When the lead editor is away the assistant editor will play. I might take some grief for this, but if so, I will take it with joy.
Just so everyone knows, I am not pointing fingers in any particular direction. I found this clip, courtesy of a different clip from the same group that our local ELCA pastor had posted on Facebook. I was simply struck by how many of the issues these guys have apparently argued about that are similar to things that crop up around here as well. It turns out there are some things that really are universal in the church I guess.
Although I am fully confident it will pretty much be like this until Jesus comes and takes us home, it still doesn’t hurt to step back sometimes a laugh a little too. Oh yeah, and make some promises if you need to in the comments.
I promise to never attend an ELCA church.
I’ve always been told to be careful about those “never” declarations. 🙂 When you say attend do you mean even once? Weird things happen you know. I had never set foot inside a Lutheran church before this year, but I went to the community service there this year.
I’d be fine with one of the more conservative Lutheran denominations, such as LCMS. Have you seen some of the stuff the ELCA has been doing recently? Gay and lesbian pastors and such.
I have seen it. I have talked several times with our local ELCA pastor and a couple of other conservative folks who are a part of the ELCA that I know through blogging. I have observed that many of the local congregations have adopted a “baptist-like” attitude against their hierarchy over some of these things.
I imagine it will come to a head in their denomination as some of these churches will eventually have to “fish or cut bait” so to speak. Not all of the ELCA folks agree with what is going on to be sure. I have more concerns about the Methodist folks in our area based on experience than I do with the ELCA folks around here.
Sounds like a similar situation as the PCUSA. It would be great if the mainline churches could somehow get themselves back in line, such as the SBC did, but I doubt it will ever happen.
I agree with you completely, but what happened in the SBC is definitely the exception.