THE ELCA VAULT - ROOM 35The ELCA Vault is a collection of articles, blogs, and documents related to the ELCA. The purpose of the Vault is to provide this important information to its readers, and at the same time, not overload other sections of the website so as they become too convoluted.
The Church of “Year Zero”. . .today on the commemoration of Henry Muhlenberg, the ELCA made no mention to the “Patriarch of the Lutheran Church.” Most likely they would shudder at the use of the word “Patriarch.” This an illustration of the ELCA being the “Church of Year Zero.” One brief look at their social media feeds includes plenty of rainbows and calls for “social engagement” but little to no mention of the what came before Right Now™. . .
How an Alexandria church that closed and sold its land blessed the community with $2M ($250,000 to ELCA Synod). . .We should note that Messiah Luthern Church leaders also gave $250,000 to two additional organizations, Luthern World Relief and the Washington DC Synod. . .
What Are They Actually Accomplishing?. . . As promised, we continue to monitor the work of the ELCA’s Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC). The Commission was formed in response to action taken by the ELCA’s 2022 Churchwide Assembly. The assembly directed the Church. . .
IN MY VIEW: Set aside principles to do what’s right. . .Sometimes, doing what’s right involves updating one’s principles so they’re more current and useful rather than setting them aside. . .
Tim Walz, Progressive Lutheran. . .As the Pilgrim Lutheran website explains, the debates that led to the formation of the ELCA “basically involved views on the inerrancy of the Bible. The Missouri Synod was quite firm in the belief that the Bible was without error. Others . . . felt that the Bible, while inspired, had portions where informed people could have differing opinions.” . .
Hussain’s example benefits all says Milwaukee’s Shia Muslim Community. . .ELCA Pastor Anthony Acompanado and MU Muslim Chaplain...led a march of 100 people Saturday commemorating Imam Hussain. . .
9 Facts About Tim Walz’s Church. . .After reciting Jesus’ instructions about the Lord’s supper from Matthew 26:26-28, Rome led the congregation in a modified version of the Lord’s prayer. “And now,” she said, “we pray together the prayer that Jesus taught us, saying, ‘our guardian, our mother, our father in heaven, hallowed by thy name …’”
Tim Walz’s Church Doesn’t Like To Call God ‘Him,’ Supports Reparations And Pride Parades. . .Materials published by Pilgrim Lutheran Church instruct parishioners not to refer to God using male pronouns, push congregants to support reparation funds, encourage them to celebrate Ramadan and include a modified gender-neutral version of the Lord’s Prayer, among other liberal practices. . .
Tim Walz’s Lutheran Church is a Trainwreck of Heresy and Blasphemy. . .Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St Paul, MN, is a trainwreck of a congregation. Led by impastor Jen Rome, they are an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregation that exemplifies all the most heretical parts of the denomination. . .
2024 ELCA Youth Gathering: Day 3“Created to Be Free”. . .Miles-Wallace said, “God didn’t just accept me—God loved me, delighted in me. I was created to be free. Free to discover and to be my weird, different and unique transgender, nonbinary, neurodivergent, Anglo and Mex-Indigenous self.” . .
.. . . The Sumud station included an awareness-raising corner featuring a separation wall, symbolizing systemic inequality in Palestine and Israel. Youth were invited to write messages on the wall in colored paints. In the station’s advocacy corner, attendees could write postcards to their representatives, pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza and for humanitarian aid. . .
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The ELCA Shows Its Values Through Whom It Features
. . .in observance of Pride Month, “Living Lutheran,” the ELCA’s digital magazine, featured interviews with a number of LGBTQ+ persons. According to “Living Lutheran,” they are “excited to affirm and embrace everyone in the church, and to amplify the voices of our ELCA siblings in the LGBTQIA+ community.” . .
Gun pulled on group after being kicked out of Dothan church drag event — 'Bye, we have no room for negativity'
. . .The Second Annual Mr. and Mrs. South Alabama Pride Drag Pageant was held Friday night at the Triumphant Cross Lutheran Church in Dothan. The event was advertised as an open event with a judged event to crown a champion in the two categories. . .
After 100 years of tradition on Bethlehem’s Southside, Lutheran church will close
. . .Lehigh University has an agreement to buy St. John’s Lutheran Church and its parking lot, which encompasses roughly a city block. . .
"Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Curriculum" by Doug Schoelles
A conversation with Chay Rossing
. . . I felt an overwhelming sense that my sexuality was no mistake but rather part of who Christ created me to be, whether or not the church was ready to see that truth cultivated in me by the Spirit. . .
The Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church: Holding them Accountable
. . .Within less than two hours I received a response which I considered to be very dismissive and sloppy. . .
A necessary book during a tumultuous time for the LGBTQIA+ community
. . .A review of "Embracing Queer Family," an important addition to the LGBTQIA+ library. . .
My faith journey: “I will be there”
. . .A queer, Black veteran discerns her call to diaconal ministry. . .
Is the Momentum Center a church?
. . .It's easy to say that the Momentum Center in Grand Haven is woke as evidenced by its involvement in town halls on race and racism, LGBTQ+ support groups, pride month celebrations, criminal expungement events, and get out the vax and vote events. That is what I always thought, but I have recently come to the realization that it is something more, like a church. . .
After 78 years, Glendale Lutheran Church may be closing its doors (and huge pipe organ) on April 23, (2023)
. . .About five years ago, attendance had declined to around 50 people on any given Sunday. Recently, it has dropped to around just 20 or so people. . .
As pastors age, majority struggle to find mature young Christian successors: study
. . .As the world was still reeling from the pandemic in 2022, some Christian denominations, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, reported that they were already in the throes of a succession crisis with a national shortage of "at least 600" pastors. . .