Rogate - Prayer - Easter 5 - "A Great While Before Day, He Went Out, And Departed into a Solitary Place, And There Prayed." Mark 1

 

The Hymn #457     What a Friend We Have in Jesus
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

With the voice of singing declare ye and tell this: 

utter it even to the end of the earth. Hallelujah!

The Lord hath redeemed His servant Jacob: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 

sing forth the honor of His name; make His praise glorious.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, from whom all good things do come, grant to us, Thy humble servants, that by Thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be right and by Thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Christ, who hath redeemed us with His blood: 

is risen and hath appeared unto us. Hallelujah!

V. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world: 

again, I leave the world and go to the Father. Hallelujah!

The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #458                Our Father Thou

Confidence Means Faith

The Communion Hymn #653   Now the Light Has Gone Away
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #660             Heaven Is My Home 

Prayers and Announcements

• Monday Memorial Day. The Veterans Honor Rose is on the altar.
• The Ascension Holy Communion Service is Thursday, 7 PM Central Daylight.
• Prayers and concerns - Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Sarah Buck, Kermit Way. Lito Cruz is getting better. Those suffering from emotional distress and those with metabolic disorders.
• Thursday is Ascension Day, 7 PM Holy Communion.

KJV James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

KJV John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

Enchanted Peace

Mark 1:34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

This passage and many more like it are examples of His prayer and its priority. Many prayers are formalities and many more prayers are mocked. However, this is concentrated in one exceptional passage -

KJV John 16:8 - And when He is come, He will reprove [convict] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

 The basic errors of these days and the past are based upon the problem of unbelief. 

• Many priests and clergy start and end on law and order. Pay the price. 
• The law is broken so it must be absolved. 
• How about emotion, being really, really sorry?
• Or ice cream names on fancy new chapels, libraries, and buildings?

Luther was trained in the forces of the priesthood. He struggled to understand and practice forgiveness. He felt guilty and felt the weight of all his sins, no matter how minor, and therefore felt no grace. The monasteries badgered their victims with Law and more Law. They inflicted pain on themselves and knew - at the same time - that their struggles were a lot of tommy-rot. There was no relief.

The interior life is quite powerful. Our brains are at work at all times and places, so we find ourselves in one arena or another or several at once. Concentration is a struggle because God has endowed us with so much mental energy.

But we do have one great asset from the Holy Trinity - the Holy Spirit convicting us of sin because we do not believe in Him. Although we have a great emphasis - Justification by Faith (St. Paul, Romans 4-5 etc), on this Johannine passage directly from Jesus Christ is even more clear.

We can go through all the Scriptures and academic books without believing in Him. That was and is the great struggle. The rationalists, scoffers, and deniers can flaunt their knowledge but it is tied up in their lack of faith and therefore in all the follies of this world.

However, if we continue with a child-like faith, the blessings of Jesus Christ come to us in many different ways. As Jesus said, Let the children come to me and do not forbid (reject) them - the Kingdom of God belongs to them.

Prayer - Faith in Jesus

The greatest gift the Savior offers us is a complete knowledge of His kindness, compassion, spiritual wisdom, and trust. Even the disciples had their failings in three years and even after the Resurrection. But they were encouraged to take on the work of Jesus on earth while He managed from beyond, as Luther observed. Jesus did not stop His work but elevated it to a greater number, like the millions of stars predicted to Abraham, greater than all the sands of the sea.

There is no sorrow, trouble, or pain which the Good Shepherd is unable to heal. John 10 and Psalm 23 encourage and comfort us in many ways. 

Individual prayer is the great blessing, because we can communicate with the Savior as easily as He can talk to us. It is a sin not to believe in Him. If we let the truths of the Bible take over our thoughts, many refreshing waves of joy can roll over us. We remember the disciples asking in fear in the dark raging storm, "Don't You care if we die?!" But when fear takes over, faith flies out the window. That is why the heavenly forces - Jesus and His angels - watch over us to prove their efforts and their love.

  

The Ichabode - Entertainment Center Established - Almost Zero Price

 

Charlie Sue raced a squirrel today. She loves them.

Someone wanted a lot of hummingbird feeders and I wanted share them, so the hummingbird fan got the poles, feeding liquid, and hummer feeder. The birds were an instant hit and immediately loved the set up.

I gave the couch-bed for someone and moved the massive coffee table (more like an aircraft carrier) to the open space.

Good friends pulled back the living room curtains and the easy chair took on an extra client - Charlie Sue. She jumped onto it, with me beneath, and positioned herself for a double window with birds and squirrels enjoying the food and frolics.

The animals are almost immune to movement on the other side of the window. A second pole feeder easily doubled the feeding chances for everyone. My first look at the double set-up meant - the female cardinal fed first, the male landed next to her, and a starling made it a threesome for lunch. That was one of two large square spaces to investigate and share.

Tiny birds fly from two Clethra bushes, on each side of bird feeders. That adds to the fun. Clethra's do not hold a lot of birds, but they harbor the tiny ones as they back-and-forth over the bountiful food. 

When I left to get some groceries, Charlie Sue jumped on the easy chair during the interim.

Our entertainment center is overly sunlit now, so we have bamboo hanging three feet down from the porch beam.

Another benefit is observing the cul-de-sac traffic, from post office to Amazon to various other adventures.

Five Days of Storm Ahead?

 

Charlie Sue has a great sense for judging weather. She accepts sprinkling and even a steady rain when she wants to commune with Porchy and DustMop. Today she was at the door, 4 AM - no rain but a loud boom sounding. She came inside without a drop of rain and suggested a snack would be welcome.

7:30 AM Saturday, May 24, 2025

We are on the list for five days of thunder, rain, and variations. The rain barrels were full, so I poured some out on roses that needed more encouragement. The honeysuckle vine was reaching and climbing across the cow square. I spotted the berries starting to grow. They are a highly regarded weed, known for the fragrance and the fruit. Like wild strawberries, they distribute more examples wherever birds rest.

Charlie Sue urged me to share the picture window. She happily jumps onto me and the much neglected easy chair. The drapes are pulled aside and the coffee table is out of the way. She loves watching the various bird feeder sources and sometimes relaxes in a nap.

Either SOLA SCRIPTURA or POPERY or SO-CALLED EASTERN ORTHODOXY! No other alternatives are possible for the Christian Faith!

 

"Either SOLA SCRIPTURA or POPERY or SO-CALLED EASTERN ORTHODOXY! No other alternatives are possible for the Christian Faith!"

Readers are bound to ask, "What happened to Justification by Faith? The Chief Article of the Christian Faith? Robert Preus taught that in his last book."

Nostalgia Tour

 

My neighbor from the former dairy farm started me on Clethra. He was proud to see the bushes growing in my backyard. When he saw that I had poison hemlock, he laughed, "Just don't eat it." It was sent away, wrapped up.

This morning I worked over the links on the left column of Ichabod in order to emphasize the positive. Everyone already has access to the denominations, even if they have no access to grace - due to lack of faith in Jesus Christ. Bellowing "grace!" without faith is a carnival cry. 

Most clergy will say, "Not enough people for the upcoming Ascension Day." We have a big solution for a little audience - 1s and zeroes. Almost everything is comprised that way, a bonus of nostalgia. Everyone with the Internet can enjoy the Ascension Day hymns and liturgy, even a sermon. Zoom has its complexities, broadcasting live and storing with YouTube, but even the geezer squad can get it going and solve the problems.

I have nothing new to say about the Big Five Apostates, all bundled in Thrivent Insurance and elderly annuities. Therefore, it is best to spend time about the past, even if the faithful are small in number today.

Yesterday I had the grungy delight of moving a Clethra closer to the bird feeders in the front yard. My new perspective inside let me watch the feeders through the living room window, with Charlie Sue on my lap. Both of us were pleased. She got to watch the birds close up and stuck to me like Velcro.

The task was loosening the extra Clethra around several times, then lying down to cut the roots loose. I had the empty space cleared and that was easy. I poured water from the rain-barrel into the hole and placed the plant for its new adventure, more rainwater added.

KJV Isaiah 55

8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Those verses alone should smash and scatter the Church Growth follies of Luther-dumb, but the peddlers are immune. They occupy the high places and despise those who visit the sick and dying, teach the Catechism, and study the King James Version.

So what good is the Clethra? Catnip for pollinators! Its flowers are so tiny that the smallest insects hide within them. The fragrance attracts the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Smaller birds land within the bush for safety and rest. Best of all, human garden visitors will inhale the Cinnabon aroma, many feet away.

Lacking the concept of Creation, the Father-Son-Spirit in Genesis 1, our modern day growth experts have no idea why their mausoleums are crumbling. Christine and I visited the Purpose Driven Babtist Church by chance and listened to the Rev. clown prince (Rick Warren) make people laugh. We also attended the fabulous Willow Creek Community Adultery Church - Bill Hybels. I wondered where the cross was, absent in the "ahem" worship area. Expensive food followed in the swine court. Not good food, but expensive food.

My friend from Dow Chemical came by our house in Midland, to see the supposed Silver Queen corn I was growing from of a deep area of compost. He doubted my story at the same time we were going back behind the garage. "Silver Queen tends to be short." He stopped and looked up at the stalks. All I did was accumulate the power of God's creatures turning organic matter into a hotel for greedy Silver Queen seeds. 

If people do not comprehend Creation, they will not understand the power of God's Word.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Easter 5 - Rogate - "In the fifth place, one should so act in this confidence of prayer as not to limit God and specify the day or place, nor designate the way or measure of the prayer’s fulfillment; but leave all to his own will, wisdom and almighty power. Then confidently and cheerfully await the answer, not even wishing to know how and where, how soon, how long, and through whom."

 

Luther's Sermon for ROGATE  - FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

SECOND SERMON. 

7. In the fifth place, one should so act in this confidence of prayer as not to limit God and specify the day or place, nor designate the way or measure of the prayer’s fulfillment; but leave all to his own will, wisdom and almighty power. Then confidently and cheerfully await the answer, not even wishing to know how and where, how soon, how long, and through whom. His divine wisdom will find far better ways and measures, time and place, than we can devise, even should we perform miracles. So, in the Old Testament, the children of Israel all trusted in God to deliver them while yet there was no possible way before their eyes, nor even in their thoughts; then the Red Sea parted and offered them a way through the waters, and suddenly drowned all their enemies. Exodus 14.

8. Thus Judith, the holy woman, did when she heard that the citizens of Bethulia wished to deliver the city to their enemies within five days if God, in the meantime, did not help. She reproved them and said, Now who are ye, that have tempted God? They are not designs by which one acquires grace; but they awaken more disgrace. Do you wish to set a time for God to show you mercy, and specify a day according to your own pleasure?

Judith 8:10-12. Then the Lord helped her in a wonderful manner, in that she cut off the head of the great Holofernes and dispersed the enemies.

9. In like manner, St. Paul says that God’s ability is thus proved, in that he does exceeding abundantly above and better than we ask or think. Ephesians 3:20. Therefore, we should know that we are too finite to be able to name, picture or designate the time, place, way, measure and other circumstances for that which we ask of God. Let us leave that entirely to him, and immovably and steadfastly believe that he will hear us.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Easter 5 Rogate - "In the fourth place, some say: Yes, I would gladly trust that my prayer would be heard, if I were only worthy and prayed aright. My answer is: If you do not pray until you know and experience that you are fit, then you will never need to pray. As I have said before, our prayers must not be founded nor rest upon ourselves or their own merits, but upon the unshakable truth of the divine promise. Where they are founded upon anything else, they are false, and deceive us, even though the heart break in the midst of its great devotions and we weep drops of blood. The very reason we do pray is because of our unworthiness; and just through the fact that we believe we are unworthy and confidently venture upon God’s faithfulness to his Word do we become worthy to pray and to be heard."

Luther's Sermon for ROGATE  - FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

SECOND SERMON. 

5. In the fourth place, some say: Yes, I would gladly trust that my prayer would be heard, if I were only worthy and prayed aright. My answer is: If you do not pray until you know and experience that you are fit, then you will never need to pray. As I have said before, our prayers must not be founded nor rest upon ourselves or their own merits, but upon the unshakable truth of the divine promise. Where they are founded upon anything else, they are false, and deceive us, even though the heart break in the midst of its great devotions and we weep drops of blood. The very reason we do pray is because of our unworthiness; and just through the fact that we believe we are unworthy and confidently venture upon God’s faithfulness to his Word do we become worthy to pray and to be heard. Be you as unworthy as you may, only look to it, and with all earnestness accept it as true, that a thousand-fold more depends upon this, that you know God’s truth and not change his faithful promise into a lie by your doubting. Your worthiness does not help you, but your unworthiness is no barrier. Disbelief condemns you, and trust makes you worthy and sustains you.

6. Therefore, be on your guard all through life that you may never think yourself worthy or fit to pray or to receive; unless it be that you discover yourself to be a freebold character risking all upon the faithful and sure promises of your gracious God, who thus wishes to reveal to you his mercy and goodness. Just as he, out of pure grace, has promised you, being so unworthy, an unmerited and unasked hearing, so will he also hear you, an unworthy beggar, out of pure grace, to the praise of his truth and promise. This he does in order that you may thank, not your worthiness, but his truth, by which he fulfils his promise, and that you thank his mercy that gave the promise, that the saying in Psalm 25:8-10 may stand: “Good and upright is Jehovah: Therefore will he instruct sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in justice; and the meek will he teach his way.

All the paths of Jehovah are loving kindness and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Loving-kindness or mercy in the promise; faithfulness and truth in the fulfilling or hearing of the promises.

And in another Psalm he says: “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10. That is, they come together in every work and gift we receive from God through prayer.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Easter 5 - Rogate - "In the third place, if one prays doubting that God will hear him, and only offers his prayers as a venture, whether it be granted or not granted, he is guilty of two wicked deeds. The first is, that he, himself, makes his prayer unavailing and he labors in vain. For Jesus says: “Whoever will ask of God, let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:6-7."

 

Luther's Sermon for ROGATE  - FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

SECOND SERMON.

3. In the third place, if one prays doubting that God will hear him, and only offers his prayers as a venture, whether it be granted or not granted, he is guilty of two wicked deeds. The first is, that he, himself, makes his prayer unavailing and he labors in vain. For Jesus says: “Whoever will ask of God, let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:6-7. He means that the heart of such a man does not continue stable, therefore God can give it nothing; but faith keeps the heart calm and stable and makes it receptive for the divine gifts.

4. The other wicked deed is, that he regards his most true and faithful God as a liar and an unstable and doubtful being; as one who can not or will not keep his promise; and thus through his doubt he robs God of his honor and of his name of truth and faithfulness. In this, such a grievous sin is committed that by this sin a Christian becomes a heathen, denying and losing his own God, and thus he remains in his sin, and must be condemned forever, without comfort. Moreover, if he receives that for which he prays, it will be given, not for his salvation, but for his punishment in time and eternity and it is not for the sake of the prayers, but because of his wrath that God rewards the good words which were spoken in sin, unbelief and divine dishonor.

Reformation Seminary Lecture - Acts 10

 

KJV Acts 10:1-24

10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

ELCA Warms Up for a Hot Phoenix Assembly

"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them. ELCA+ installation."

"I am not Joe Biden's hospital chaplain!"

Source? - ALPB Ovaltines 

"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." 

"Now, Brett. I was not going to be the first ELCA Archbishop to copy the Presbyterians. But they threatened me with Liz Eaton, because she learned choir music at Harvard Div. What followed was not my fault!!"

"Porgia, we are going to have a delicious lunch in Phoenix, thanks to Thrivent."

"You lied. You lied! You lied about lunch!"

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Easter 5 - Rogate - "In the second place, it is necessary that we never doubt the pledge and promise of the true and faithful God. For even to this end did God pledge himself to hear, yea, commanded us to pray, in order that we may always have a sure and firm faith that we will be heard; as Jesus says in Matthew 21:22: “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

 

Luther's Sermon for ROGATE  - FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

SECOND SERMON.

2. In the second place, it is necessary that we never doubt the pledge and promise of the true and faithful God. For even to this end did God pledge himself to hear, yea, commanded us to pray, in order that we may always have a sure and firm faith that we will be heard; as Jesus says in Matthew 21:22: “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Christ says in Luke 11:9-13: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” With this and like promises and commands we must consolingly exercise ourselves and pray in true confidence.

ELCA Numbers

 

ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson - "Now Brett, I did not do all the damage. I set ELCA up to become a 100% gay-lesbian synod, but Elizabeth Eaton really took them to the heights - or rather - the dump, from 2009 to her glorious election."

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. Source - ALPB Ovaltines

The latest pie-in-the-face is Budde's attack against President Trump, a level of raw stupidity that most clergy would avoid. The canons of polite discourse are far better than the tired, blistering rants of feminist hags. She might have done a bit better, copying the ELCA female bishops who chanted about letting the Female Holy Spirit burst out of the closet.

Because I’m telling you what, the Spirit is up to something …

Bishops: Amen. Yes, she is.

Briner: … if we would just let her out.

Bishops: Let her out. Get out of her way.

Briner: Open the doors and let her out.

Bishops: She’s out! She is loose!

Thus some of the ELCA bishops got into the media and helped drive the nails deeper into their own synods and seminaries.

ELCA Phoenix Assembly - 2025. Splitsville?

 

Fifty years and how many merging mergers of a seminary? - Voila! - a new shrunken rented seminary is managed by the Church of Rome. Notice the glee versus the glum.

The Lutheran Congregational Support Network (LCSN) has recently released three more videos which tell of big changes that are on the horizon for the ELCA.    

HERE is a link to Part 5 – “Changing the Constitution: The Fast Track Proposal.”

In July 2025, key constitutional amendments will be up for a vote – amendments that could reshape the church’s future.  This video explains what is at stake and what these changes could mean.  We urge you to watch this video so that you will understand the ELCA’s fast-track proposal and why it matters. 

HERE is a link to Part 6 – “The ELCA’s Game Changer?”

This video unpacks a seemingly simple question posted by ELCA Vice President Imran Siddiqui: “If you were to change the organizational structure of the ELCA, how would you do it?” It explores how a single footnote in a recent report could have significant implications for congregational autonomy.

What does it mean when a lawyer-vice president calls a proposal to “eliminate congregational home rule” a “game changer (esp. in the legal sphere)”?  This video takes a close look at:

• How and why Section 9.22 of the ELCA constitution could be used in new ways
• How a simple footnote could point toward a path for imposing churchwide mandates without congregational consent
• The growing tension between local autonomy and centralized authority in the ELCA

HERE is a link to Part 7 – “Churchwide Assembly: Who Gets to Vote?”

This video tells of another change that will be voted on at the triannual gathering this summer – adding voting members who are not part of congregations. Instead, they represent Synod-Authorized Worshiping Communities (SAWCs), which are groups that are directly created and controlled by the Synod.  You will also hear about other aspects of the amendment like the addition of voting members based on demographic categories and how this continues a broader institutional shift that sidelines congregational voice.

These changes are not theoretical. They could reshape how your ELCA congregation operates, makes decisions, and defines its mission.

If you have not already done so, I highly recommend that you go to the LCSN’s website (LINK) and sign up to be on their email mailing list.  On their website you will find videos they have already released about the ELCA’s quest for ever greater control.  The LCSN very intentionally approaches matters related to the ELCA not in terms of theology, and not in terms of cultural issues and Biblical moral values, but in terms of the ELCA’s Constitutions and the whole matter of congregational autonomy.