According to the ELCA website, early in her tenure, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton set forth her own convictions to guide the members of the ELCA in understanding our unique identity, and these convictions have become a recognized way of articulating who we are:
We are church.
We are Lutheran.
We are church together.
We are church for the sake of the world.
That sums up the tenure of Liz Eaton when she could have resigned.
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| All the ELCA seminaries are closing, so make sure your compost tumblers are ready to move. |
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And LCMS-WELS-ELS-etc Want To Work with ELCA?
In 2008, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a churchwide budget with a current fund income of $81.67 million and a World Hunger income proposal of $19.25 million, totaling approximately $100.92 million.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
By 2011, the ELCA's financial situation had changed significantly. According to reports, national donations decreased from $88 million in 2008 to $40 million in 2011. This decline in revenue was accompanied by a drop in membership, with over 600 congregations leaving the ELCA between August 2009 and January 2011
I had no idea. My impression was giving to churchwide was an slow downward slant, steadily evenly declining through the years. These numbers show another reality. The numbers went over a cliff.
Membership Stats:
2008: The ELCA reported approximately 4,633,887 baptized members.
2011: Membership 4,059,785
2024: 2,793,899 baptized
Funny, no one ever talks about this publicly at synod functions and such.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
By 2011, the ELCA's financial situation had changed significantly. According to reports, national donations decreased from $88 million in 2008 to $40 million in 2011. This decline in revenue was accompanied by a drop in membership, with over 600 congregations leaving the ELCA between August 2009 and January 2011
I had no idea. My impression was giving to churchwide was an slow downward slant, steadily evenly declining through the years. These numbers show another reality. The numbers went over a cliff.
Membership Stats:
2008: The ELCA reported approximately 4,633,887 baptized members.
2011: Membership 4,059,785
2024: 2,793,899 baptized
Funny, no one ever talks about this publicly at synod functions and such.
