It really is time to move on, but it is so very hard. I write this in the evening, after attending our Sierra Pacific Synod district assembly. Over all it was a really good day, but I was reminded of the “backlash” coming from the  2009 national ELCA Assembly decision to allow gay pastors in committed relationships to serve in ELCA churches. We, very briefly, discussed the fact that one of our local churches had passed its first vote to leave the ELCA, but more on that in a bit.

    Fortunately, at New Creation, this was almost a non-event. Don’t get me wrong, there was some excitement, and we support the decision. We were also glad the decision was finally made.  Some of us thought “phew, now we can get back to the true business of our church.”

    But, sadly, that is not the case for so many of our sister churches. The most recent number that I have seen indicates that there are over 10,000 churches in the ELCA (that’s about 4.5 million members). So far, 291 congregations have passed their second vote to leave ELCA, because of this decision. There are about 123 more congregations that have passed their first vote and in the process of having their second vote. So, roughly, the ELCA is looking at potentially losing 4% of its membership. Granted, there are probably some more churches working on getting their first vote together. But now that Lutheran CORE has gotten North American Lutheran Church (NALC) formed, the mass exodus that so many predicted doesn’t seem to be coming to fruition. I think the ELCA will survive.

    Anyway, as you might guess, I spend a little too much time following this and it truly breaks my heart. I honestly support those churches that want to leave the ELCA. I pray for them and wish them luck. What makes me sad is the way that this is happening. There is so much hatred and blatant misinformation being tossed out by some members of these churches.

    I watched a video tonight, produced by a member of one church, decreeing that we in the ELCA place ourselves above God, we rebuke the Bible, we “encourage what God has called sin,” we attack other Christians, and we claim to “know better” than Jesus. I was shocked that someone could have this view of the denomination that I have come to love so much. Additionally this person, whose own family does not agree with him, continues to publicly pressure his own church council to leave the ELCA. Doing so, in the most negative, hateful way he can. Is that what Jesus would do?

    I continue to read of churches that attempt to ignore their own constitution in an attempt to accept votes that were held incorrectly. One church informed members, who abstained from voting, that their presence would not be recorded, in order to gain the 2/3 vote necessary to pass. Other churches attempt to continue to have their “second” vote multiple times, because it keeps failing.

    I can’t even imagine how unpleasant the worship environment in these churches has become. Every week I read blogs and see Tweets on Twitter that contain so much hatred and so much misinformation. Such wonderful PR in such a public forum (that would be sarcasm), no wonder so many people are fed up with churches and Christians! I can’t even imagine the experience for a first time visitor into one of these churches.

    Recently, one of my wife’s friends sent her an e-mail asking for help. Her church was getting ready to have their first vote and she was so confused as to what this was really all about. Worse than that, she couldn’t seek advice from members of her own church. Again, I can’t help but wonder what type of worship environment these poor people must be experiencing.

    No, I really don’t think we need yet another version of Lutheranism (There are only about 38 in North America already). However, if we really truly can’t live together civilly, and you can’t find a home in any of the other Lutheran bodies, by all means please go ahead and start something new. I wish you all the best of luck, and hope that someday our wounds will heal and we can work together to spread the word of the Lord and ease suffering throughout the world. But until then, please remember that we were once friends, neighbors, and yes even family.

    Personally, yes this tears at my heart and saddens me. I've let my thoughts stew too long. However, I promise I’m going to do my best to move on, lose this distraction, and get back to the work that Jesus has commanded.

    Peace be with you…