Historic Lutheran churches feeling some stress

Lewistown Sentinal ^ | November 23, 2013 | AP

[11th_VA]

YORK, Pa. (AP) — At 89, Helen Behler still drives into York from her West Manchester condo every Sunday to worship at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The oldest member of a dwindling congregation, Behler cut the cake a few weeks ago when Trinity completed its centennial celebration.

She is part of a fading community of churchgoers, staunchly Lutheran worshippers who trace their faith to German-born ancestors who flocked to central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries. Christ Lutheran on South George Street is said to have been the first church built west of the Susquehanna River. It was followed by dozens of Lutheran churches in and around York.

Some of those city churches are struggling to counter alarming drops in membership, attendance and giving....

[RightLady]

My Previous church thought they could get more members by throwing out TLH in favor of Lutheran Worship. LW got voted out—so if liberals don’t get their way, they destroy. Some of these liberals migrate, as soon as they get one church divided, on to another. They remind me of Democrats or RINOS

[Mr. Lucky]

...or locusts.

[rhema]

The whole article avoids the reasons for drop in membership

If it ain't heresy with the ELCA, it's crudity.

What Comes Out of an ELCA Leader's Mouth

[rhema]

The ELCA endeavors to do a better job of communicating.

[lightman]

aye, the tats “lady” will be the keynote speaker at my former Synod’s flagship congregation leadership training event next year.

Kyrie Eleison.