What is Wrong With the ELCA?

If the ELCA is truly on the religious left, then it needs to identify itself as such. However, this doesn’t mean it has to be a Lutheran church. Instead, it needs to be a church that stands against white supremacy and rejects its doctrines. Moreover, it needs to be an ecumenical church and should strive to be more progressive than its denominational rivals.

ELCA should identify as Religious Left

It is not clear to me why the ELCA should identify as Religious Left, but the ELCA’s bishops have not yet indicated any need for course correction. It’s not as if the ELCA’s laity are less conservative than their leaders. Historically, Lutheran laity are more conservative than the elites. And the ELCA’s leadership has not yet signaled that it needs to reverse course, which is understandable, given that they are losing more members each year.

ELCA’s relationship to white supremacy

The ELCA has made a statement on race and white supremacy, but what is the church’s relationship to this issue? In the ELCA social statement, the ELCA says: “Recognizing that white people are the most powerful form of oppression in our society, the church must work to end all forms of injustice.” This statement includes advocacy in government, education, economics, and police brutality. It also includes acts of silence and active racism. A new study guide for congregations can help them wrestle with this important topic.

In addition to the ELCA’s response to this issue, the ELCA also has a resolution commemorating the Emanuel 9 massacre that took the lives of nine people during a Bible study in Charleston, S.C. The Emanuel 9 resolution acknowledges the church’s complicity in slavery and its institutional racism. The resolution also urges congregations to create resources for worship and to deepen conversations with African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The ELCA has reiterated its commitment to combating racism and white supremacy in recent years. This includes actions taken by Bishop Megan Rohrer, the first openly transgender bishop in the ELCA. This is a step forward, but her actions and reactions have been tarnished by her white supremacy and defensive racism. Moreover, she has also been criticized by other ELCA ethnic associations for her racist actions. She is currently leading a Bible Study Forum on institutionalized racism at her church.

In addition to the ELCA’s role in combatting racism, it must also work on changing its policies, practices, and culture to make it more welcoming to people of color. The President of Obispa should act immediately on the allegations and take disciplinary action against the alleged abuser to prevent harm from occurring to communities of color in the ELCA.

Its failure to stand up to white supremacy

Many people within the ELCA have said that the removal of a Latino mission developer from their synod was the wrong choice of timing. They feel that it is culturally insensitive and racist. In addition, many in the Latino community have questioned the decision made by the ELCA’s Assistant to Bishop for Authentic Diversity, Rev. Hazel Salazar-Davidson. Salazar-Davidson had been scheduled to make a presentation at the Synod’s next meeting, but she wrote in a personal website that she was against the move.

The ELCA has long been rife with racism. The synodal bishop was once one of the most prominent people in the denomination. But now, she is one of the worst sinners in the denomination. The presiding bishop is now considered an unforgivable sin because she didn’t follow the recommendations of her “Listening Team.” Bishop Eaton is now being accused of being what she preaches so strongly against.

In a statement issued following Eaton’s remarks, the Latino Ministries Association called on ELCA leaders to stand up against white supremacy. They condemned Presiding Bishop Eaton for framing racist acts as “unfortunate” and “unspeakable”. Other groups, including the African Descent Lutheran Association and the European Descent Lutheran Association for Racial Justice, also made statements condemning Presiding Bishop Eaton’s remarks.

In March 2022, the ELCA opened an investigation into Rohrer’s actions. In April, it issued a 25-page report based on numerous testimonies. The report was compiled by a Listening Team made up of Rev. Margaret Payne and Rev. Constanze Hagmaier, among others.

Its reliance on church fellowship

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.3 million members and over eight thousand worshiping communities. The ELCA is a founding member of the Lutheran World Federation and has been a member since 1988. It is led by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton.

In the past, the LCMS had open communion and ecumenical services. This has changed. The LCMS is no longer open to these practices. Its leaders have said that they are concerned about their own image. They are concerned about avoiding the false witness that would result if their members were in disagreement with each other.

“Faithful fellowship” is the only way to avoid such problems. Scriptural fellowship requires agreement on doctrine and practice. But it doesn’t require agreement on every point. There is a difference between a fellowship which is based on love and one which is based on agreement on doctrine.

While the ELCA accepted the historic episcopate and a threefold ministry, some members opposed the idea. A Tucson resolution, for example, rejects the threefold ministry. But Lutheran churches continue to send tens of thousands of dollars annually to the ELCA.