en-us http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/ Comments from A look at the declining membership of the ELCA http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment113969208You must be born again, and that doesnt mean eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you can take communion and get a fresh start. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and when you have that feeling your main interest will be to obey and serve, I would read that to mean going to church. When you have done this for the least of these my brothers you have done this for me, get out there and look for your brothers and sisters so you can serve. Mon, 6 Dec 2010 00:59:04 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment113969208 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment109445984Hello.... A lutheran from birth... the ELCA ( in my opinion ) needs to move more towards the Doctrine that they came from. The Catholic Doctrine. We don't have Priests and that should be a plus... these days. Sermons should be more personal... and thought provoken based on holy scripture. There needs to be a move away from sermons based on the readings for that particular Sunday. I watch father Corapi ... a Priest on sunday nights ( Cable ) That style of preaching is the only way to draw people drifting away from the church. Ok ... that was my 2 cents. Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:49:02 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment109445984 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment74777798I attended a synod assembly last month for the first time in 14 years. I truthfully say that my experience 14 years ago was very positive and I recollect how I reported to my church council to thank them for sending me to that assembly. My experience last month was the absolute low point of my 53-year experience as a Lutheran. The ELCA is on track to self-destruction. The numbers are telling. Six hundred thousand have left in the last two years. Grab what's left of your Lutheranism and take yourself and your loved ones to safety. Make a new Lutheran synod, or join another church and make it better. Tue, 11 May 2010 05:36:52 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment74777798 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment62288609A Church-Wide Assembly (national convention) can never over-ride God's Word revealed in the Holy Bible. God is the same yesterday, today and forever! Societies and nations, with their so-called values" will rise and fall, but God's Word remains forever! When a "church" leaves God's teaching, it is no longer church, no matter what it may look like by outward appearances. Having bishops, and dressing in clerical collars does not make a church Christian. May God rescue those who are still lost in the ELCA. May He have mercy on us all. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:41:27 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment62288609 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment62286799I honestly think this was happening before the statement on Human Sexuality. I have a feeling it is because most Lutherans do not know nor have they studied their history. Most do not even know what the Augsburg confession is, much less have read it. They do not really understand the theology, nor do they try. If we studied our history which is rich and full of God's word and if we proceeded to share our pride in that history, then things would turn around. It would also help us understand our differences. In order to grow, you have to start with fertile soil (learning). We need to incite passion in our Church again! Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:31:56 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment62286799 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment56940881After reading all of the comments most of them in one way or another deal with the same sex issue and the ongoing strife it has placed individuals and congregations in. Therefore I wouls say the biggest problem the ELCA faces is it's abandonment of biblical principles. I build Churches for a living, one non-denominational church in Michigan is in the middle of nowhere. People come from 5 counties just to attend that church and we just added 12,000 sf to that church. I am currently on the roll of a ELCA Church but plan on leaving soon as a result of the actions taken by the ELCA in MN on the issues of human sexuality. Our Church has become more of a community center instead of a place where the word of God is taught. How can they now teach the word of God since they have now corrupted it. The ELCA has even come out with it's own bible "The Book OF Faith" which excludes the teaching that homosexuality is a sin. I truly feel sorry for Bishop Hansen and the others of the ELCA because you have led your church and people down a path that is not consistent with the teachings of God, rather the lusts of man and as it is written, they will be judged. Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:45:39 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment56940881 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment56894789I am an ELCA pastor and am proud to be one. Perhaps some more conservative churches are growing because they ARE telling people what they want to hear: "You are the righteous ones.....God loves capitalism and wants you to be rich.....You don't really have to think through tough moral issues, just read the Bible in a simplistic, anchronistic way, with absolutely no understanding of the culture and times in which it originated.....You are the only faithful Christians----everyone else is at best deluded, and at worst, demonic." Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:19:24 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment56894789 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment55695464I have to say as a former LCMS Lutheran society changes, Gods word doesnt. The elca is losing a lot of members because they water down scripture. Sun, 7 Feb 2010 06:39:08 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment55695464 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment48425720Oh, by the way, Erik....caring for the homeless, the sick, and the poor are not left wing causes. Study after study have been done and it turns out conservatives are the ones caring for the needy of this world. Liberals talk a lot about it, but statistically, they are very stingy with their money and don't do anything to help. Conservatives on the other hand don't talk about it, but they do it. The real liberal values are: sex whenever you want it with whoever or whatever you want with no consequences, no authoritative morality, class envy (i.e hatred of the rich), and controlling others through government. None of those are God's values and you cannot call yourself a follower of Christ if that represents your heart. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:13:55 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment48425720 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment48424202As an outsider to the ELCA, I am astounded by the lack of perception of most of those commenting here as to why your denomination is declining. I would think it would be obvious to you, but you keep coming up with excuses to explain away the decline. We are receiving your former members at our church in droves, and it is because you have rejected the Bible as being God's truth. Throughout the history of the United States, as soon as a denomination declares that the Bible is not the absolute Word of God to be obeyed, their membership starts declining. Bible-believing churches have no problem growing or getting new members. Our church grew from 3,000 to 8,000 people in 2008. Erik U is a perfect example of your problem. The question asked was "why are people leaving?" If the answer isn't what Erik U wants to hear, he begins defending his politics instead of recognizing that people might actually be leaving because of they disagree. And the vicious cycle continues, as more people who disagree with Erik leave, there is a higher percentage of Erik's left. This accelerates the decline even further, until you only have Erik U's left, and they don't stick around because it's become just a social club of "do-gooders" who want the world to change but don't want to follow Christ. That's when the denomination ceases to exist. To all those who are concerned with your decline in membership, are you willing to commit to adhere to the Bible and its teachings no matter what it costs you? Jesus made it clear that not one jot nor tittle of God's Word would change until the end of time. If you disrespect His Word, God will withhold His hand of blessing from your denomination. We're not running social clubs here people. We're serving God. He's real and He has a will. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:08:02 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment48424202 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment47362390Will the last one out please turn off the light? Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:07:08 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment47362390 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment44487833The Christian church is a spiritual body of followers of Jesus. The ELCA is (thankfully) in decline because its leadership has chosen to reject Jesus and make its own way. Once a church leaves Jesus, there is no real reason for its existence other than to keep nice buildings in cities and make a dent into social problems like domestic abuse, hunger and homelessness. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:56:42 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment44487833 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment44213735The reason people are leaving is because they do not agree with the liberal agenda the ELCA is pushing on people. Hansen is hand in hand with Obama's agenda for this country and people don't agree. It is plain and simple, really. Our church lost six families and one person wants their marriage annualed and his name removed from any church record: an extreme, but he feels that passionate about the direction this church is headed. I have not been to church since the ruling and I am in a state of turmoil where to turn. As a former Catholic, I feel drawn back to the Catholic church, yet I also want to sit this out and wait to see what CORE will do. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:02:17 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment44213735 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment43473934I think that a lot of the decline in mainline denominational churches and be tied into the birth control. When those in mainline churches quit relying on those in their church to have many kids --- they declined. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:33:35 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment43473934 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment40555200Honestly, I think that the Church does not meet the young couples issues as much as it used to and I think the ELCA should give basic definitions of what a Lutheran is and Advertise it. and then teach us all that growth will not change or identity but serve to strengthen it! Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:48:46 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment40555200 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment35339231I am a Lutheran and former Seminarian and I have a couple of thoughts as to why the decline- ____#1- fewer children being born- Lutheran families used to be larger than they are now.__#2- the ELCA doesn't stand for anything- even the new rules on sexuality don't really make a statement.__#3- the Bible has become a relative book- meaning that the church (and its members) pick and choose what part of the Bible they wish to follow. Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:46:56 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment35339231 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment33570056I to am an ELCA member and in light of this last vote on sexuality I am leaving, as in running for the door before the fire falls from heaven an consumes all. I will not look back as being a pillar of salt is not for me. Most ELCA members I know are leaving. Twisting gods word to fit an agenda will cost them more than just members I'm afraid. God Bless Mon, 7 Sep 2009 18:51:03 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment33570056 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment32342865Hello to everyone in the forum, i have been a Luthern all my life since about the 1950's and it's with a heavy heart i say fare well. I can only say good things about my Lurthen church and the many wonderful people i have met through out the years. Many of my Christian Brothers and Sisters have gone on to heaven and i miss them and i wander what they would say and do concerning the vote taken by the ELCA "but wait" i do know what my Christian would say to me and that is ( RUN ).........GOD BLESS Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:07:14 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment32342865 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment27656359They vote on the "Human Sexuality: Gift & Trust" this August. If (and when?) they approve it, we'll have to leave too. Sun, 19 Jul 2009 06:56:41 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment27656359 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment17416963There is no reason to "discuss" or do "studies" on sexuality as it is a mute point. Sex is to be had between men and women who are married for purposes of loving each other and making babies. End of story. Luther said marriage is between a man and a woman. The entire Missouri Synod opted out of the merger in 1986 because they got wind of what was indeed a homosexual agenda. The ELCA should pray to God I never win the lottery as I will sue them to extract what used to be the ALC out of them. We would never have voted for this merger had we known the hidden agenda behind it. We were 2.5 million of the 4.5 million to become the ELCA. I will always be a Luteran but I wont be attending any ELCA church any more. I am in an Evangelical mega church that holds that marriage can only be between a man and a woman and if you don't like it, there is the door! Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:20:03 +0000http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment17416963