Looking into ELCA

[sent one]

Hello everyone,

I am in transition in my church life and I have been looking for a new church to go to. I have been Assembly of God for many years but have grown very disenchanted with many things within AOG.
I have been seeking God to find a new Church and I found out about the ELCA online today. It seems to be everything I was looking for in a church. I plan to attend a Saturday night service in the next couple of weeks (I work on Sundays).

It is a big jump from AOG to ELCA. Any suggestions for my first visit to an ELCA church? Anyone else go from Charismatic to ELCA? Is it really getting ready to go through a split??? Is there really such a division in it and could anyone explain to me what the main points of that division is and what side you are on? Any input at all would be appreciated.

Thanks
Linda

 

[D.W.Washburn]

Hi Linda:

The ELCA has been on the verge of a split for about 20 years now. If and when it ever comes down, the congregations most affected will be those that choose to leave. The others will go on as they always have. The issues in contention right now are the ELCA's participation in a full Communion agreement (known as Call to Common Mission, CCM for short) with the Episcopal Church and a pending statement about human sexuality. I'm not ready to predict what the statement will say, but it may make a stand on issues about same sex unions and the ordination of non-celibate gays in committed relationships.

My suggestion for a first visit would be to introduce yourself to the pastor before the service if possible. You could even call ahead. If you can't talk to the pastor, mention to the ushers or greeters that this is your first visit and ask if there is someone you might sit with to guide you through the service.

Lutherans love their coffee hour. If there is food and refreshment after the service, stick around for it.

I hope that your visit to an ELCA congregation is a blessing to you. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Zoness]

I came from a nondenominational church and felt very welcome at the ELCA church that I attended. You will feel very welcome I'm sure!

 

[BabyLutheran]

Hi Linda, you will enjoy the ELCA church, most likely.

My congregation is pretty conservative, we have communion every service, follow a fairly standard liturgy, and of course, have an awesome coffee and refreshment time after the service is over! Our music is traditional, which I actually am coming to love.

The sermon is almost always centered around God's grace towards us, and I like the liturgy, it is very comforting to have some pattern to the service.

We also are very service oriented, there are lots of opportunities for social ministries like food pantry, serving meals at the homeless shelters, etc, that I didn't find at my non denominational church.

 

[Zoness]

I really like liturgy and traditional music, that is what I grew up with. I tried a new ELCA church last week and I wasn't as received there so I will probably try the first church again, although the second one gets credit for having a very beautiful church.

 

[D.W.Washburn]

I really like liturgy and traditional music, that is what I grew up with. I tried a new ELCA church last week and I wasn't as received there so I will probably try the first church again, although the second one gets credit for having a very beautiful church.

Some congregations (and I'm sure it's not just ELCA congregations) do a very poor job of welcoming visitors. They develop closed cultures which are antithetical to their mission. If you are comfortable doing so, I'd suggest you write a note to the pastor expressing how you were not received. If you can give specific examples (e.g. No one greeted me. I was not invited to coffee hour. etc). it would be even more helpful. Stick to facts. Don't be accusatory. It might help the leadership of the congregation address their closed culture.

 

[Zoness]

Some congregations (and I'm sure it's not just ELCA congregations) do a very poor job of welcoming visitors. They develop closed cultures which are antithetical to their mission. If you are comfortable doing so, I'd suggest you write a note to the pastor expressing how you were not received. If you can give specific examples (e.g. No one greeted me. I was not invited to coffee hour. etc). it would be even more helpful. Stick to facts. Don't be accusatory. It might help the leadership of the congregation address their closed culture.

That is in fact a really good idea because actually that was nearly true. I wasn't invited to anything in the second church where the first church they were practically begging me to come to events. And I definately understand that this is not a problem with just the ELCA I had it in Baptist congregations too but I hope I can work some change.

On an unrelated note, that is the ELCA's position on communion? Specifically do they render it as actual presence, symbolic or do they support transtubstantiation? thank you

 

[D.W.Washburn]

That is in fact a really good idea because actually that was nearly true. I wasn't invited to anything in the second church where the first church they were practically begging me to come to events. And I definately understand that this is not a problem with just the ELCA I had it in Baptist congregations too but I hope I can work some change.

On an unrelated note, that is the ELCA's position on communion? Specifically do they render it as actual presence, symbolic or do they support transtubstantiation? thank you

Definitely real presence. Not transubstantiation. The body and blood of Christ are present "in, with and under" the elements of bread and wine. The hows and whys of that presence are a mystery.

Jesus said "This is my body....This is my blood...." That was good enough for Luther, and it has been good enough for Lutherans of every stripe ever since. The ELCA practices a pretty open Communion, though. Believing that the altar is the Lord's Table, the ELCA invites all who believe to partake if their conscience permits.

 

[sent one]

I went to an ELCA church Saturday night. I have to go then because I work on Sundays. It was different, of course, than my AOG experience. Worship (music) was quite a bit low key compared to what I am use to. I expected as such from a more litergical denomination. But the sermon did seem a little forced. The message was fine but, I don't know, maybe without full conviction. Maybe he was tired! Because it was Saturday night there were not so many there. But I liked it for the most part. I do long for a charismatic mainline denomination but they are pretty hard to find. I could not stay after for coffee as I had to make a call to Europe that night. But I will go again. I want to give it more than one chance and I want to talk some with others afterwards at coffee. I did go forward to take communion. I am definately a believer who has been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I like the ELCA open communion policy but I also like that they view communion as more than just symbolism. Anyway, that was my experience.

 

[HappyChicken]

I LOVE the ECLA church that I have been attending. I have absolutely no complaints. I'm use to very conservative churches.... I have also gone to pentacostal churches..... And I LOVE the ECLA church. I feel like my family has FINALLY found our church home. I feel no pressure when I'm there. The people are sooo kind. I feel very blessed to have found this church.

 

[BabyLutheran]

Sent One, I came from a pentecostal style church as well. Let me tell you a couple of insights I have come to realize.

I missed the 45 minute free form sermons from my old church until I realized that they really had no substance to them.

In an ELCA church, you actually hear the scripture in 3 separate readings, not someone's freestyle self determined interpretation of scripture. I kind of like that. Our sermons are all about the grace of God towards his people, very positive.

The music is also full of scripture and biblical truth as well,(along with an occasional praise song), most of the music in my old church was devoid of scipture.

I am not saying it is necessarily for you, but that you just have to change your mindset a little bit to enjoy it.

 

[D.W.Washburn]

I went to an ELCA church Saturday night. I have to go then because I work on Sundays. It was different, of course, than my AOG experience. Worship (music) was quite a bit low key compared to what I am use to. I expected as such from a more litergical denomination. But the sermon did seem a little forced. The message was fine but, I don't know, maybe without full conviction. Maybe he was tired! Because it was Saturday night there were not so many there. But I liked it for the most part. I do long for a charismatic mainline denomination but they are pretty hard to find. I could not stay after for coffee as I had to make a call to Europe that night. But I will go again. I want to give it more than one chance and I want to talk some with others afterwards at coffee. I did go forward to take communion. I am definately a believer who has been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I like the ELCA open communion policy but I also like that they view communion as more than just symbolism. Anyway, that was my experience.

Overall, it sounds like a positive experience, and pretty typical. Lutheran preachers are steeped in the Word, but they don't tend to shout much.

 

[D.W.Washburn]

I LOVE the ECLA church that I have been attending. I have absolutely no complaints. I'm use to very conservative churches.... I have also gone to pentacostal churches..... And I LOVE the ECLA church. I feel like my family has FINALLY found our church home. I feel no pressure when I'm there. The people are sooo kind. I feel very blessed to have found this church.

 

[HappyChicken]

Sent One, I came from a pentecostal style church as well. Let me tell you a couple of insights I have come to realize.

I missed the 45 minute free form sermons from my old church until I realized that they really had no substance to them.

In an ELCA church, you actually hear the scripture in 3 separate readings, not someone's freestyle self determined interpretation of scripture. I kind of like that. Our sermons are all about the grace of God towards his people, very positive.

The music is also full of scripture and biblical truth as well,(along with an occasional praise song), most of the music in my old church was devoid of scipture.

I am not saying it is necessarily for you, but that you just have to change your mindset a little bit to enjoy it.

That is another thing my husband and I agree on.... we don't have to sit and listen to a lengthy free-form sermon about the "gospel according to so-and-so." I love the liturgical service, and it's nice to have order to it when the rest of life is so hectic and whirl-wind.