Lutheran (EL
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Posted on 05/15/2011 4:18:26 AM PDT by rhema
In spite of numerous scriptural support from the Old and New Testaments for Christians to not to seek vengeance or revenge, as this is a matter for God and God alone, members of the ELCA’s Southeastern Minnesota (SEMN) Synod apparently believe that God needs some assistance.
On May 7th, the SEMN Synod’s assembly, entertained and voted on a resolution benignly titled “Resolution 2011-01: ELCA Health and Benefits Program”. This resolution of revenge sought to recommend to the ELCA Church Council to seriously consider and adopt a policy of “removing from the Health and Benefits Program of the ELCA, clergy who have left the ELCA or encouraged their congregations or laity to do so.”
In the original form the Resolution of Revenge was recorded as follows:
WHEREAS, both the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) and Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) are encouraging congregations, clergy, and laity to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA); and WHEREAS, some clergy have violated the governing documents of the ELCA by encouraging their congregations to leave the ELCA; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the 2011 Southeastern Minnesota Synod in assembly request that the ELCA Church Council consider removing from the Health and Benefits Program of the ELCA, clergy who have left the ELCA or encouraged their congregations or laity to do so.
The “whereas” paragraphs seemed problematic as according to the Synod’s own report, “During the discussion, multiple amendments to the resolution were brought to the floor, ranging from modifying phrases to revising language to striking all of lines 1-11. As discussion continued, Bishop Usgaard brought the discussion to a close in order that parliamentarian study could take place.” Lines 1-11 are the words prior to the “Therefore”.
According to one source that was present, during the lengthy preliminary discussion Rev. Sandy Rothschiller of the ELCA Board of Pensions (BOP) was granted the floor and advised against such measures as it hurts the BOP in the long run. Apparently this wisdom was ignored.
“Later in the afternoon, Bishop Usgaard was seen at the podium holding a copy of Robert’s Rules for Dummies, helping to lighten the mood, and he made a promise to the assembly that “We’re going to finish this.” Each proposal to amend the resolution was discussed, voted, and defeated, bringing the assembly back to the resolution as a whole. The debate continued. The resolution eventually passed as amended with a vote of 239 for, 129 against.” continues the synod’s report.
The resolution of revenge passed significantly after striking the words, “or encouraged their congregations or laity to do so”, of the original resolution.
It is interesting to note that while the wellness of dependents of clergy, including infants and children, could be grossly affected by this resolution, Bishop Usgaard took it upon himself to “lighten the mood” as the assembled synod delegates addressed this most serious issue.
The resolution of revenge as passed by the SEMN Synod of the ELCA clearly demonstrates that the patience within the ELCA is waning towards those, especially clergy, who disagree with the apostasies voted into play at the CWA09. Instead of practicing tolerance and grace, which the ELCA boasts as their cherished virtues, the proposed and adopted resolution clearly illustrates intolerance towards clergy who stand on the authority of Holy Scripture alone.
Congregations scheduled to vote May 15 to leave the ELCA:
* indicates first vote ** indicates second vote
Hope Lutheran Church, Hubbard Lake, MI *
Peace Lutheran Church, Edmond, OK **
Calvary Lutheran Church, Brookfield, WI **
Grace Lutheran, Huntington Beach, CA**
Antioch Lutheran Church, Dallas, NC **
Zion Lutheran Church, Kent, WA **
Faith Lutheran Church, Faith, NC *
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Yankton, SD **
Denny Park Lutheran Church, Seattle **
Trinity Lutheran Church, Monroeville, OH *
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Merrillville, IN *
Hope Lutheran Church, Ladysmith, WI *
St. John Lutheran Church, Starbuck, MN **
So what's wrong with that? If you leave the group paying for your insurance and go another group, why would the old group keep paying for your health insurance. This isn't revenge, it is common sense.
Many organizations allow a departing member to continue receiving health insurance if he/she pays for it. It seems the ELCA wouldn't even allow that. So much for tolerance, magnanimity, and forgiveness.
The resolution seems to indicate that the ELCA (which certainly wouldn’t pay for departing pastors’ insurance and pension benefits) would not even allow former pastors to personally pay for and remain in its health program or continue private payments to its pension program, even though it might be a benefit to do so (e.g., not having to change health-care providers under a new plan).
This is a non-starter. The BoP realizes that there is strength in numbers, so they don’t want to lose these customers.
This says more about the synod than anything else.
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Aye.
It would take more than one "Memorial" from one Synod to enact a change in policy.
This says more about the synod than anything else It says that the Synod, it's Bishop, and its Committee on Memorials could stand some serious remedial catechesis on the Eighth Commandment.
The "Whereas" sections overflow with slander against other Lutheran bodies.
Now the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has gone “gay”, too.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/mayweb-only/gayordinationpcusa.html
The degradation of American protestantism continues.
Read it again. For me the key is ‘or encouraged their congregations or laity to do so’.
If a parishoner approaches his or her pastor and asks as a question of faith, “should I stay in a church I believe to be apostate?”, and the pastor answers “no”, this measure would have allowed him or her to lose his benefits.
Adherence to Scripture would therefore bring financial penalty to pastors still in ELCA service, in direct contradiction with Church tradition of Apostles being provided for by the Church (See 1 Thess 2:6).
The ELCA Church in Amherst, NH, where I used to be an active member, is under the control of the liberals and they are happily going down that road, feeling so good and so much better than everyone else.
Christ is Risen!
I was received into the Orthodox Church in 2008, well BEFORE the final (bogus) victory of the “gays” in the ELCA!
They DO have Orthodox parishes (including English-language ones) near you.
And congratulations on your new marriage!
Blessing and congratulations to you!
My big concern is the Rmoan Catholic Church's influence on any church I might consider. Too many bad memories of my youth and also my ex-Mother-In-Law. She was a really "devoted" Catholic and didn't care how much her grandson was abused by his Mother as long as he wasn't of the "True Faith".
There is a lot of house-cleaning that needs to be done in the RCC.
Thanks for the info!
My new bride and I are looking for a new church home ourselves, since our old ELCA church is happily going over to the dark side as more conservative younger members are leaving in droves. I guess we can cross the local PCUSA church off the possibles list.
Unfortunately, we are just a little bit too far from Lightman...
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