ELCA Continues To Shatter:The Folly of Trying To Control Information Today

Mrs. Ichabod posed with the last bishop of the LCA, James Crumley, a real Southern gentleman.
He and Dave Preus (ALC) now regret supporting the ELCA merger.
Too late, too late.
I opposed it in 1987, in private, in public, in print.

American Lutheran Publicity Bureau

I wonder what to make of the ELCA I-K synod's establishment of a "worshiping community" (I-K Synod Lutheran newsletter for February 2011-About your synod: "A new thing" in Elizabethtown KY).  The Elizabethtown KY Christ Episcopal Church's newsletter (26 Jan 2011) makes this arrangement sound more like these folks simply joined that church.  It was reported there that at a service at Christ Episcopal that I-K Synod Bishop Gafkjen:  praised the Rev. Alice Nichols and the Christ Church congregation for their "deep and profound hospitality and partnership."  Christ Church, he said, has offered a "nesting place" for the "remnant" of ELCA Lutherans in Elizabethtown whose former church decided to disaffiliate with the ELCA. "You have given them a place to be and pray and talk together, even welcoming them into the choir," he said, gesturing to the Lutherans seated behind. The Christ Episcopal newsletter added: The Episcopal congregation and ELCA members began worshiping together last December after the House of Prayer Lutheran Church decided to disaffiliate with the ELCA in response to the denomination's decision in 2009 to allow clergy who were in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships. I have no particular objection to the formal arrangement.   But it does look like the arrangement is being "spun" in different ways for different sets of readers.  I'd guess there is some thought that this sort of arrangement is "permanent."  If so does the ELCA consider this  arrangement to be a new start? Logged Paul O'Malley - NALC layman

George Erdner ALPB Contribution Leader Posts: 6563 Re: The thread for info on churches voting to leave the ELCA & all follow-up. « Reply #5680 on: Today at 11:51:59 AM » Some recently learned news: St. John Lutheran Church, Kittanning, PA passed first vote January 30. This church hadn't been listed on any blogs until recently. They have 777 baptized members, making it one of the largest in the SWPA synod. Reformation Lutheran Church, Westminster, CA, was on the list as "1st vote pending". That vote passed on Feb. 20, 97-0, 4 abstained. They have 240 baptized members. Still nothing to report on new ELCA starts. Not only has the ELCA not responded to my attempts to contact anyone, but no one else has stepped forward with more than one or two mentions of a new congregation or "synodically authorized worship centers", or whatever ELCA-speak euphemism they use for "new start-up". I've mentioned the database file on several blogs, and I am getting increasing numbers of information updates from folks out there that I've never met before. Even with appeals in Lutheran blogs for information on ELCA starts and ELCA congregations whose votes failed, I'm not getting that information. But not a day goes by that I don't get a few e-mails, a few PM's from lurkers in here, or other contacts with more information about churches leaving the ELCA or starting non-ELCA congregations.   Logged BTW, there are only II kinds of people in the world. Those who understand Roman Numerals and those who don't.

Rev. J. Thomas Shelley, STS ALPB Contribution Leader Posts: 1065 Re: The thread for info on churches voting to leave the ELCA & all follow-up. « Reply #5681 on: Today at 03:13:40 PM » I have been informed through a phone call from a member of Synod Council that the Lower Susquehanna Synod Council has voted uanimously to dismiss Zion (Shaffer's) United Lutheran Church, Seven Valleys. Our departure brings to four the number of congregations which have left the LSS since August 2009, all four finding a new home in the LCMC, and three of the four Pastored by clergy who are members of the Society of the Holy Trinity. Logged Baptized, Confirmed, and Ordained United Methodist. Became a Lutheran Pastor by God's grace and the beneficence of Lower Susquehanna Synod, ELCA Bishop Guy S. Edmiston on Reformation Day, 1989. Charter member of the first chapter of the Society of the Holy Trinity. Now serving in the LCMC.

vicarbob ALPB Contribution Leader Posts: 1541 Saved by Grace + Lutheran by Confession Re: The thread for info on churches voting to leave the ELCA & all follow-up. « Reply #5682 on: Today at 07:12:18 PM » Care to share why not the NALC Tom ?  Is it about theology, practice, retention of property? The latter I understand can be a consideration because does not the NALC view property as belonging to the whole and not the congregation? This could be a factor if others  who are awaiting an Evangelical Catholic tradition to emerge. Blessings to you and those you shepherd as the journey continues in faithfulness to the Gospel. Pax Bob