Can you believe this! They actually have the audacity to ask us to change our worshiping name. We have, it's Faith Lutheran LCMC! Well since they've been so good to us I guess we could,... maybe......NOT!
The splinter group "Saving Faith" is no more, they deserted their Church, took up at another, now disbanded and now our former synod wants us to change our name to accommodate those who want to be "of the world" rather than "in the world"
The splinter group "Saving Faith" is no more, they deserted their Church, took up at another, now disbanded and now our former synod wants us to change our name to accommodate those who want to be "of the world" rather than "in the world"
May 4, 2010
The Reverend Mark Gehrke &
Church Council
Dear Reverend Gehrke and leaders of Faith Lutheran Church
Grace to you and peace in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who is and who was and who is to come. Amen.
The Northern Illinois Synod Council, having noted that the congregation at Faith has elected to withdraw from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Ø Faith Lutheran Church has been associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Ø A congregational name change may assist the people of Moline and the surrounding communities in coming to know the difference between the Faith Lutheran Church
Ø Finally, a change in your congregation’s name will be of mutual assistance to you and to the Northern Illinois Synod in marking an end to our long-standing partnership.
The Northern Illinois Synod Council understands that it has no authority over the name by which your congregation is known. By this letter the Council simply and respectfully requests your consideration of this topic.
In Christ,
The Reverend Gary Erickson, Secretary
Hard Copy to Follow
Cc: Bishop Wollersheim
Mr. Bill Bartlett, Vice President
11 comments:
When the synod says changing the name would assist the people of Moline and surrounding communities in coming to know the difference between Faith Lutheran Church and the group known as Saving Faith are they saying this Saving Faith group is going to continue on?? This request is ludicrous, Faith Lutheran Church preceded the ELCA and it should continue as such long after.
Rather than do a point-by-point rebuttal of this letter, I simply note that in the last paragraph it says that the synod knows it has no authority. 'Nuff said.
The letter has provided me some entertainment, however.
I agree with "Anonymous." Faith Lutheran Church preceded by the ELCA. Maybe, to avoid the confusion, the ELCA should change its name, deleting the names Evangelical, Lutheran, and Church from its name.
I'm just saying...
@ GW&CO: What un-holy hubris!
I thought we were ending the back-and-forth here, and then the NI Synod sends this letter, which re-ignites needless controversy. Let SF go where it wants to, let Faith remain Faith, and life will get back to some form of normal.
As our church in California gets ready to make our decision later this year,I have to laugh at the way each Synod in handling churches that vote to leave. Some have been cordial, some have voiced open objections and some have tried strong arm tactics. But to try and snatch back a nome because you believe you have a right to it is ludicrous. Bruce is correct. 'Nuff said.
I suppose you could add, "In no way associated with the ELCA" to your sign, letterhead and so on.
I like what Mark Daniels said: ELCA should remove evangelical, lutheran, and churh from its name!
All the best to FAITH Lutheran Church!
I wonder if those are Reconciling on Christ congregations are being censured or disciplined in any way?? Talk about unbalanced!
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