This is part of something bigger. The ELCA is one of several counter Christian churches under the umbrella of the National Council of Churches. This was put in motion in 1988 and will not stop until the left takes over again and they are recognized as the religious authority.
Archie: You get it. I can't believe how naive some people can be. It is admirable that they want to turn their churches back to what they once were but they don't get the big picture.
But ANY church belonging to the National Council of Churches is being consumed by a tsunami. The only way to reclaim their churches is to get a divorce. They must divorce their synods and any relationship to the NCC and WCC.
You are right. We left the ELCA ten years ago. They were "studying" sexuality issues then. ELCA partially funded Re-Imagining workshops which was feminist theology at its worst. They substituted milk and honey for communion, milk and honey represented life giving fluid from women. One lesbian speaker said she had no need of the blood of Jesus. When we talked to our small congregation requesting to with hold funds from the ELCA, we hit a brick wall. They were afraid not to support the heirarchy. Besides, those issues would never effect this country congregation, or so they thought. They just got rid of a woman preacher that voted in favor of gay issues at the synod assembley. One of the people that thought we were kooky was shocked, shocked I tell you. Her job went down from there. I still wonder if she had been more likeable if people would have been so stern about her beliefs. One member told me they felt that the council seemed more concerned to get rid of preacher lady so that members would come back to church and not as much concerned about the stance on the issue, or so they thought. I am glad to be out of that but it is sad for so many still trying to fight. Ever heard of "Word Alone" network.