In the case of the ELCA “Evangelical” is false advertising.
But they do a great job of spreading a different “gospel” of the most radical of the DNC platform planks.
In Germany, the home of Lutheranism, “Evangelical” is a synonym for Protestant. Thus, the state supported Protestant church in that country, a “shotgun wedding” of the main Lutheran and Calvinist bodies by the Prussian and German governments, is known as the Evangelical Church. In this country, “Evangelical” means a traditional Protestant of many denominations, in contrast with liberal mainline churches like the United Church of Christ. In Lutheran ranks, the Missouri Synod and Evangelical Wisconsin Synod are evangelical in the American sense, while the ELCA is decidedly not.
Thanks for telling us about this news. I know a pro-life Lutheran pastor who was the pastor of a UCC church. After 17 months, they suddenly fired her, without giving a reason. She’s rostered with the General Lutheran Church and Lutheran Orthodox Church, and she’s glad that she doesn’t work for the UCC.