I really need to do up a post, as there's been so much going on in the ELCA. A few years back there was a vote going on that I thought for sure would split the church, and I was just praying for finish seminary before that happened. The good news was the vote didn't split us. (Mind you, had it gone the other way, it likely would have.)
Now we seem to be on a trajectory of inclusion, bit by bit. A couple weeks from now will be telling. If the vote goes in the direction I'm in favor of, I do anticipate churches/pastor leaving. However, I think it will be a rather limited number. More splinters off the trunk that splitting the trunk in two.
A) The nature of Lutherans is fairly willing to live with the tension of differences and B) Generally the most conservative ELCA Lutherans are liberal on certain issues (women's ordination, women voting, etc.) so it's not like running off and joining the Wisconsin or Missouri Lutheran Churches is an option.
no subject
Now we seem to be on a trajectory of inclusion, bit by bit. A couple weeks from now will be telling. If the vote goes in the direction I'm in favor of, I do anticipate churches/pastor leaving. However, I think it will be a rather limited number. More splinters off the trunk that splitting the trunk in two.
A) The nature of Lutherans is fairly willing to live with the tension of differences and B) Generally the most conservative ELCA Lutherans are liberal on certain issues (women's ordination, women voting, etc.) so it's not like running off and joining the Wisconsin or Missouri Lutheran Churches is an option.
Like I said, I need to do a full post.
P.S. Yes, it is nice to have folks who get it.