ELCA forces closure of another congregation and seizes its property
Small churches may face closer by their bishops if they threaten to leave the ELCA. Check out this story from a New York newspaper.
The following are comments from Pastor David Barnhart's blog:
ELCA FORCES CLOSURE OF ANOTHER CHURCH
Just how many churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) await the fate of Grace Lutheran Church, North Branch, NY? The membership of the church had been dwindling for several years and finances had been a challenge, but members of Grace Lutheran Church were shocked when they received a letter from their ELCA synod that began “In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" and continued “the Synod will take control of the real and personal property of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.”
Grace Lutheran members were shocked even more when the ELCA changed the locks on the church doors to keep out the very people whose ancestors had built the church and who until the locks were changed paid for the church’s daily operations.
The following are comments from Pastor David Barnhart's blog:
ELCA FORCES CLOSURE OF ANOTHER CHURCH
Just how many churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) await the fate of Grace Lutheran Church, North Branch, NY? The membership of the church had been dwindling for several years and finances had been a challenge, but members of Grace Lutheran Church were shocked when they received a letter from their ELCA synod that began “In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" and continued “the Synod will take control of the real and personal property of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.”
Grace Lutheran members were shocked even more when the ELCA changed the locks on the church doors to keep out the very people whose ancestors had built the church and who until the locks were changed paid for the church’s daily operations.
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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Lutheran CORE - News and Discussion: ELCA forces c...":
The church was kind of stooopid for telling the ELCA synodical officials their plans to leave the ELCA before consulting a lawyer and doing preparatory work first:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110226/NEWS/110229811
But when they told the synod of their plans last month – which included paying the ELCA what they owed – synod trustees changed the locks on the new steel doors of the church and thrift store. They froze the church’s bank account. They left two feet of unplowed snow on the steps and driveway. They put pink signs on the church that read: “We’re sorry to announce Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church is no longer worshiping.” And they left the people of Grace feeling as if they had been victims of a modern-day Judas Iscariot.
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GJ - Joe Krohn hopes that Missouri and WELS do not get that bad. I understand churches have been stolen before, in various ways. Right now the LCMS is suing the knickers off four older ladies in California, because the district wants to grab the valuable church land, worth millions.
So far, Matt Harrison has done nothing about this disgraceful situation.
I know ELCA pastors on the ALPB Forum are cheering on the jackbooted thugs for man-handling anyone who dissents from the gay agenda. Ah, but when the boot is on the other hoof, it is not so pleasant.
Everyone loses when such Stalinism is allowed in the church - and by the courts.
