If The ELCA disappeared...

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

So this question was posed by the Bishop of the St. Paul Synod to try to get people to think about their connection to the larger church (by larger I mean ELCA, not church universal).
He asked (not exactly in these words): If the ELCA-that is the synod offices and officers not the congregations-disappeared today how would that affect your congregation? What impact would it have practically, theologically, or philosophically?
Basically how does the ELCA governance impact you and your congregation?

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

Well, practically speaking it would be much more difficult to find new pastors.

And we would have to find some new way of regulating what requirements create a pastor.

For better an for worse we would not be defined by our synod. We would instead be defined by the term "Lutheran" and the local church.

There would be no accountability amongst churches, although I do question truly how much we have now.

We would have to strive individually to form opportunities of fellowship with other Christians to prevent a certain concept of isolation from the church universal.

When you move you would not be able to simply search for ELCA churches in your new area.

We would lack the greater missions of the ELCA, the ability to unite around causes for our neighbor.

We would be robbed of our own line of theologians to turn to, but likewise freed from the various Politically Correct interest groups that drive so much within the ELCA.

We would lack external aids to internal conflict.

 

[AngCath]

I guess I would have to say that in the short term it would not have much impact on my congregation except that it may expedite any future discussions about whether or not to associate with another Lutheran body (something that may happen anyway, though I think it unlikely).

In the long term it would effect hiring future pastors and I suppose it could effect the relationship with other ELCA congregations in the area, though there isn't much cooperation at this point except via the pastors who meet together once a month. My congregation does more with the local Episcopal cathedral (across the street) and other downtown congregations (of a variety of denoms) than other Lutherans in the city. Theologically/philosophically I can't say that it would even matter as the congregation is not one that necessarily reflects the goings on of the ELCA. I mean, we use ELW for worship, but the liturgy, hymns, and preaching are all traditionally Lutheran.

I think, as you point out, that the greatest effect would be the loss of participation in national and global mission cooperatives that are funded and maintained by the synod and ELCA.

 

[TheGrungeDiva]

Hi. I was ELCA for most of my life -- even went to seminary for several years. I switched to Episcopal about 5 years ago. Hope you don't mind my $0.02. If you do, you're welcome to delete this post.

I think the larger bodies (synod, region, national) are important, for the same reason government is important. Without some kind of larger governance, to whom does the pastor answer? Well, ultimately, God, but until Judgment Day, it helps to have some intervention. Without the Church-At-Large, the pastor is pretty much free to do or say anything. If you don't agree with my interpretation of Scripture, you're not going to heaven. Don't think it can happen? It happens all the time in churches that don't have national (or international) organizations such as RCC or ELCA or ECUSA. Sure, pastors who abuse their power will answer to God in the next life, but they can do an awful lot of damage in this life to people spiritually, emotionally, and even physically, without some kind of governance.

I'm not saying that all non-denominational churches are corrupt, or even that there is no corruption in us main-lines. Just that this is one area that's easy to set up checks and balances. I for one am proud to belong to a wider membership.

Good question!