The ELCA Vault - Room Ten
The ELCA Vault is a collection of articles, blogs, and documents related to issues with the ELCA.
Into the abyss. . .When I read articles like the one in the link above I feel like a shipwreck survivor. At the time I was involved with the ELCA and the Episcopal Church I was uncomfortable with what seemed to be many excesses and weird ideas in these denominations. . . Now I realize that many of these leaders - perhaps most of them - are false prophets and teachers who are trying to trick others into abandoning the Word of God for purely secular teachings.
PLU names new president - and he's not Lutheran. . .What he lacks is something every other PLU president has had: a Lutheran background.
Two years ago, the board changed university bylaws to allow presidents who follow other faith traditions. With Krise, they put it into practice for the first time. . . All Are Welcome.... . .But, are Republicans welcome, truly welcome in the ELCA?
Are they welcome in your congregation? . . . ELCA Bishops Gather. . .. . .ELCA Secretary David D. Swartling reported that as of Jan. 31, 904 congregations have taken first votes to disaffiliate with the ELCA. Of congregations taking first votes, 672 passed and 232 failed. Of those congregations in which second disaffiliation votes have passed, 613 have completed the termination process and are no longer on the ELCA roster of congregations. . .
Christian Apologetics.... . . Bishop Mark Hanson, has made plans to be the keynote speaker for a conference of the Lutherans Concerned-North America (LC/NA). The latter group is one which centers its agenda for advancement of the GLBT (Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual-Transexual) community. Recently, I had gathered that the ELCA was trying to deflect in that it promoted a kermit-like "green" agenda during its assembly, and did the same for a recently-scheduled summer seminar at Gettysburg Lutheran seminary in Pennsylvania. . .
Lutheran Journalism. . .The editor's opening salvo was a defensive statement against "letters to the editor" he received complaining about their coverage of the Seuss Mass and Applesauce Communion (see my previous posts). Oh yes, and he published a quote that said "Christians and Muslims share 95% of their religion." (Jesus and Mohamed are less than 5% of the religion of their followers -- who knew?) The editor says he was blindsided by these criticisms and could not have foreseen how photos of a Communion Wafer crushed in applesauce or a pastor leading worship in a "Cat in the Hat" hat would offend any one's sensibilities. . .
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Addicted to Love
. . .The elevation of secular ideals and placing a greater emphasis on social justice rather than striving to save the souls of the lost is the ELCA’s greatest shortcoming. The leaders of the ELCA look to use their misguided goal of fixing our broken world, disregarding the fact that, if more came to the Lord, that in and of itself, would necessarily make this world a better place. . .
Evangelical Lutheran Church Follows Episcopal Church in Gadarene Slide to Oblivion
. . .In the 2009 - 2010 period alone the ELCA lost nearly 8 percent of its membership and 388 congregations, with most of these congregations moving to other jurisdictions and some closing.
It's also likely that additional thousands of church members quietly left their liberal congregations without a word, in typical Lutheran humility, but are still being counted as members on the rolls. . .
It's also likely that additional thousands of church members quietly left their liberal congregations without a word, in typical Lutheran humility, but are still being counted as members on the rolls. . .
Divisiveness persists at Grace Lutheran
Grace Lutheran Church again is attempting to break away from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to its senior pastor. . .
Self Diagnosis
. . .race to legitimize homosexuality by the misguided leaders of the ELCA have left them using subterfuge and any number of illegitimate plots to reach their stated goal. Whether it be stacking the deck by appointing committee members that agree with their desired outcome, conducting synod assembly votes after normal business was concluded and many dissenters had left. . .
A Group for Secular Students Finds Its Way on a Christian Campus
. . .Mike Tobin. . . is not surprised by the presence of a group like the Secular Student Alliance but says it's one of many signs that most students on his campus are not invested in religion. "I really honestly think that when it comes down to it, Cal Lutheran is only Lutheran in name," he says.
The Storm on the Horizon— General Conference
. . .In 2006 the Roundtable released its first joint research project: a landmark study entitled David v. Goliath. More than half of the report focused on pro-gay caucuses in the Protestant mainline churches—“the backbone of American religion.” If these denominations could be won over to the pro-gay cause, “it would … be a tremendous moral victory for the LGBT community,” said the report. Three of the denominations (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church U.S.A, and The United Methodist Church) were singled out for special attention specifically because of their denominational decision-making processes. Because their legislative gatherings were essentially democratic in nature, they were more susceptible to pro-gay advocacy than other autocratic or autonomous Christian bodies. . .
Are the mainline Protestant splinter churches a new Reformation or old news?
. . .Leaders of all three new denominations say the gay clergy issue was only the breaking point for conservatives, after years of dissatisfaction with overbearing bureaucracies, membership losses and liberal theology. Pessimistic about changing that course from within, some conservatives jumped ship instead. . .
A Heretical Fungus Among Us
. . .I believe the problem lies with seminaries not giving their students thorough theological educations and synods not being rigorous enough in examining prospective pastors before ordination. We must make sure that our clergy are taught correctly and that they actually believe what the Lutheran Church confesses before setting them loose on the world. . .
Ordination of gays and lesbians proves divisive, painful for Tacoma-area churches
. . .“I don’t think anybody who is a conscientious pastor would want to bring a congregation to the point of division and leave,” said Jepsen, 62. “No pastor wants to divide a congregation. There comes a point in time (where) you have to take a stand on what you believe and what is foundational. . .”
Set the Captives Free: Why (and How) Abortion Should Be Talked About in Church
. . .A couple of years ago the same friend discovered that not only does his church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), condone abortion in its shrewdly worded official statement on the topic, but its employee health benefits plan pays for pre-born lives to be aborted through the first five months of the mother's pregnancy, without question. . . How many unborn lives have been snuffed out as a result? And how many women are still suffering in silence?
Lutheran-Episcopal Merger?
. . .ELCA Bishop Hanson and Episcopal Bishop Jefferts-Shori (above) are generally like minded theologically and good friends. They appear to be seeking opportunities for more joint ventures. . .
Christianity, Homosexuality, and the E. L. C. A. (be sure to read the note from the author on top right-hand side)
. . .And that's the problem with the homosexual argument that they have feelings so it must be natural. Feelings are easily misdirected. Fetishists, necrophiles, pedophiles, beastialists, and homosexuals have come to associate sexual pleasure with something other than heterosexual sex, largely because they have trained their own minds to perceive it that way, and reinforced it through fantasy and perhaps practice. . .
Preaching to the Choir
. . .We comment on the blatant heretical teaching accepted by the leadership of the ELCA and continue to pray for our brothers and sisters lost and unaware of this false gospel. Problem is, we are keeping this within a small family of believers. The Truth needs to get out to those unsuspecting believers being led astray. . .
Evangelical Lutherans Oppose Proposed Minnesota Gay Marriage Ban
Who is your neighbor?
. . . I began wondering about our donations to the organizations that help the poor and afflicted, like Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. So I contacted them, and much to my dismay learned that yes, it does include abortion in its employee health insurance. . .