ALPB
From Pastor Barnhart's blog.
ST. LUKE LUTHERAN CHURCH, MONROE, NC passed second attempt at second vote today, 51-9. They then voted to join LCMC. NC Synod representatives at the meeting told the congregation, their vote was not in order and probably would not be recongized by the Synod or the ELCA. The congregation told them the could do whatever they felt necessary but it would not change things for St. Luke's.
The ELCA is claiming that if a second vote fails, then the congregation has to go back to square one and have a new first vote and a new second vote. The official rules and bylaws don't say that, but then they don't address the issue at all.
As I've asked many, many times before, what can the ELCA do if the congregation simply ignores the ELCA and functions as a congregation of the LCMC? Can the ELCA forcibly take over the congregation? Send one of their pastors next Sunday morning to wrestle with the current pastor over who gets to lead the service?
I wonder if the fact that the congregation has Church real estate worth $1,011,250, Endowment & memorial funds worth $977,351, Cash, savings, bonds worth $30,186, and $0 indebtedness will influence the ELCA's actions. Clearly, if they cared about the people of the church, they would allow them to go in peace.
All numbers from here.
