a lifelong covenant of faithfulness between a man and a woman. In marriage, two persons become ‘one flesh’ (Gen. 2:24; Mt. 19:4-6; Mk. 10:6-9; Eph. 5:31), a personal and sexual union that embodies God’s loving purpose to create and enrich life. By the gift of marriage God ‘founded human community in a joy that begins now and is brought to perfection in the life to come.’”

The 2005 report of the ELCA Task Force for Sexuality Studies showed that only 22 percent of ELCA members who responded to the study favored change in church teaching to allow for the blessing of same-sex unions or the ordination of persons in committed same-sex relationships. A significant majority (57 percent) opposed change to accepted Christian teaching on homosexual behavior to allow for the blessing of same-sex unions or the ordination of persons in committed same-sex relationships.

2009 Convention Resolution #3 states “that in the implementation of these [homosexuality-blessing] resolutions, the ELCA commits itself to bear one another’s burdens, love the neighbor, and respect the bound consciences of all.”

ELCA in 2017: "Too many bumpkins in the pews still aren't knuckling under to our nonstop, iron-fisted promotions of sin. So let's silence whatever faint voice they do have by packing our synod conventions with more sin-friendly delegates. It worked in 2009; it'll work again. Where there's a God-defying will, there's always a God-dishonoring way."

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

'Tis the Season for ELCA Synod Assembly Resolutions and Actions

Leave a Reply.

Dan Skogen

Categories

Archives

Home

Share

Exposed Blog

HELP

Contact