The Fallout: ELCA in Turmoil

Overview Reactions to the Churchwide Assembly (CWA) decisions Synod and Congregations Taking Action Division, Separation and Pain ELCA Actions

ELCA-Related Organizations

Hispanic ELCA Rostered Leaders of the Florida-Bahamas Synod: “We, Hispanic ELCA rostered leaders of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, REPUDIATE these new policies, declaring them to be incompatible with Christian teaching, the tradition of the Christian Church, and our consciences…May God have Mercy on His Church”

African National Ministries (ANM) of the ELCA : . “…[members of ANM] express strong disagreement with the decision of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly…” .“…have extremely damaged our basic tenets of the Christian faith and of the church‟s witness.” .“We will earnestly pray for the ELCA that it may change its current course and come back to its original path and save the unity of the ELCA.” .Ministries impacted; many families leaving .Some ministry members will join other denominations .Churches back home in Africa are deeply impacted; asked them to join on Friday “days of prayer” for renewal of Lutheran Church in North America.

Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Churches of the ELCA: . Ethiopian background. . “We believe that the study done by Social Statement Task Force of the ELCA to produce this social statement is mostly based on proof texting and exegesis that is not loyal to the rules of biblical interpretation and is dishonest to the text that is quoted… Once the church has crossed the line to say something that is said to be sinful is no more sinful or it has never been sinful it has no moral authority to teach the rest of the law of God including the Ten Commandments.” . Voted unanimously to join Lutheran CORE

Lutheran Church of Guam: . Intends to leave ELCA . Dual membership in ELCA and LCMS

ELCA-Related Organizations . Center for Chinese Ministry (CCM) of the ELCA: . Sep 19: 60 pastors of the CCM unanimously issued a statement about ELCA decisions. . “..we submit ourselves to the authority of the Bible as our ultimate authority in faith and in ministry, but not the…Presiding Bishop, nor the Church-wide Assembly, nor the voices and urges from the world. Any important resolution passed by the church body has to be supported by clear and direct passages from the Bible; otherwise it is a serious mistake!” . Statement was distributed among Lutheran churches in the U.S., Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Other American Lutheran Denominations

Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod: . August 22: “The current division between our churches threatens to become a chasm…this matter is fundamentally related to significant differences in how we [our church bodies] understand the authority of Holy Scripture and the interpretation of God‟s revealed and infallible Word.” . “We recognize that many brothers and sisters within the ELCA, both clergy and lay, are committed to remaining faithful to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, are committed to the authority of Holy Scripture, and strongly oppose these actions.” . 2010 LCMS convention will consider the LCMS relationship with the ELCA. . “The Bible condemns homosexual behavior as „intrinsically sinful‟. It is therefore contrary to the will of the Creator and constitutes a sin against the commandments of God…” – Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, President, LCMS

Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Mankato, MN:

“Ordaining practicing homosexuals and lesbians to the ministry is a serious departure from the biblical standards of morality to which Lutherans and Lutheran pastors have historically been held.”

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod:

“To view same-sex relationships as acceptable to God is to place cultural viewpoint and human opinions above the clear Word of God…We are saddened that a group with the name Lutheran would take another decisive step away from the clear teaching of the Bible, which was the foundation of the Lutheran Reformation.”

Other American Denominations (non-Lutheran)

United Methodist Church (full communion partner): . “Lutheran ministers who are in a same-sex relationship will not be allowed to serve as clergy in United Methodist congregations. . 2008: UMC‟s highest legislative body rejected changes to its constitution to allow ordination of practicing homosexuals.

Lutheran World Federation Partners

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong . “If the Church accepts and practices homosexual behavior, it will be quite an embarrassment to explain to our members why our companion Church allows something which goes against the clear biblical norms of our own Church. We as a part of the Lutheran Communion could not escape the accusation that the Church is listening to the modern culture rather than to the clear teaching of the Word of God.”

Ethiopian Evangelical Church: . Largest Lutheran body in Africa (5 million members) . Fastest growing Lutheran body in the world. . “We see it as a defiant departure from the Biblical truth and from our global Evangelical Lutheran tradition.” –Presidents Emeritus Stephanos, Daba, and Gobena, EECMY, August 21, 2009.

Lutheran Churches of Eastern Europe (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania): . Issued statement on Nov 3-4 . “…recent decisions…epitomize these [modern] tendencies that are tearing apart fellowship among Christians.” . “We see the Lutheran communion and ecumenical efforts endangered by such decisions and actions because they lead to a situation where the Lutheran churches…are not able to…participate together in preaching the Word and celebrating the sacraments.”

Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church: . Issued statement on Nov. 25 . “Churches in fellowship with one another do not make decisions regarding the historical teaching and practice of the church without reaching consensus with one another…” . “…the blessing or even marriage of people living in same-sex relationships is not in accordance with the teaching of the Holy Scripture and the Christian faith.” . “We call upon churches that have unilaterally changed [ELCA]…to return to solid foundation of God‟s Word…”

Synod and Congregations Taking Action

ELCA Statistics . Congregations leaving in 2009? Report in July . 2010? Report in July 2011 . Nov 18: John Brooks, ELCA spokesman, reports that since the August vote: . five congregations have ended their affiliation with the ELCA . 87 congregations have held first votes to leave; 28 of these have failed.

WordAlone . Called efforts to reform ELCA “futile” . Committed to helping those who are in the process of making decisions about their future

Lutheran CORE . Will start a new Lutheran synod. . “I wouldn‟t even begin to tell you how many thousands [of calls] I‟ve gotten.” -- Bishop Paull Spring, Chairman, Lutheran CORE . Joining future Lutheran CORE synod: . 15 congregations in MN . 9 congregations in IA . Received more in contributions in July-to-September than first six months [„09] combined.

Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) . 47 congregations have joined LCMC since the CWA . A congregation can have dual memberships in LCMC and ELCA

LCMC . Augustana District . New district in LCMC, non-geographic . Primarily for congregations leaving ELCA . Held second organizational meeting at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, last Saturday . Will post two draft foundational documents on-line (augustanadistrict.org): . Statement of Faith . Governance document

New LCMC congregations:

Faith Lutheran Church, Little Falls, Pr. Nate Bjorge . Lindberg Elementary School, 9:00 am . Sunday School . Challenge: Bible study locations

Alexandria LCMC, Alexandria, Pr. John Beem (interim) . Location: Dutch Reformed Church . 55 families . > $2,000 per Sunday . More members soon? Other area congregations vote. . Permanent pastor by Easter?

Northeast Iowa Synod (as of Jan12, 2010) Nov. 14: Approved two resolutions responding to the 2009 ELCA CWA: . First resolution: previous standards for rostered ministry will remain in effect at NE IA synod . Second resolution: o repudiated the CWA decision to adopt the new sexuality statement o asked ELCA Church Council to refuse to implement the new policies and begin action to overturn them

Congregations leaving ELCA (as of Jan12, 2010) :

El Camino Pines Lutheran Church (Frazier Park, California) Zion Lutheran Church (Des Moines, Iowa) Hosanna Lutheran Church (St. Charles, Illinois)

Community Church of Joy . Glendale, AZ . Sept. 27: ended its affiliation with ELCA . 10th largest congregation in ELCA . 6,800 baptized members

Congregations Voting Once to Leave ELCA (partial list as of Jan12, 2010) Minnesota: . Central Lutheran Church (Elk River) Nov. 8. 574 people (77%) voting in favor and 171 (23%) against. . Faith Lutheran Church (Silver Creek) . Zion Lutheran Church (Clear Lake) . St. Paul‟s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Minneapolis) . Singaas Lutheran Church (Hendricks) . Rodnes Lutheran Church (Erskine) . Christ the King Lutheran Church (Hutchinson) . Community of Hope Lutheran Church (Rosemount) . Wangen Prairie Lutheran Church (Rural Cannon Falls) . Zoar Lutheran Church (Tofte) . American Lutheran Church (Long Prairie)

Congregations Voting Once to Leave ELCA (partial list) . Zion Lutheran Church (Mission Valley, TX) . Calvary Lutheran Church (Evergreen, MT) . Emanuel Lutheran Church (Walla Walla, WA) . St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church (Roanoke, VA) . St. Paul Lutheran (New Braunfels, TX) . St. Andrew‟s Lutheran (Weesatche, TX) . Concordia Lutheran Church (Kingsburg, CA) . Immanuel Lutheran Church (Waukee, IA) . Richland Lutheran Church (Richland, WA) . Faith Lutheran Church (Moline, IL) . Trinity Church (Pell Lake, WI) . Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Castroville, TX) . First Evangelical Lutheran Church (Orange Grove, TX) . St. John Lutheran Church (Boerne, TX) . Joyful Harvest Church (Johnsburg, IL) . Geneva Lutheran Church (Geneva, IL) . St. Paul‟s Lutheran Church (Maumee, OH) . Geneva Lutheran Church (Geneva, IL) . Christ Lutheran Church (Whitefish, MT) . Zion Lutheran Church (Clear Lake, IA) . Pondera Valley Lutheran Church (Conrad, MT) . Golden West Lutheran Church (Conrad, MT) . Peace Lutheran Church (Edgar, WI)

Hosanna! Lutheran Church . Lakeville, MN . Second largest ELCA congregation in MN . Average Sunday attendance: 4,500 . Poll: 91% want to leave ELCA . Meetings with Presiding Bishop Hanson and synod Bishop Peter Rogness . First vote on Sunday, Jan. 24: . Hosanna! Lutheran Church of Lakeville hereby gives notice of its desire and intent to sever membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. . Second vote on Sunday, May 16

Redirecting Funds Away From ELCA (partial list as of Jan12, 2010)): St. Luke Lutheran Church (Cottage Grove, MN) King of King‟s Lutheran Church (Woodbury, MN) First Lutheran Church (Fargo, ND) Pontoppidan Lutheran Church (Fargo, ND) Hope Lutheran Church (Fargo, ND) Peace Lutheran Church (Rockdale, TX) Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (Bessemer City, NC)

ELCA Financial Situation Nov „09: ELCA cut 2010 budget by 10% and cut 40 positions from national offices -- just three months after CWA. . ELCA officials said cuts were result of poor economy, declining ELCA membership and conservative congregations withholding funds Augsburg Fortress Publishing cancels retirement plan: . 500 employees and retirees impacted . partial lump-sum payment in March . plan's assets totaled $9M and obligations at $24M . no help from ELCA

Division, Separation and Pain

“ …[I] ask that members engage each other „with honesty and respect‟ and asked [sic] that they exercise restraint, bear each other's burdens through conversation and be patient as the denomination lives into the churchwide assembly's decisions on human sexuality.”

Mark Hanson ELCA Presiding Bishop September 23, 2009

Zion Lutheran Church . Guyton, GA (near Savanah) . Voted to leave ELCA, failed to get 2/3 majority . At least four other churches in the same county have scheduled votes to leave ELCA. . Many members at Zion and nearby congregations left and started new congregation. . Life-long congregation members are leaving in spite of families, friendships and contributions. . Director of ELCA‟s local maritime ministry is leading services; ELCA and Southeastern GA Synod cut funding for the maritime ministry. o Over 78,000 seafarers come to Savannah each year.

Hosanna Lutheran Church . St. Charles, IL . Voted to leave ELCA on Nov. 8 . Pastor John Nelson stated a synod representative threatened his pension . After the media became aware of this, the synod bishop sent out a pastoral letter asking people to “give time for conversation and reflection” and would not answer media inquiries.

Bullying? . Pastors taking their congregations out of the ELCA are making charges of “unethical, immoral and in some cases, illegal” acts by bishops and other officials -- Rev. Walter Kallestad, senior pastor, Community Church of Joy, Glendale, AZ. . “If you do not agree with the direction of the ELCA, you are…bullied or ostracized or threatened. The threat has been to even remove me and suspend me from ministry.” -- Rev. Mark Gehrke, Faith Lutheran Church, Moline, IL.

Bishop‟s Consultation . ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations under “Powers of the Congregation” . Authorizes a congregation to leave the ELCA “as provided in Chapter 6 [of the constitution]” (C5.03.j) . Dictates that congregations need: o two votes at two separate congregational meetings o at least 90 day interim o each with a 2/3 majority . During interim, synod bishop may come for consultation with congregation (C6.05.) . Some bishops redefining “bishop‟s“ consultation into “synod‟s” consultation: o sends panel of pastors and officials promoting policy changes for the “consultation” (Lutherans Concerned, Goodsoil) . Model constitution requires only a consultation from the bishop, and no one else: o C6.04. c. The bishop of the synod shall consult with this congregation during a period of at least 90 days.

ELCA Actions

ELCA Church Council (November) . Postponed consideration of policy revisions to the April 2010 council meeting; needed more time to get it right . Voted to re-roster those who had left or were removed for being in a same-gender relationship

Forced Acceptance of New Policies . Oct 10: New ELCA draft candidacy rules state synods will not have option of upholding traditional Christian beliefs regarding homosexual behavior in their rostering standards. . “By the governing documents, all candidacy and call decisions are made on an individual basis, thus no body can make a blanket statement of approval or disapproval for a group of candidates. Nor can a body alter the policies which this church has accepted.” . Proposed standards suggest those who believe in biblical standards for sexuality resign from synod candidacy committees: . Individuals who have a share in discernment and decision-making responsibility need to decide whether they can function in that role under the new policies.” . Still “local option” on blessings.

ELCA‟s Lutheran Study Bible . Salvation: ELCA‟s LSB takes a more universalistic approach (Matt 28: 16-20) . Homosexual behavior: downplays prohibitions against homosexual behavior

ELCA‟s “Celebrate” Bulletin . Widely used by ELCA pastors . Sunday, Dec 27 . One petition in Prayer of Intercession . Recommends addressing God as “Mother”