The ELCA never had a better day. It was formed by merging two already lost churches and a third on its way. It was lost from its beginning. In fact the first President had two goals; homosexual clergy and weddings.
It is widely believed that the son of the first President (as you term him) committed suicide largely because he felt “unaccepted” in his homosexuality.
So to vindicate or avenge his son’s memory he led his denomination onto a path of ecclesial suicide.
Tragic.