Since the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted to sanction homosexual pastors at their Churchwide Assembly in August 2009, over 160 congregations have successfully taken their first vote to withdraw. Most congregations voting to leave have joined Lutherans in Mission for Christ (LCMC). There were 68 congregations that voted to withdraw from the ELCA but did not achieve the necessary 2/3s majority.
The ELCA constitution requires congregations seeking to withdraw from the church body to cast their votes at a legally called congregational meeting. The congregations voting to withdraw must obtain a 2/3s majority vote. If that number of vote is achieved, the synod is notified and the bishop or his assistant is invited to address the congregation on the matter. A second vote is required at least 90 days following the first vote. It also must receive a 2/3s majority.
With the ELCA’s 10,000 plus congregations, some have suggested these losses represent only a trickle. However, congregations are lined up to vote out of the ELCA nearly every Sunday for the foreseeable future. A new Lutheran body is scheduled to be formed this summer by the Lutheran Coalition for Renewal (CORE). After CORE gets the new church body organized, it is likely the trickle will turn into a flood.
List as of 2/11/10. Inform us regarding any additions, corrections or changes that should be made to this list. The list is posted and regularly revised on our blog which may be accessed under News and Information at thevineand branches.org. List is updated weekly.
*First vote **Second vote
** Community Church of Joy, Glendale, AZ
* Concordia Lutheran Church, Kingsburg, CA
* Rancho Penasquitos Lutheran Church, San Diego, CA
* St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, La Mesa, CA
** St. Luke Lutheran Church, San Diego, CA
* El Camino Pines Lutheran Church, Frazier Park, CA
** Bethel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO
* Hope Lutheran Church, Miami, FL
** Shepherd of the Woods Church, Jacksonville, FL
* St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fort Pierce, FL
* Bethel Lutheran Church, Springfield, GA
* Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, GA
* Laurel Hill Lutheran Church, Cllyo, GA
** Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Haralson, GA
* Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, IA
** Zion Lutheran Church, Des Moines, IA
* Skien Lutheran Church, Sloan, IA
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Waukee, IA
* Faith Lutheran Church, Moline, IL
* Hosanna Lutheran Church, St. Charles, IL
* Joyful Harvest Lutheran Church, Johnsburg, IL
* Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Rockton, IL
* St. Mark Lutheran Church, Lindenhurst, IL
* American Lutheran Church, Long Prairie, MN
* Bethlehem/West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church, MN
* Community Church of Hope, Rosemount, MN
* Christ Lutheran Church, Otsego, MN
* Christ the King Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, MN
** Central Lutheran Church, Elk River, MN
* Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Maple Lake, MN
* Hosanna Lutheran Church, Lakeville, MN
* Moe Lutheran Church, Roseau, MN
* Wagen Prairie Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls, MN
** Rejoice Lutheran Renewal Church, Northfield, MN
* Rodnes Lutheran Church, Erskine, MN
* Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Afton, MN
* South Zumbro Lutheran Church, Kasson, MN
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN
* Sychar Lutheran Church, Silver Bay, MN
** Singaas Lutheran Church, Hendrix, MN
* Zoar Lutheran Church, Tofte, MN
* Calvary Lutheran Church, Evergreen, MT
* Peace Lutheran Church, Belgrade, MT
* Christ Lutheran Church, Whitefish, MT
** Golden West Lutheran Church, Conrad, MT
** Pondera Valley Lutheran Church, Conrad, MT
* Hope Lutheran Church, Smithfield, NE
** Thanksgiving Lutheran Church, Bellevue, NE
* Hope Lutheran Church, Harvey, ND
* First Lutheran Church, Harvey, ND
* Peace Lutheran Church, Hazen, ND
* St. James Lutheran Church, Niagara Falls, NY
* Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Weddington, NC
* St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Maumee, OH
* St. John’s Lutheran, Boerne, TX
* Zion Lutheran Church, Mission Valley, TX
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Braunfels, TX
* St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Weesatche, TX
* Zion Lutheran Church, Castroville, TX
* First Lutheran Church, Orange Grove, TX
* Apostles Lutheran Church, Chesapeak,e, VA
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Roanoke, VA
* Christ Lutheran Church, Odessa, WA
* Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum, WA
* Richland Lutheran Church, Richland, WA
* Christus Lutheran Church, Clintonville, WI
* Peace Lutheran Church, Edgar, WI
* Stanfold Lutheran Church, Rice Lake, WI
* Trinity Lutheran Church, Pell Lake, WI
