What's Being Done at ELC

I returned a few minutes ago from Cokato Manor where I was able to share the gospel with our elders. What a wondrous thing to delve into the Word of God. We were reminded that none of us comes to our Lord as anything other than a sinner desperate for grace.

But I need to let you know what's going on--there have been many conversations--I am thankful for all who have called, emailed or spoken with me in person...

On the whiteboard in my office, and in my planning with our church council leadership, the following plan is taking shape as regards issues and relationship with the ELCA:

1. Meet with other local ELCA pastors (has been done and is ongoing)
2. Distribute "Questionnaire about denominational issues" (was in the Pulse newsletter and is available at church and by pdf by clicking here)
3. Adopt the "Common Confession" (see letter below)
4. Other actions as we decide (the church council and congregation will act)
5. Focus on ongoing mission.
   

I hope everyone will fill out the questionnaire on denominational issues (available as a pdf by clicking here). It's not a perfect questionnaire. Some things could have been worded differently. Still, what you write will be important as we move forward.

The following letter and attachments were given to our church council president on August 24, about 10 days ago, immediately after the churchwide assembly. Our church council received copies via their church mailboxes on August 30. Copies will be placed in our Sunday bulletin this week.

August 24, 2009

Mr. _______, Congregation President
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cokato, Minnesota

Dear _______:

Last week I attended the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

At the assembly the ELCA adopted a Social Statement that lifts up ones personal conscience over the Word of God in matters related to morality and sexual conduct. Though our church says that it “accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life” the statement claims not to find clear truth about God’s purpose for sexuality in the Bible. Instead, the statement calls us to respect a variety of positions, especially in regard to homosexuality (see lines 809 -858). Furthermore, it says that our church “will include these different understandings and practices within its life as it seeks to live out its mission and ministry in the world.”

Then, based on that social statement, the ELCA went on to endorse gay/lesbian sexual unions and will “find a way for people in such publically accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as rostered leaders of this church.” I am not “anti-gay” but I am bound to the Word of God which, together with creation itself, testifies to the goodness of the male-female bond of marriage as the only God-blessed place for sexual intimacy. See my recent blog posts for more rationale.

For ten years I have been a member of WordAlone, a “network of congregations and individuals committed to the authority of the Word manifest in Jesus the Christ as proclaimed in Scripture and safeguarded through the work of the Holy Spirit. WordAlone advocates reform and renewal of the church, representative governance, theological integrity, and freedom from a mandated historic episcopate.” At a convention in 2004, WordAlone affirmed the “Biblical teaching about sexual life and its vision for marriage,” and rejects “any proposed change in standards and definitions for sexual life or marriage which contradicts this Biblical teaching.” The 2005 WordAlone annual convention called for an association of confessing congregations joined together by the Common Confession (click this link). That association became known as Lutheran CORE, the Coalition for Reform.

Lutheran CORE was an active presence at the just completed churchwide assembly. The Lutheran CORE website has more information on this group. I ask that our congregation approve the common confession and state its intent to join Lutheran CORE as a sign of solidarity with the many who are dismayed at the ELCA’s recent move away from Biblical teachings. I would like to meet with the church council about this as soon as possible. Please see [copy of CORE connection newsletter - click here for pdf) and the Lutheran Core website.

Sincerely,

Pastor Steve Thorson

Attached to that letter was the Common Confession and a copy of a Lutheran CORE newsletter.

The next thing that happened was that our congregation president called a special "informal" council meeting. We met in the early morning (7 a.m.). People are busy and only 5 council members and 3 staff members attended. The council leadership will be providing information on Sunday. Our church council received copies of this last Sunday. Copies of this material will be in our church bulletin this Sunday, September 6.

None of this is trivial. All of this is important. We need to pray, speak honestly and with love, and listen carefully to one another. We will be providing an opportunity for our congregation members and friends to learn more at some sort of open forum--stay tuned for details.

In the midst of all of this don't forget about tonight's worship and praise event at the Dassel-Cokato High School PAC. I will have discount tickets available for tonight's EVENT. Just find me during the day or at the event. If you want to make out a check, make payable to Evangelical Lutheran Church for whatever you can afford.

• 4:30 - Conversation & Bible study w/ Robin Mark (ticket required)
• 6:00 - Food avail. from vendors - also conversation & prayer for our communities (no ticket required)
• 7:30 - Praise & Worship in the PAC (ticket required)

www.equalsharing.com

Biblical Equality

My daughter Naomi begins an internship today at the Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE). Should be interesting.

CBE Mission and History

CBE is a nonprofit organization of Christian men and women who believe that the Bible, properly interpreted, teaches the fundamental equality of men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, all economic classes, and all age groups, based on the teachings of Scriptures such as Galatians 3:28:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (TNIV).

CBE Mission Statement

CBE equips believers by affirming the biblical truth about equality and justice. Thus all believers, without regard to gender, ethnicity, and class, are free and encouraged to use their God-given gifts in families, ministries, and communities.

CBE Core Values

1. We believe the Bible teaches the equality of women and men.
2. We believe God has given each person gifts to be used for the good of Christ's kingdom.
3. We believe Christians are to develop and exercise their God-given gifts in home, church, and society.
4. We believe the Bible teaches that Christians are to oppose injustice.

CBE Core Purpose

To communicate broadly the biblical truth that men and women are equally responsible to act justly and use their God-given gifts to further Christ's kingdom.

CBE Envisioned Future

CBE envisions a future where all believers will be encouraged to exercise their gifts for God's glory and missional purposes, with the full support of the Christian community.

History of CBE

Disturbed by the shallow biblical premise used by organizations and mission groups to exclude the gifts of women, evangelical leaders assembled in 1987 to publish their biblical perspective in a new scholarly journal, Priscilla Papers. Included in the group were Gilbert Bilezikian, W. Ward Gasque, Stanley Gundry, Gretchen Gaebelein Hull, Catherine Clark Kroeger, Jo Anne Lyon, and Roger Nicole. The group determined that a national organization was needed to provide education, support, and leadership about biblical equality.

With the help and vision of these individuals, Christians for Biblical Equality was established on January 2, 1988. Catherine Clark Kroeger served as the first president of the organization, and Alvera Mickelsen served as the first chair of the board of directors. Since 2001, Mimi Haddad has served as CBE’s second president.

CBE’s first major project was the creation of a statement, "Men, Women, and Biblical Equality," which laid out the biblical rationale for equality as well as its application in the community of believers and the family. CBE hosted its first international conference in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in July of 1989.

CBE has grown to include members from over 100 denominations and 65 countries. It conducts annual, international conferences; publishes three award-winning publications, a blog, and a weekly e-newsletter; and hosts an online bookstore devoted to reviewing and promoting resources on gender and the Bible from an egalitarian perspective.

Added Monday, Sep. 14: Sign up for the e-newsletter at http://www.cbeinternational.org/?q=content/arise-e-newsletter

What do you think? Please comment! Let's keep the conversation going.

www.equalsharing.com

Please Pray for Peace

The following is an email sent out to folks in our area a moment ago. I'd appreciate your prayers as well as you read this online.

Dear members of ELC and friends in the Dassel-Cokato area, fellow pastors, church friends, family, and many others.

May the peace of Christ dwell in you richly.

Please pray that many will get together to celebrate and pray on Thursday at the DC High School performing arts center. At 4:30 those who can be there will gather with Robin Mark whose church in Northern Ireland was born amid prayers for peace. After that there will be food available from vendors. At about 6:00 those who wish will get together to talk and pray for peace in our hearts, peace in our schools, and God's gift of peace in and among our churches. At 7:30 there will be a praise and worship concert with Robin Mark and Rachel Kurtz. Come to part of this or all of it as you can. Tickets are available at the door or at www.robinmarkconcert.com - they are $12 but I can provide them to you for whatever you can afford. Just ask me.

Please pray for me and for our church leadership. I am thankful for our local church leadership and ask that you be praying especially for them. As we move ahead, I sometimes don't know what the best thing is to do. On the one hand, I need to be sincere about what I believe. On the other hand I need to make sure all know that I am not all full of wisdom and infallible knowledge. I am a sinner and have fallen short of God's glory just like anyone else. I am praying that we can be good listeners to each other in and among our churches. I am praying that we will follow our Lord, NOT human leaders such as myself. We will not agree on the issues that have come before our ELCA church recently. We have a variety of opinion in my extended family. People I dearly love are on various sides of a variety of issues. I just pray that we can be kind and generous to one another as we walk together, one day at a time.

Please pray - and we will pray about these at the event on Thursday, for our schools, for our communities and community leaders, for families of all kinds, for our children, for our elders, for the poor and the distressed. I am thankful for our kind and generous Lord Jesus. He gives peace beyond understanding -- needed each day.

Please pass on these prayer requests as the Lord leads.

Sincerely yours,

Pastor Steven Thorson
Evangelical Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 448
Cokato, Minnesota 55321
320-286-5964

www.equalsharing.com - my blog
www.elchome.net our church's under construction website
www.robinmarkconcert.com

P.S. - Toni and I will be hosting two exchange students (both girls, both high school seniors) this year - one from Incheon, South Korea and one from Hong Kong, China. They fly in Saturday evening. They'll be with us through the school year, God willing. Please pray for them as they fly this way and for their welcome to our home and our town.

Many times I can be very strong in my opinions and thoughts. If I hurt you in any way, please know it's not intentional. I'm just praying that we can continue to listen and care for each other as we move along, one day at a time.

Facebook

Some of the comments to this blog are getting posted on facebook "notes" and NOT on the "comments" section of http://equalsharing.blogspot.com/. To read the comments that people put on facebook, and to see what else is going on, feel free to friend me - search for stevekarl - that's my username.

Kids Love

Earlier in August we got an email forward from a friend named Rose. She lived next door to us in Ladysmith when our daughter Naomi was born. We got to see Rose and one of her sons this summer -- it was great!

I'm copying the email forward on this blog because it's just so important to remember how precious children are. Let's keep loving kids, our kids and "other people's kids," no matter what. Let's make sure there is safety, care and kindness in each home so our kids will know the gift of love.

Here's what some kids said about love.

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' (Rebecca- age 8)

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' (Billy - age 4)

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' (Karl - age 5)

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' (Chrissy - age 6)

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' (Terri - age 4)

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' (Danny - age 7)

'Love is when you kiss all the time.. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss' (Emily - age 8 )

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' (Bobby - age 7)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,' (Nikka - age 6)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day.' (Noelle - age 7)

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' (Tommy - age 6)

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' (Cindy - age 8)

'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' (Clare - age 6)

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' (Elaine-age 5)

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' (Chris - age 7)

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' (Mary Ann - age 4)

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' (Lauren - age 4)

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (Karen - age 7)

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.' (Mark - age 6)

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' (Jessica - age 8)

Finally - a four year old child’s elderly neighbor had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry.'

If there's ever a time we need love, it's now. If there are any challenges in your home, let someone know. Don't hide. On the other hand, if things at home are pretty good, but it would be good to spice up and enrich the love between husband and wife, there are a couple of weekends coming up I'd recommend.

• This is in the Pulse newsletter that went out from our church this week:

» Two Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekends will be held Oct. 16-18 in Duluth and Nov. 20-22 in Brooklyn Center, MN. Attending a Marriage Encounter Weekend will make your marriage run like new. You'll spend two nights in a hotel and enjoy five delicious meals from Friday at 7 p.m. to Sunday at 5 p.m. It's great for couples who already have a good marriage and want to enrich their relationship, but it also does wonders for those marriages that have lost their luster through years of child rearing and work obligations. Please register a month in advance. For more information, contact Dick & Judy Dehnel at 952-432-3105, Pete & Phyllis McMahon at 763-561-1575 or visit http://godlovesmarriage.org

• There are other possibilities too…

Toni and I went to “A Weekend to Remember” back about 10-15 years ago and learned a lot and grew in our relationship in ways that still matter. Click here for info about upcoming conferences in our area--page 2 of the PDF has dates and locations that aren't too far away.

If you think it would be good for you and your spouse or fiance to go to something like this, but the cost seems a bit much, let me know. We never want money to stand in the way of love.

www.equalsharing.com

Pulpit Supply Sep 6

I decided yesterday to be gone next weekend (Labor Day Weekend) to attend a family reunion. Looking for a faithful believing pastor type to preach and preside here September 6. • 8:30 a.m. Traditional LBW worship with the Lord’s Supper • 10:30 a.m. Contemporary non-communion with worship band. Contact Pastor Steve Thorson, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cokato, MN, cell 763-291-3499, church office 320-286-5964, home 320-286-616.
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Added 9:30 a.m. - My college friend, Becky Sogge, a pastor at Zion Lutheran Church, Buffalo (on sabbatical), has agreed to preach and preside Sep 6. Thank you Becky!

Good Things

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change... James 1:17

Please come to worship this Sunday at our church -- website under construction here! (Colored words in this blog are links.) I'll be tag teaming a sermon with a daughter of our congregation, Brittany Bayuk. The James 1:17 verse above is one of the scriptures we'll be reading. The others are available at this link.

Please worship with us Thursday at Dassel-Cokato High School! Our communities have enjoyed remarkable blessings as people from many churches have studied scripture, prayed and worked together. Come and share at a community worship and praise event on Thursday, September 3. Songwriter Robin Mark** will be our leader. He is a worship leader from church in Belfast, Northern Ireland. That church began when students who believed in God began to organize and pray together "24/7" for peace. (See The Days of Elijah Come to Cokato for more). Discount tickets - pay what you can afford - are available at our church office.

• 4:30 p.m. - An hour of fellowship and conversation with Robin Mark. He will share his story and talk about how worship impacts lives, churches and communities. See Second Chronicles 29 and bring your Bible.
  
• 6:00 - 7:00 - Supper -- food available from vendors. There will be a time of conversation for worship & prayer leaders, pastors and others. Let's share and pray together to mutually strengthen prayer, worship and peace making for the good of our communities as we prepare for the fall school season.
  
• 7:30 p.m. - Praise Concert and Worship led by Robin Mark. Lyrics will be projected so all present can worship and sing along. Local songwriter Rachel Kurtz will lead the first 20 minutes. She currently serves as minister of worship, music and young adult ministries at Faith Lutheran Church, Hutchinson.

I need to get the Youth YDT material (link on this blog at top right) updated. Sorry I haven't done that yet. Too distracted... the first thing will be a meeting with parents on September 9. We had hoped to do this Sept. 2 but there were too many conflicts.

The ELCA pastors of our area met yesterday. We agreed to keep one another informed about what's going on in our churches.

• A "Questionnaire On Our Local Church's Response To Denominational Issues" is going in our church's newsletter and is available in PDF form by clicking here (2 pages).
• A letter and a couple of other items given to our church council president by me is available for the asking. Email, stop by the office, or give me a call.

www.equalsharing.com

Meeting Today

This afternoon I am meeting with other local ELCA pastors in regard to our response to what's been going on in our denomination. If anyone has any questions about anything, I hope you will not hesitate to call, email or comment.

Sticking with Jesus (audio)

Click here for a link if you want to listen to my sermon (8:30 a.m. version) of Sunday, August 23. The scriptures were the ones assigned from the Revised Common Lectionary: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69. You can read them here.

At worship we distributed the following letter:

August 23, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

At the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) a resolution was passed permitting the blessing of same-sex unions. A resolution was also passed allowing clergy in such unions to serve as pastors in the ELCA. A third resolution made it clear that no local church will be required to bless same-sex unions or to call clergy in such unions as their pastors.

We are pastors serving ELCA congregations in the Dassel-Cokato area. We want to inform you that our position on these issues has remained unchanged. Based on our interpretation of scripture we cannot bless same-sex unions or participate in the ordination of individuals who are part of such unions.

We ask your prayers and your comments. We look forward to speaking with you about this or any other issue.

Sincerely yours,

[signed by five ELCA pastors whose churches are located in the Dassel-Cokato school district area]

This morning I sent the following note to our church staff and council

Please pray for me now that I'm back from the assembly. These are hard days because I'm feeling that my church denomination has moved away from scripture in a way that is new.

Pray that I will have the right balance of patience and zeal. I committed myself to working with [the other ELCA pastors in my area]. We are feeling different things these days, even though we agree on the basics of marriage, etc. [Some of us think we we should] work through ELCA channels. I'm not sure that's what God is calling me to do. [Other pastors] are also concerned but I don't yet know what they are thinking this week.

The difference between us was that I was at the assembly. I felt things way down in my gut. They didn't have that experience. So I'm feeling quite zealous and impatient.

But, I do not want to be led by feelings. Feelings are unstable. To correct this, please pray that I will be able to focus on the "routine" things of my job -- preparing for worship, working with our energetic leaders, ministering in crises -- so that in doing those routine things I get back to the basics -- sticking with Jesus and his love.

I ask that you, blog reader, would also pray. Pray not only for me but for all of us in the ELCA. Thank you.

www.equalsharing.com

Unbinding the Conscience

I am looking at scriptures assigned for this coming Sunday, August 30 in our church. In these scriptures I hear God working to unbind our consciences from what is false in order to form them according to his Word. The ELCA's new statement on human sexuality seems to celebrate the "bound consciences" of people so as not to do just what God's Word does in the scriptures for this coming Sunday. If anyone reading this can help me, I'd appreciate it, because I am thinking that this "bound conscience" idea as articulated by my church body is about the same as what we often confess on Sunday mornings, that "we are in bondage to sin."

Here is a link to the scriptures for this coming Sunday:

First Reading
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
or
Song of Solomon 2:8-13

Psalm
Psalm 15
or
Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9

Second Reading
James 1:17-27

Gospel
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

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for more on "conscience" see A Prayer for Transformation.

www.equalsharing.com

Crabby Christians?

At the risk of allying myself with Christians who have, at least in our area, been perceived as crabby, I'm posting an article here from WordAlone Network president Jaynan L. Clark:

To all believers, not just Lutherans, and to all not-yet believers in Jesus Christ: Have ears to hear!

It is very important for you to hear today that Jesus died for you to save you from your sin through repentance, forgiveness and new life, which are true freedom in Him.

That is the message and the calling for the church. That is not up for a vote.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America cannot change the need for repentance and forgiveness by a vote to accept homosexual behavior as it did during its assembly this week.

Only the arrogant, the ignorant and those led astray would believe such.

Luther never wanted a church named after him. I’m doubtful he would want these actions connected to his name. The ELCA has put a stain on the fabric of all churches that carry Luther’s name.

Instead of questioning the Bible from their perspective, churches should let the Bible question them, their perspectives, experiences and actions.

Hear also, Lutherans, and all other, Christians, how important it is to distinguish the human institution from the true church of God. Lutherans from the time of the Reformation have believed that the organization exists “for good order.”

Luther’s last stand was based on the Word of God and on sound reason. He was not convinced otherwise then, we in WordAlone are not convinced now.

When God said, “I am who I am.” He meant it, not “I am who you want me to be” or “who you want to remake me to be.” God and His Word are the authority over all of faith and life.

God’s Word is not up for a vote and, remember, He always gets the last word because He alone is eternal.

The ELCA assembly has now voted against the authoritative Word of God. The assembly has swapped His Word for human words that are neither based on sound reason or good order. In fact, the assembly voted against the Word of God, sound reason and the good order of creation.

That is not only not Lutheran, it is not Christian and it is not the work of the church but of a misguided , shrinking, sideline denomination whose leadership’s ears cannot hear and can no longer even discern or recognize, let alone revere, God’s direct warning and intervention.

God will not be mocked.

Steeples fall, the cross hangs upside down, the tables are overturned and the ELCA leadership pushes forward a human agenda and dismisses God’s clear directive and the churches’ long history of teachings. So, is what was passed now to be taught to our children?

Is this what Jesus’ love that “knows no bounds” really means? So what is it the ELCA will say “no” to? Are there any boundaries? That type of faulty parenting should bring to our door the Christian equivalent of child protective services. We are leading Jesus’ children astray.

Is the ELCA saying “no” to Jesus, to the Bible, to the historical teaching of the church, to those who stand only on the Word of God and to the Confessions of the Lutheran Church but not to desires, and experiences of homosexual behavior?

This is really an old, old story . . . as old as the debate over the apple itself. As it was then, it shall always be that when humans are faced with doing either what they want to do or what God tells them to do, we “fall.” It is the same old sin—self over God and His Word.

Swapping Jesus’ story for its own will have consequences for the ELCA.

But the end of this story is the beginning of another that witnesses to the One who is eternally to be known as the Crucified One because, as we have witnessed, even this church continues pounding the spikes into His scarred hands.

As the eternally Risen One, bearing the scars of our sin, He promises not to abandon but to abide and to raise up a faithful remnant to join with the vast majority of the faithful Lutherans worldwide.

We are not Lutheran orphans, because we stand with all the other Lutheran bodies who still believe in the authority of God’s Word and with the whole Holy Christian Church.

Be changed by God’s Word. Don’t let the Word be changed.

Please hear what Pastor Jaynan says, and please don't hesitate to share your concerns of any kind. If you think we're just being too crabby, please let me know.

www.equalsharing.com

Sticking with Jesus

Those who have been following this blog or the ELCA assembly action know this has been quite a week. Emotions have run high and low. For me this week seems, at least now, like it's the end of an era.

It was at the Minneapolis Convention Center in 1980 that I first heard a personal call to serve as a pastor in what was then the American Lutheran Church (ALC). This week, in the same location, I was present when the highest legislative body in the ELCA*, the churchwide assembly, made what I think are some major changes in church teaching.** These changes made me, and others, wonder about our future within the ELCA. (See Friends for the Journey to know that we're not alone.)

As I do that, I will not forget my responsibility to the people of my local church. Most likely many people don't understand the importance of what happened at the assembly. Though what happened at the assembly seems quite traumatic for me, lots of people may just be scratching their heads at what they've heard on the news, not quite sure what to think. Many people have gay or lesbian friends or family members. Some members of our local church probably don't understand why I'm not happy.

So, as I prepare for worship tomorrow, I need to remember, more than anything else, that it's my responsibility to preach the good news of forgiveness, salvation and transformation through the unconditional love of God through Jesus Christ. Fortunately, the gospel reading for tomorrow points in that direction.

At a very difficult time in Jesus' ministry, when his teachings had led many to question whether they would stay with him or not, Jesus turned to his disciples and said:

"Do you also wish to go away?"

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Whether or not we stick with a particular church denomination, the most important thing is sticking with Jesus, who reached out to the outcast and the sinner, claiming them as his own.

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*In 1987 the ALC merged with the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) and became the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
**I found a helpful summary of some of these changes on the website of Bethel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO. Click this link to go to the page.