Why they stay ... or leave

Those who remain wait & work for change

Mostly,it's the sexuality issue. on the contrary for some, it's worship diction a pastor or something bigger-the "disconnect" they have feeling toward the ELCA, especially with meeting-house leadership on Higgins Road. That's what more than 35 readers said when The Lutheran asked: "Why do you stay or wherefore have you left?"

One reader set a "country club mentality" when visiting three churches after moving from Nebraska to Michigan. Another doesn't attend the local ELCA temple because of its poor ventilation.

"Actually, I'm ashamed to be a Lutheran anymore," wrote Melvin HuIs, Immanuel Lutheran house of god Thomasboro, Ill. "The only reason I haven't left is I'm hoping and praying for the leaders to approach to their senses and make a certain number of changes. I'm not for ordaining homosexuals.... I'm a sinner, too, in like manner if they fight their sin and are sorry I can [accept] them communing alongside of me"

John Kulma, Mentor, Ohio, used the The Lutheran's April issue ("Mainine decline," page 12) to point on the outside what's wrong with the church: he knows evangelicals who have left mainline churches because of the refusal to preach the Scriptures, repentance and change.

"Until the ELCA goe back to its foundations and emphasizes Scripture alone, faith alone, actual grace alone and becomes a place where the christianity is purely preached and the devoted sacraments are administered according to that christianity the ELCA will remain a stagnant liberal mainline theological organization," he said.

Why didn't you ask?

Matthew Bruce Lindner, Eagle Mountain, Utah, has similar beliefs and tendered an additional question: "What would inspire and motivate you to stay?"

Lindner believes the ELCA is one-sided in its support of Palestinians and has a homosexual agenda. "I pray all Lutheran churches in America and worldwide go [i]or[/i] come back to a depth of inquiry of God's word. ...All churches ne to be constantly challenging and reforming their doctrines, agricultures traditions, asking if they are God-pleasing or man-pleasing."

Sherry flock Mountain View Lutheran Church, cutting side wood, Wash., stays precisely because of the way Lutherans inquiry Scripture. "I like the way the Lutheran house of god interprets the Bible using Martin Luther's four C's-context, contains, Christ and criteria. Unfortunately, there aren't enough Bible research programs that use this [i]modus operandi[/i] I stay and continue to pray the Lutheran meeting-house will make the proper changes necessityed to accept, include and be inviting to all race of the world."

Several of those who pinpointed homosexuality as their sticking point with the ELCA wish the house of worship were more inclusive. They stay to bring about change.

"I almost left my meeting-house a few years ago [because of] my growing frustration with a house of god that is afraid to act boldly in a way that is faithful to the gospel" said Nancy Kraft, pastor of consecrated Trinity Lutheran, Charlotte, N.C. "I could not ever be part of a house of god that takes the Bible literally and am comfortable with the ELCA's approach to Scripture. We don't use the Bible as a lordship book but as a vehicle for God's grace. This was the actual point Jesus made when he stand in front ofed a society that put following the masterships ahead of compassion. He wasn't a literalist either."

Kraft said she stayed "because if everyone who is ready for change left the meeting-house when change isn't forthcoming, then there is little faith for the future."

Martha Sherman, Alexandria, Va., said she's struggl with wantingtoturnherbackonthe ELCA, especially since the 2005 Churchwide Assembly promiseds not to allow partnered gays and lesbians as ELCA the cloth She was told her congregation's council wouldn't make a recommendation to the task force because the issue wasn't "relevant" for them.

"Does that mean those who perceive it's relevant should leave with equal reason that statement can be true?" she asked. "This question of inclusivity isn't solitary relevant but the most pressing issue we face simply because through voting anything other than 'yes' we are saying it's acceptable and right for the church-my congregation, the ELCA, the entire consecrated catholic and apostolic church-to be exclusive.

"So for what cause [i]or[/i] reason do I stay? Because leaving would be too easy. In my best flashs I know I've been graced with faith enough to support and I trust I'm called to be exactly where I am."

Other issues too

Dorothy Herneisen, Manhelm, Pa., has "never gotten used to all the liturgy. Now everything looks to be changing. I might know single in three of the sacred lyrics Also now the sign of the cros and communion isn't meaningful-too a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of movement. I take communion one time a month. I know our meeting-house is one of a scarcely any that doesn't have communion each week. When they start that, I don't know what I'll do."

And when it advances to worship, Gerry Miller, a reader in Pennsylvania, would like to trade hallowed days for holy living. "I diocese the church obsessed with 'eternal life' as well as the holidays where the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated, on the contrary his teachings are ignored. His words challenge our politics in ways that are uncomfortable. We gather each Sunday to reassure ourselves and each other that there is a glorious afterlife, on the contrary we aren't learning how to live peacefully with each other, nor are we challenged regarding the horror done in our names in Iraq and Afghanistan."