Small churches may face closer by their bishops if they threaten to leave the ELCA. Check out this story from a New York newspaper.
The following are comments from Pastor David Barnhart's blog:
ELCA FORCES CLOSURE OF ANOTHER CHURCH
Just how many churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) await the fate of Grace Lutheran Church, North Branch, NY? The membership of the church had been dwindling for several years and finances had been a challenge, but members of Grace Lutheran Church were shocked when they received a letter from their ELCA synod that began “In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" and continued “the Synod will take control of the real and personal property of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.”
Grace Lutheran members were shocked even more when the ELCA changed the locks on the church doors to keep out the very people whose ancestors had built the church and who until the locks were changed paid for the church’s daily operations.
Such takeovers and closures have not been uncommon in the ELCA, but they will likely increase as more and more members walk out of their churches because of the unbiblical teachings and practices being imposed on local congregations by the national church. Congregations that are voting to leave the ELCA should ponder carefully what will happen if their vote fails and vast numbers of the congregation’s membership departs. It may be only a matter of time until they too will get a letter “In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Synod will take control of the real and personal property of your church."
The closure of Grace Lutheran Church in North Branch followed the closure this past summer of their sister congregation, First Lutheran Church of Jeffersonville, with whom they had been yoked as a parish.
How refreshing that nearly all of the congregations that have voted to leave the ELCA have joined Lutheran fellowships where the property resides totally in the hands of the local congregation and cannot be taken from them, namely the AFLC, AALC, LCMC and NALC.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
NALC receives $1 million gift for missions, theological education
The North American Lutheran Church (NALC) has received a $1 million gift that will expand the new church body’s work in carrying out its mission and in training and educating its pastors, the NALC announced Thursday, Feb. 10.
The NALC will use the gift to launch two designated funds that will be significant for the church body’s future. One fund will support theological education — the training and continuing education of NALC pastors. The other fund will be used to provide “Great Commission Grants” to fund special mission projects, including new congregation starts, missionaries, and other initiatives to spread the Gospel and make disciples for Christ.
The $1 million gift was given by Tom and Saundra Smith of Elderton, Pa. The Smiths are members of Mount Union Lutheran Church of Elderton. The Smiths were reluctant to be recognized for their gift, but they agreed to the public announcement because it could inspire others to support these special projects in the NALC.
“What a marvelous gift from Tom and Saundra Smith. Their generosity is a sign of their confidence in the future of the North American Lutheran Church and their personal commitment to our mission. The funds they have provided will enable us to carry out a vigorous ministry and outreach,” said the Rev. Paull Spring of State College, Pa., NALC bishop.
“I hope that their gift will motivate all of us to be generous supporters of the North American Lutheran Church,” Bishop Spring said.
“The new ‘Great Commission Grants’ reflect the NALC’s commitment to be a mission-driven church. We want to keep the true mission of the Church to preach the Gospel and make disciples for Christ at the center of the NALC’s common life. This fund is an expression of that commitment,” said Ryan Schwarz of Washington, D.C., NALC treasurer.
“The NALC has also set a goal to provide funding for the seminary education of its pastors through support from its members. This gift provides us a good start toward that goal as well,” he said.
The NALC’s general operations are funded by its congregations through their benevolence offerings. The two new funds will enable individuals and congregations to support the NALC’s priority ministry initiatives above and beyond basic operating support.
“We have been very pleased by the support the NALC has received from its congregations and from many individuals. This support illustrates the deep commitment of our members to the NALC and their excitement about being a part of this new church body,” Schwarz said.
The NALC Executive Council also set aside a portion of the gift as a contingency fund for NALC operations. “In these still-challenging economic times, we think it prudent to establish a sort of ‘rainy-day fund’ for the church,” Schwarz said.
The North American Lutheran Church, which embodies the theological center of Lutheranism in North America, has been growing rapidly since it was constituted Aug. 27, 2010. More than 130 congregations have voted to join the NALC in its first six months of existence. Many more congregations are expected to vote to join the church body in the coming weeks and months. The church body has been adding several congregations a week.
The NALC centers its life around four key attributes: Christ-Centered; Mission-Driven; Traditionally-Grounded; and Congregationally-Focused.
Additional gifts to the “Great Commission Grants” fund or the theological education fund or general gifts for the NALC may be sent to: NALC; 2299 Palmer Drive, Suite 220; New Brighton, MN 55112. If you would like your gift to go to one of the special funds, please note that with your gift.
The NALC will use the gift to launch two designated funds that will be significant for the church body’s future. One fund will support theological education — the training and continuing education of NALC pastors. The other fund will be used to provide “Great Commission Grants” to fund special mission projects, including new congregation starts, missionaries, and other initiatives to spread the Gospel and make disciples for Christ.
The $1 million gift was given by Tom and Saundra Smith of Elderton, Pa. The Smiths are members of Mount Union Lutheran Church of Elderton. The Smiths were reluctant to be recognized for their gift, but they agreed to the public announcement because it could inspire others to support these special projects in the NALC.
“What a marvelous gift from Tom and Saundra Smith. Their generosity is a sign of their confidence in the future of the North American Lutheran Church and their personal commitment to our mission. The funds they have provided will enable us to carry out a vigorous ministry and outreach,” said the Rev. Paull Spring of State College, Pa., NALC bishop.
“I hope that their gift will motivate all of us to be generous supporters of the North American Lutheran Church,” Bishop Spring said.
“The new ‘Great Commission Grants’ reflect the NALC’s commitment to be a mission-driven church. We want to keep the true mission of the Church to preach the Gospel and make disciples for Christ at the center of the NALC’s common life. This fund is an expression of that commitment,” said Ryan Schwarz of Washington, D.C., NALC treasurer.
“The NALC has also set a goal to provide funding for the seminary education of its pastors through support from its members. This gift provides us a good start toward that goal as well,” he said.
The NALC’s general operations are funded by its congregations through their benevolence offerings. The two new funds will enable individuals and congregations to support the NALC’s priority ministry initiatives above and beyond basic operating support.
“We have been very pleased by the support the NALC has received from its congregations and from many individuals. This support illustrates the deep commitment of our members to the NALC and their excitement about being a part of this new church body,” Schwarz said.
The NALC Executive Council also set aside a portion of the gift as a contingency fund for NALC operations. “In these still-challenging economic times, we think it prudent to establish a sort of ‘rainy-day fund’ for the church,” Schwarz said.
The North American Lutheran Church, which embodies the theological center of Lutheranism in North America, has been growing rapidly since it was constituted Aug. 27, 2010. More than 130 congregations have voted to join the NALC in its first six months of existence. Many more congregations are expected to vote to join the church body in the coming weeks and months. The church body has been adding several congregations a week.
The NALC centers its life around four key attributes: Christ-Centered; Mission-Driven; Traditionally-Grounded; and Congregationally-Focused.
Additional gifts to the “Great Commission Grants” fund or the theological education fund or general gifts for the NALC may be sent to: NALC; 2299 Palmer Drive, Suite 220; New Brighton, MN 55112. If you would like your gift to go to one of the special funds, please note that with your gift.
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