Is it inevitable?

[Melethiel]

2. The gender neutral hymnal is not about gays - but about women being about to see themselves in "God's image" Gen 1:27 and being honest with some texts that have been un-necessarly masculinized.

I don't need to see myself in God's image by singing gender-neutral hymns, thank you very much. The new "hymnal" is a travesty and flies in the face of millenia of church tradition. Christianity is a patriarchal religion. Get over it. If women need so badly to see themselves in God's image, they can go be Wiccan.

 

[KagomeShuko]

Usually, when one says that they grew up in the ELCA, it means they grew up in one of the Lutheran branches that formed the ELCA. I find it's usually LCA.

 

[cableguy]

My answer to you question - will it divide? NO - because it is too easy to keep being unjust to a minority who because they are Lutheran and believe the Lutheran Church teaches the truth of the Gospel will be satying by and large in the ELCA. Only the conservatives will think of leaving - and they can join Missouri - who seem to tip the scale towards Gospel plus some other believes are what saves. (Jesus' death, plus believing that the Historical Critical Method of interpretation is wrong,plus believing that the Bible is inerrant (adding to the Bible's claims for itself) plus believing that homosexulaity is somehow uniquely disqualifying among sins unlike lying, divorce,etc., plus believing God is actually "Father" = male and that is not just a metaphor, plus... plus...

Interesting you should say only "conservative" lutherans....

http://www.wordalone.org/docs/wa-ny-metro-gays.htm

http://www.elca.org/news/Releases.asp?a=3264

http://www.mnys.org/headlines/special_meeting_report.html

 

[RayJGentry]

i think that a church will split from the ELCA in the next ten to twenty years. word alone really got going with the CCM issue with the episcopal church and with the risk that the assembly will pass something in my timespan that will infururiate many congregations is rather likely. only around forty percent of the synods actively approved of CCM, yet it was passed by eighty-two percent or so at the national assembly.

in my opinon the odds are good that something will pass that a majority of the synods and individual congregations weren't willing to support and organizations like word alone will gain more support and be able to branch off. this will effectively lean the national assembly even more left. now i don't think that being more liberal is a bad thing. however the ELCA is seen as a left church, while i'd guess that the individual congregations are more in the middle, even if many are left leaning.

i've heard lately that some people in word alone (Dr Dennis Biefeldt is the one i've heard of, along with others) are working on an alternate ordination option for candidates who disagree with the passing of CCM. now this could create another rift (albeit a largely academic and not widespread one) that will mobilize them further. however i don't think anything will happen until the member, congregations and possibly synods feel they've been betrayed enough. CCM wasn't enough because it was largely academic and a majority of congregations have still not and will not feel the affects of it at all.

i know this is a rather rough post, but as you can see it's late. i need to get some sleep and give Dr Biefeldt a call and see exaclty what's going on. so far it's really hear-say, but i'll get it ironed out. i'll also repost and correct anything i've said that doesn't make sense or is blatently off base. as i said i'm tired, but i did need to chime in. so if you strongly disagree with something, let me know, but don't tear me apart quite yet, i need to process. i love you all and God Bless

God's Peace, Love, Wisdom and JOY!
Spankin' the Devil,

Ray J Gentry IV