Much of what a national denomination does no individual congregation can do. That is why congregations commit
to each other to form denominations - to train students, to send missionaries, to create camps and social service agencies,
to dialogue with other church bodies about what we can do to cooperate rather than compete, and many other important ministries.
The ELCA, a relatively new denomination, was formed not long after I became a pastor of the American Lutheran
Church. The ALC was not the denomination of my youth, but rather an adopted home for an ex-Missouri Synod “young”
pastor who was ready to further the Kingdom of God in any and all ways he could.
I had left the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod because they had added to The Gospel several demands (laws)
which made The Gospel no longer The Gospel. Nothing less than this would have led me to leave a denomination I had known and
loved all my life. To be more accurate, the LCMS left me, as it was the changes they made to The Gospel which left me without
a denomination for 6 years.
I have been in disagreement with some of the actions of the ELCA in the past. I know of no one who has been
in complete agreement with everything the ELCA has done, nor should we expect that everyone will agree. Neither should we
expect everything done by the ELCA to be perfect, for it is sinful humans who are prayerfully trying to discern what is best
for Christ’s Body, and we never get it all right. I disagree with some of the recent actions of the Churchwide Assembly
-- the sexuality social statement and the implementing resolutions involved with it. I have been open about my specific disagreements
with it in Bible Study and worship, so I don’t need to restate those objections here. But I do want to make clear that,
having left one denomination for the sake of The Gospel, I do not believe that these ELCA Churchwide Assembly actions rise
to that level.
I have seen denominations change positions on various issues, and I suspect that this will continue to happen.
What defines us, truly makes us who we are, is The Gospel, and I am a pastor of the ELCA because I believe this denomination
still proclaims and lives The Gospel with greater clarity and stronger theology than any other.
Congregations are the foundation stones of The Church. Synods and national offices are secondary to congregations,
helping them fulfill the larger mission and ministry of Christ. This congregation will, I hope, continue to offer a vibrant
and dynamic witness to our community, region, and the world. There is nothing in these Churchwide Assembly actions which will
prevent us from continuing as we have, and nothing in these actions which should cause us to leave the ELCA. Lutherans live
and celebrate the ongoing process of reformation. We are still called to reform the Church when God calls us to do so. Being
patient with this process is key for us right now. I invite all at Good Shepherd to speak their faith commitment, and listen
as others speak theirs.
Then I encourage all of us to unite again around the core call of God, to further The Gospel of Jesus Christ,
Crucified and Risen, to those we meet and everyone in the world.
~ Pastor Paul
