Thursday, September 24, 2009

Lutherans Leaving ELCA

Alternative church fellowship for Lutherans to be formed as 1,200 gather in Indianapolis, Sept. 25-26 for Lutheran CORE convocation. http://lutherancore.org/ The turn out and interest has been so great, the registration is closed and they've moved it to a larger church.

My first impression at this web site is that I hope they can soon hire a professional web designer. But the information is good.

My church, UALC in Columbus (3 locations),
    "Our future is not in the ELCA. Moving toward wherever our future will be is a fairly lengthy but a critically important process, and one that will be given all the time it needs. . . No funds whatsoever have been given to the ELCA since July. . . We will spend our effort and our energy where they matter most, on people, for Jesus' sake." Senior Pastor Paul Ulring, report to the Congregation, Cornerstone, Sept. 20-26, 2009
There are a number of other options in addition to CORE for ELCA congregations planning to distance themselves from their misguided synod which has been wandering in the wilderness for about 10 years.
  • Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (this probably isn't an option for UALC since 7 of the 9 services are informal/contemporary or too loud for me to attend (drums, electric guitars, etc.)
  • The Lighthouse Covenant (Ulring is one of the founding members)
  • LCMC Word Alone (UALC is a member)
  • ARC Alliance of Renewal Churches
  • AFLC and AALC Association of Free Lutheran Congregations and **American Association of Lutheran Churches


**Twelve ALC congregations chose not to enter into the ELCA merger and prior to the merger, on November 7, 1987, formed their own Lutheran church body, The American Association of Lutheran Churches (The AALC). The pastors and congregations held firmly that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and they saw the ELCA moving further away from that foundation. From 1987 to 2009, The AALC has grown from 12 congregations to 78 congregations and formed their own seminary, American Lutheran Theological Seminary (ALTS), which is now located on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. (from the AALC web site)

1 comment:

Steve said...

I happen to love the ELCA!

But then again...I am a loon!

(I really think they are despicable for tossing God's Word right out the stained glass window)