It’s not that we members of the ELCA do not understand how heretical the ELCA is becoming. There’s only one reason why I am still with the ELCA. I love my home congregation. The people are good. They believe the Bible. We have been assertive about our rejection of the ELCA’s move toward gay clergy. We even withheld our synod dues for several years at one point in protest of the direction that the ELCA was going on this.
My heart breaks. I pray and I will continue to speak the truth in love to those who rule the ELCA and pray for ears to be opened to the word of God, and for them to understand that the grace of God does not exclude the necessity of the repentance for sin.
This makes me more and more glad to be Catholic.
I can truly understand your dilema, but you are living in a state of denial. For years I have heard clergy and laity in the ALC, LCA, and now ELCA make the same argument. It has become a rationalization to remain within an apostate church. Putting loyalty to a building or to friendships above that which is pleasing to God, it like the Israelites trying to serve the Lord and Baal. If you serve the Lord, then serve the Lord; if you serve Baal, then serve Baal. You can’t serve both.
Pick up your congregation and move into one of the other Lutheran movements that also believes in the Bible. If the congregation won’t come then they do not believe in the Bible.
I have had a similar choice to make here in Oz with the uniting church the door out got bigger and bigger until the same decision was made. The congregation all said they belive in the Bible but if they had ever read it then it was not obvious as they fell for the party line hook, line and sinker - either that or they made excuses for staying. Nothing should stand between you and God including love for your congregation.
Sorry I am being so tough but I feel you may need to hear it.
Blessings
Mel