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Well, TonyRo, it's time for the Lutheran Ping list!

For all of you posting about the "liberal ELCA"--here's a brief version of the REAL story: the ELCA is really a largely conservative church that has been hijacked by liberal, revisionist mis-leaders, like several other "mainline" churches. (There are several different varieties of Lutheran conservatives, which complicates the issue.)

In summer 2005, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is mandated to vote on whether to officially ordain non-celebate gays and to "bless" gay "unions". This vote is very likley to spit the ELCA into several pieces, and to send many individual members and families scurrying out of it, especially in liberal synods where they have few or no Lutheran alternatives.

Nearly all Western (i.e., non-Eastern Orthodox) mainline churches are in trouble in North America and in Europe. Look at the Roman Catholics (sex scandal, lawsuits, churches closing, etc.) and the Episcopal church (gay bishop, churches leaving and forming a conservative "province") for the biggest examples. Churches in trouble include BOTH the ELCA and the Missouri Synod, for different reasons.

It's time to pray, to ask the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and to get togehter with other conservative Christians. Joining the FR Lutheran ping list may be part of doing that, especially for FR Lutherans who have not already done so.

You are absolutely right about the ELCA being hijacked by a group of leftwing activists who are now trying to ram their gay agenda down out throats. Unfortunately, only a few of us (out of thousands of traditional Lutherans) have been willing to stand up and fight against this apostacy.

Put me on that Lutheran ping list, PLEASE!!

Nearly all Western (i.e., non-Eastern Orthodox) mainline churches are in trouble in North America and in Europe. Look at the Roman Catholics (sex scandal, lawsuits, churches closing, etc.) and the Episcopal church (gay bishop, churches leaving and forming a conservative "province") for the biggest examples. Churches in trouble include BOTH the ELCA and the Missouri Synod, for different reasons.

It's time to pray, to ask the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and to get togehter with other conservative Christians. Joining the FR Lutheran ping list may be part of doing that, especially for FR Lutherans who have not already done so.

I agree with you there, I'm planning on going back to church once I get my career ducks in a row, long story there, but the Lutheran Church I was bapitized in and attended long ago is a member of the ELCA. I guess I will have to fish around to see if the Church follows the Conservative or Liberal wing of the ELCA. Are there any pointers in going about this or should I just ask the pastor and make up my own mind?

BTW, I'm German and Swedish on Mom's side and Serbian, Russian, and Russian Jew on Dad's side and my last name is Serbian although it is more of an English corruption of the original Serbian name. I consider myself pro-Serb too, I think in Kosovo, we put our money on the wrong dog in that fight.

If there is a Lutheran ping list, count me in too.

This vote is very likley to spit the ELCA into several pieces, and to send many individual members and families scurrying out of it, especially in liberal synods where they have few or no Lutheran alternatives.

I fear for my parents when (not if) this happens next year - our family left the Missouri Synod in the mid-80s because the local congregation was not at all welcoming of my dad (not Lutheran at the time). Now both of them are relatively conservative Lutherans in a middle-of-the-road ELCA congregation, and this will likely send them running. Unfortunately their local option for the LCMS is the same congregation that shunned us nearly 20 years ago. :-(

I'm still an ELCA member because I wanted very much to marry in the church where I was confirmed. After the wedding this upcoming spring, the two of us will be heading for the LCMS.