Questions about the ELCA

[I Love Cats]

Hi everyone. I'm new here. Anyway, I have some questions about the Evangelical Lutheran Church In America. Here goes.

1. What is your Eucharistic theology?
2. Do you believe in consubstantiation? If so, why?
3. What is a Lutheran church service like?
4. Is an offering taken up during a Lutheran church service?
5. What is your stance on the apocrypha? Do the apocryphal books belong in the Bible?
6. Just how liberal is the ELCA?
7. What is the Lutheran Church's stance on abortion?
8. What is the Lutheran Church's stance on homosexuality?
9. What is the stance on women's ordination?

Anyway, that's all the questions that I have for now. Thanks in advance!

 

[D.W.Washburn]

Hi Catlover! Welcome to CF.


1. What is your Eucharistic theology?

The ELCA affirms the real presence of Christ "in, with and under" the elements of bread and wine.

2. Do you believe in consubstantiation? If so, why?

No.

3. What is a Lutheran church service like?

The twin focii of Lutheran worship are Word and Sacrament. The style of worship varies from place to place. Some congregations offer both "contemporary" and "traditional" services. We tend to be liturgical and follow the Revised Common Lectionary.

4. Is an offering taken up during a Lutheran church service?

Almost always.

5. What is your stance on the apocrypha? Do the apocryphal books belong in the Bible?

Following Martin Luther, the ELCA recognizes the 66 books of the "protestant" Bible as its canon. The apocryphal books are considered inspirational, but not authoritative for the life and doctrine of the Church.

6. Just how liberal is the ELCA?

Liberal and conservative are relative terms. We are more liberal than some denominations and less liberal than others. Within the ELCA there are individuals, pastors and congregation that are quite liberal and others that are quite conservative.

7. What is the Lutheran Church's stance on abortion?

The ELCA has a social statement on abortion which you can read here: http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements/Abortion.aspx . Social statements in the ELCA are teaching documents, not statements of doctrine. Essentially, the statement recognizes that abortion is an option of last resort, a sometimes tragic necessity. It does not encourage abortion but does not call for criminalization of abortion. It encourages pastoral care for women who consider, seek or have abortions.

8. What is the Lutheran Church's stance on homosexuality?

Issues concerning homosexuality are the ELCA's bleeding edge at the moment. Next year a social statement will be presented at our churchwide assembly which may make a stand on the issues of same-sex unions and ordination of individuals in same-sex marriages. Currently we do not ordain non-celibate homosexuals or recognize gay marriage.

9. What is the stance on women's ordination?

The ELCA has ordained women to the ministry of Word and Sacrament since it was founded. in 1988. The three church bodies that merged to form the ELCA all ordained women.

 

[I Love Cats]

Ok, thanks RegularGuy for answering my questions!

 

[D.W.Washburn]

You're certainly welcome. Maybe someone else will chime in, too...

 

[Edial]

You're certainly welcome. Maybe someone else will chime in, too...

Nothing to add ...

 

[RedneckLutheran]

sounds good to me...but I'm FAR from an expert...