r/elca

So, my background is that I’m coming out of very toxic Catholic groups, and I’m deconstructing and reconstructing my faith.
In doing so, I’ve come to reject ECT (either in favor of annihilationism, or universalism more likely), I believe in the importance of social liberation, support of LGBTQ individuals (as a queer person myself), and women’s ordination.

These beliefs of mine would incline me to join the ELCA. However, coming from these toxic, almost culty, groups, I have a lot of scrupulosity concerning my sins, and my salvation. I’ve attended at both an elca and LCMS parish, and at the LCMS parish, the gospel was pounded into every song, prayer, and sentence of the sermon. It filled me with hope and peace as a result of this constant reminder of the mercy of God.

But, at the elca, there was no such sermon. Jesus’ death for sinners was not mentioned once. We didn’t even recite the creed. The entire sermon was about social liberation. Which I think is good, but certainly not to the exclusion of the spiritual aspects of the gospel.

I know that there isn’t a perfect church, and I don’t expect to find a perfect parish. But I’m unsure of which would be best to attend spiritually. Either I’d attend an elca parish that I agree with more, and I’d be accepted into more, while also not being fed the Gospel; or I’d attend an LCMS church that I absolutely disagree with on a lot of things, but still be fed the gospel.

I watched the first episode on PBS.org . Many churches in the US are dealing with decline. While they have not focused on an Episcopal church yet, they did include Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams from the Virginia Theological Seminary.

I'm curious if anyone has watched it and what did they think of it?

https://www.pbs.org/video/reading-the-signs-XuTXtq/

Hello all,

I am a lifelong LCMS member. There's lots of things I love about the LCMS (along with things I really don't...). I had been away for a while during my adult life but I've been attending different Lutheran churches (LCMS) in my area lately to start getting involved in Lutheranism and church life again. I am a married woman in my 30s. My husband was raised Roman Catholic though he is not much religious anymore.

As I've been telling him more and more about the LCMS, he has expressed to me that he is deeply uncomfortable with some of the teachings and positions of the LCMS, which I completely understand. I told him that I should be a saner and slightly more liberal voice in the LCMS - you know, deeply controversial things (/s) like affirming evolution to be part of God's plan and that women can read the Bible during Divine Service and hold other church positions like Cantor and Acolyte (😵‍💫), and that abortion can be okay sometimes depending on the situation, and we should be accepting of queer people. But he said he still very uncomfortable, both with the LCMS and with me trying to "be a hero" in the church, and that he would much rather me search for a church that is more aligned with how we live. I tried to tell him church should be about God and the Sacraments anyways and not lifestyles, but he is really insisting that I at least entertain the idea of leaving the LCMS.

I suppose I have several hesitations of the ELCA:

• Ingrained bias. I know, dumb. Especially since I fully recognize I am way more aligned with the ELCA when it comes to social/lifestyle issues and politics. But as a lifelong LCMS, it's something I am hoping talking more with ELCA people (which I intend to do even regardless if I end up joining the ELCA or not) with help get rid of this dumb bias.
• Theological issues - I am definitely a bit more theologically conservative. I know I shouldn't judge solely from things online, but I would fully expect my pastors, deacons, fellow congregants, etc. to at least affirm the Nicene Creed, The Apostles' Creed, and the Lutheran understanding of the Eucharist. I would fear that the Eucharist is not legitimate if the pastor does not share these views, and everything else (if the pastor is a woman or queer or whatever) doesn't matter, but they'd need to affirm real presence and the basic tenets of Christianity. I suppose I am okay with a loose adherence to the Book of Concord but there should be SOME TYPE of adherence to the Book of Concord otherwise why even be Lutheran.....
• Church Tradition - I am also just...very Lutheran. Not in terms of conservative social issues like who can be a pastor or what "type" of person is welcome. But I guess I really devoutly subscribe to "Lex orandi, lex credendi" - church liturgy and church theology are deeply and inextricably connected. Adhering to liturgical, musical, aesthetic traditions aren't JUST aesthetic, they are a reflection of what we believe and who we are as Lutherans. Church history is important to pass down for our identity.
• Sermons - again, I shouldn't judge online stuff but I do go to church to hear God's word and receive his Sacraments and to do so with others who believe the same. I don't go for it to be a substitute country club, and I don't go to hear a political speech which I could just do in my own separate time. I come to church to feel like I am already in heaven.

And I will say the last two points are things I've actually discussed about the ELCA with other Lutheran ELCA members who are queer and have the same issues. From purusing the websites of local ELCA churches near me, it seems more like a community center and a lot of stuff they do outside of church and barely anything about actual church. This is honestly deeply discouraging to me.

I guess I am asking for advice, or maybe even commiseration, and of course I humbly ask that if I have assumed anything wrong, to please gently correct me as I am certainly open to the truth and I am simply a visitor here on your terms!

Thank you so much for your time.

Hey everyone, I’m researching denominations and theology, and Lutheranism is intriguing to me. I greatly admire Martin Luther’s protest against the corruption and indulgences of the Catholic Church dedication to the love of God for all, along with the rejection of Calvinist predestination.

The primary paradox I am struggling with is the idea that some are elect to believe, which I can see is a theology that is consistent with a conception of God being outside space and time. However, my view is in Arminian in the sense that I value our free will and I struggle with the idea that this is more than God being outside space and time, but actively electing some to be saved. Our damnation is our own fault, but we are not predestined to be damned?