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Reaction to ELCA Sexuality Policy Change |
2009-10-03 |
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The August newsletter reported on the recent ELCA Churchwide Assembly vote to change policy and allow clergy to be in, and congregations to “recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships.” This decision has created chaos and confusion in churches around the country, and here at home. Several members of our congregation (and members of other congregations) have come to us with their serious concerns and the desire for action.We believe that this decision is wrong and against
the plain understanding of God’sWord. The ELCA is trying to keep the denomination together, but we must acknowledge that it is illogical to embrace heresy (false teaching) and then expect unity. It is better to be divided by truth than united in error. These events force us to ask ourselves: what is the ELCA and what kind of allegience do we owe to it!?What does it mean to be a Lutheran, and can we remain faithful Lutheran Christians and at the same time be in the ELCA? The ELCA is a human, fallible, bureaucracy of recent origin. It is not the Church. Your pastors have reluctantly and sadly come to believe that it is increasingly evident that the ELCA is no longer a faithful, orthodox church of Christ. You can learn more about the official ELCA positions at www.elca.org, and about groups which are very powerful and influential within the ELCA and were instrumental in bringing about the new sexuality policies at www.goodsoil.org and www.lcna.org.We have already taken some concrete
steps, along with the church council, in discerning the most faithful course of action for our congregation. We are REDIRECTING BENEVOLENCE. We will no longer send any of our offering dollars to the ELCA through the South Dakota Synod. The pastors alerted
Bishop Zellmer to this possibility and discussed it with the council since last January. The 2009 budget has $18,000 of benevolence to the SD Synod. We have already sent $12,000 so far this year. Over forty percent of that is forwarded to the ELCA.We will determine what ministries to send the remaining $6,000 to instead of the SD Synod, but they will be ministries which we believe are true to the Gospel. The SD Synod and ELCAwill not be in any of our future budgets.
American Lutheran voted to become a member of Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Renewal) four years ago. CORE has led the opposition against the ELCA actions, and is now organizing the process by which congregations can leave the ELCA, and helping to establish the structures of a new Lutheran organization that these congregations would be part of. Pastor Janine attended a national CORE gathering in Indiana on September 25-26 that approved a constitution to guide this
process over the next year. You can learn more about CORE at www.lutherancore.org and www.wordalone.org. There is an orthodox national Lutheran church body called Lutheran Churches in Mission for Christ (LCMC) which is an alternative to the ELCA. It has been in existence for about ten years. Pastors Craig and Janine will attend part of the LCMC Annual Assembly in Fargo on October 5, and have been in conversation with LCMC representatives regarding what exactly this organization is and how we might become part of it. CORE and LCMC are coordinating to develop a CORE “Synod” within the broader LCMC. You can check out information about them at www.lcmc.net. We will be having a forum on all of these matters during Coffee Fellowship on Sunday, October 11. You are encouraged to attend, and to ask the pastors questions at any time. The Pastors and church council will continue to develop plans for action regarding the future affliliation
of our congregation, and keep you informed. Any move by ALC out of the ELCA requires a process of a congregational vote (2/3 majority) followed by ninety days of consultation with the SD Synod, and a second vote (2/3 majority). The congregation would take the church property with us if both votes passed with the required 2/3 majority. It is important that we consider these possibilities carefully and prayerfully, and that we work to remain together as a congregation. Please keepyour pastors, the council, and our congregation in your prayers as we seek to faithfully discern and follow God’s will in these challenging times. |
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Summer: starting Memorial Day Weekend
9:00 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
10:00 am Coffee and Fellowship
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm
Winter: starting after Labor Day
8:30 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
9:35 am Educational Hour
9:35 am Coffee and Fellowship
10:45 am Worship Service
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm |
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401 South Flynn Drive
Milbank SD 57252
605.432.5566 |
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