Largest Lutheran group in the U.S. faces critical issues

Many churches hold their denominational conferences during the summer months, and the most significant and closely watched was the church-wide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneapolis in late August.

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian religious denominations in the country, with about 10,000 congregations and 4.7 million members. Prior to the conference the main concern expressed by assembly members and throughout the church was the possibility of a split over the appointment of practicing homosexual clergy, perhaps the most divisive subject in 21st Century religious circles.

The rift, which crosses denominational lines, has been growing since the 2003 consecration of openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson in the U.S. Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire. So far about 5 percent of the 2.3 million Episcopal members have left, and have joined the Anglican Church in North America or its sister organization, the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. The spin-off denominations have announced an aggressive plan to launch 1,000 congregations in the next five years.

After several days of intensive discussion, in a historic change, by a vote of 559-451 delegates repealed the ELCA ban on gay clergy unless they remain celibate. Non-celibate gays and lesbians can now lead parishes in that denomination, which was formed in 1988 from three North American church bodies: The American Lutheran Church, The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church in America.

What of the future for the ELCA? What course will the 830,000 members in Minnesota follow? Former Minnesota Gov. Al Quie, a representative of the Minneapolis synod, who opposed the change, spoke after the vote and said: “I was opposed to this [change], too, but that’s my problem. You can’t say now that you’re going to leave the church. We have to live with this change for a while and see how it works out.”

Others, however, were less conciliatory. “We fought the good fight,” said the Rev. Jaynan Clark, president of the Word Alone Network, which also opposed the rule change. “Unfortunately, now we are a divided institution.”

Opponents of the ELCA vote to permit gay ministers met in September in Indianapolis, where the No. 1 agenda item was “A possible reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism.” Organizers of the annual Lutheran CORE meeting were unprepared for the huge response, finally capping attendance after 1200 people signed up — far beyond the 300 who come in an average year.

At the end of a weekend meeting CORE members said they will decide in a year whether to remain in the ELCA, or to split off after the church liberalized its stance on gay and lesbian clergy.

The pivotal issue in the denomination centers in two deep seated concerns. Opponents to the denominational vote at the Minneapolis convention believe the Bible clearly takes a stand against the practice of homosexuality, and that the ELCA action negates the teaching of the Scriptures. The majority supporters of the new policy basically believe that our social concerns are such that it would not be right to deny clergy credentials to follow a homosexual life style, and that the Bible passages dealing with the subject must be modified and redefined.

Other Lutheran bodies, e.g., the Missouri and Wisconsin churches, are not a part of the ELCA. Their conservative positions on this matter would probably preclude any overtures in the direction of uniting with it. Relations with the Roman Catholic Church, which have improved somewhat in the past fifty years, will no doubt be on hold because of that church’s stand on homosexuality.

Bishop Mark Swanson, the Minneapolis native who heads up the ELCA, presided at the historic convention. He sought to avoid overt action when the vote was announced, and called the members to prayer.

Later that day he said, “I am mindful this is a very difficult day for those who did not support the prevailing positions. And it’s going to take some time to sort out how we will live together in the light of these decisions. But it would be tragic if we walked away from one another.”

Christians of all persuasions, realizing the importance of the outcome of these matters both to Lutherans and non-Lutherans, will want to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in the ELCA.

“Yo” has now become shorthand for: “Please be kind enough to summon an ecumenical gathering of those Lutherans, regardless of denominational affiliation, who maintain their fealty to the Book of Concord”?

Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!

* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.

My M-I-L and F-I-L belong to an ELCA Church and are looking for options. The pastors have stated that they are sticking with ELCA and will resign if the Church votes to change.

Is there a resource available for the options available?

Congregations can leave the ELCA, with or without their pastors. The procedures are spelled out in the constitution for each congregation. Unlike the Episcopalians, most ELCA congregations can leave with their church property.

We are in uncharted territory here, so there isn't a lot of guidance. I keep LutheranCore.org and Lutheran Congregations in Mission with Christ LCMC.net bookmarked, and check them regularly.

None of the ELCA congregations in my area are showing any indication that they are willing to leave, so I have been visiting a Missouri Synod church that may well be my new church home.

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