A Church's Journey: Leaving the ELCA

Exposing the ELCA ^ | 06/12/2011

[rhema]

Over 500 churches have left the ELCA over the last two years. With this in mind, Exposing the ELCA invited some congregations who have left the denomination to share their story, their experience, their journey.

Here is the first, of what we hope to be many, stories posted: St. Paul Lutheran Church’s “Journey into the Light.” Read here.

St. Paul Lutheran Church is in Oregon, Illinois

Contact me if you are interested in telling us your congregation’s story.

[Keith in Iowa]

The churches didn’t leave the ELCA - the ELCA left the churches, and their congregations.

[rhema]

Over 500 churches have left the ELCA over the last two years. With this in mind, Exposing the ELCA invited some congregations who have left the denomination to share their story, their experience, their journey.

Freepers and their pastors could provide a multitude of "journey into the light" stories all by themselves.

[hinckley buzzard]

Coming up on the CWA 2011, in August, two years after the homosexual putsch. The flow of congregations out of the ELCA has continued steady. New "first votes" are recorded weekly. There is a possibility that by CWA time, the number of churches leaving will have approached a thousand, technically "decimating" the ELCA.

The church hierarchy and colluders across the land have let their mask of sanctimony drop and revealed their steel teeth-- as a basically secular leftwing political lobby.

It was no accident that CEO Mark Hansen described the ELCA as an "organization", rather than as a church. He has since tried to paper over the truth he revealed, but the cat is long since out of the bag.

Those seeking the Holy Spirit will no longer find Him at ELCA headquarters in Chicago.

[SmithL]

Sorry, but way too many ELCA members are convinced that events that happen in far-away places like Minneapolis, Chicago, or even San Francisco, have no bearing on what goes on in their congregation.

[lightman]

Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!

* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.

Veni, Sanctae Spiritus!

[aberaussie]

That is exactly what my in-laws said after the 2009 CWA. This would not affect them in their little southern town. Yet, half their members left their church and the rest are fiercely hanging onto their ELCA affiliation - because that is who funded the start of the church. It doesn’t matter that recent actions will probably kill the church.

[lightman]

The church hierarchy and colluders across the land have let their mask of sanctimony drop and revealed their steel teeth-- as a basically secular leftwing political lobby.

It was no accident that CEO Mark Hansen described the ELCA as an "organization", rather than as a church. He has since tried to paper over the truth he revealed, but the cat is long since out of the bag.

Ergo my comments on the thread about "progressive Christianity"

freerepublic.com/focus/news/2734148/posts?page=15#15

[MarilynBr]

I’m not a member or attender of the church but it is my understanding that Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Salem, OR is about ready to take their first vote on leaving the ELCA.

[Redleg Duke]

Like I have probably said, too many times, on this forum, I left the ELCA in September of 2007 when I realized that it was no longer my church home because it was no longer a church, but a social organization.

I took my son and we went to the LCMS and were happy there, but a move and two questionable Pastors later, I was without a church home for over a year, not attending, not communing.

Last month I remarried and my bride said that she wanted a church home after an adult life without one. We received a post card from the local Anglican Church in America, met with the Priest, and have attended three times. I believe we have found a church home where God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, along with the Gospel of Christ are bedrock upon which the church resides.

The Anglican Church is not afraid to proclaim its resistance to social engineering and perversion in the name of sophistication.

It works for me, though I will miss the loving arms of the American Lutheran Church.

[stayathomemom]

I see you are in New Hampshire? I know it’s a large area but there is a WELS congregation in Amherst, NH. It doesn’t appear to be a large congregation, as many WELS churches aren’t. (My cousin’s son is one of the pastors there.)

[Redleg Duke]

Yes, I attended one service there almost four years ago and was made aware that my membership in the Masons and affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America was not approved of or welcomed.

My Mom was raised WELS and hers was a cold, cold church.

Thanks for thinking of me, though!

[RebelBanker]

My new wife and I understand the challenge of finding a welcoming and faithful church home. We were made uncomfortable at our old ELCA church, despite that being where my son was baptized and is buried. I got divorced and remarried, but my bride and I were not happy with the ELCA church where we met (after the divorce).

We have visited several Lutheran churches and think we have found a new church home. The pastor and congregation are strong believers and made us feel very welcome. I suppose it doesn’t hurt that the pastor is a FReeper... ;-)