I married into the Lutheran tradition. I remember the merger between ALC and LCA, I think. LCA was Swedish and was already more progressive. It seemed the merger was pushed by the synod big whigs hard without a lot of discussion. Unity, you know. It has gone downhill since.
LCMS was originally in the unity discussion, so my grandfather followed events closely. He told me that the idea of Christ not really dying but going into a coma and waking up from it was tossed around by the progressive synods at the talks. He was rightfully appalled!