PRAY FOR CONGREGATIONS SCHEDULED TO VOTE TO LEAVE THE ELCA SUNDAY OCTOBER 3

The following churches are scheduled to vote on leaving the ELCA this Sunday, October 3:

* first vote ** second vote

Christ Lutheran, Warren, MI **
Looney Valley Lutheran Church, Houston, MN *
Zion Lutheran Church, Priddy, TX *
Our Savior, Dannebrog, NE * (We understand Our Savior will vote October 10, not as announced here.
Faith Lutheran Church, Seguin, TX * (second try)

St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Marion, IA *

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Torrance, CA **

Riverside Lutheran Church, Wannaska, MN** passed second vote 52-14

Peace Lutheran Church, Devil's Lake, ND *passed first vote September 19

If you know of any corrections or additons to this list, contact us at:

wordabide@aol.com

BISHOP SUGGESTS SMALL LUTHERAN BODIES MAY BE CULTS

Oh, the tales told by those who want to deceive or mislead. Two recent articles from statements made by two synod bishops give great cause for pause.

Bishop Larry Wohlrabe of the ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod was quoted in an article by Jim Spencer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune as rejoicing because the estimated 1000 churches that were to have left the ELCA by now had not materialized. The article stated that only 199 churches have voted to leave, and in Minnesota only 24 churches have left.

However, according to the ELCA’s own statistics as of September 1, 226 churches had voted to leave. In Minnesota, 30 congregations have voted out thus far with another 12 waiting
to take their second vote. Counting the 30 congregation and assuming these 12 congregations waiting to vote are successful, the combined membership losses for the Minnesota Synod alone will be 42,948. At least six additional congregations in Minnesota will be voting to leave the ELCA before the end of the year.

In spite of the Bishop's rejoicing, I still estimate that 1000 churches will leave the ELCA by the end 0f 2011. ELCA churches will continue to vote out in the coming months and years because the decision to ordain practicing homosexuals was only the first installment. Additional unacceptable decisions by the ELCA will be coming.

Read full article: http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2010/09/25/features/religion/free/id_412552.txt


Bishop Michael Rinehart of the ELCA’s Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod inferred the new start-up Lutheran churches are “cults,” in an article published September 25, 2010.
“Schismatic behavior, that is division, is the disease of the Lutheran movement, said Rinehart. “Sadly, it is part of our DNA.”
“If someone doesn’t like this or that decision, they form their own church. The line between a small denomination and cult is becoming too thin for my taste.”

The Bishop vitriol is vicious and unbecoming.

Read full article:
http://www.brenhambanner.com/articles/2010/09/25/news/news02.txt

UPDATE 9/27/10: CONGREGATIONS VOTING TO LEAVE ELCA SINCE AUGUST 2009

We have added the following congregations to this week's update:

1. Elim Lutheran Church, Randall, IA * first successful vote passed 117-15
2. St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Ledger, MT ** second successful vote
3. Lund Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes, MN ** second successful vote
4. Peace Lutheran Church, Evansdale, IA ** second successful vote 77-1. Joined AALC.
5. El Camino Pines, Frazier Park, CA ** second successful vote (church changed its name to

Shepherd of the Mountains and joined AALC.
6. Bethany Lutheran Church, Menahga, MN ** second vote passed 33-0
7. Zoar Lutheran Church, Tofte, MN ** second vote passed 85%
8. Grace Lutheran Church, Ennis, TX ** second vote passed unanimously
9. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Marion (Pella), WI ** second voted passed Sept 13
10. United Lutheran Church, Gonvick, MN * first vote passed 34-5.
(Samhold Lutheran Church, Gonvick lost by 2 votes. Plan to vote again in Nov.)
11. St. John Lutheran Church, Plainfield, IA * first vote passed 78-0 Sept. 12
12. Grace Lutheran Church, Newton, NC ** second vote passed 68-2 joined NALC
13. Christiana Lutheran Church, Salisbury, NC ** second vote passed 94% joined NALC
14. Old East Paint Creek Lutheran, Waterville, IA * first vote passed 111-1 join NALC
15. Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Waukon, IA first vote passed 72-8 NALC
16. First Lutheran Church, Pontiac, IL first vote passed 172-16

17. St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Portland, TX first vote passed 89%

18. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Salisbury, NC second vote passed 203-6

19. Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Lead, SD second vote passed 59-8

20. Calvary Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, MN second vote passed 828-227

21. Immanuel Lutheran Church, Crosby, MN second vote passed 225-35

22. Faith Lutheran Church, Castle Rock, CO second vote passed

23. Trinity Lutheran Church, Ava, MO second vote passed unanimously

* indicates first vote; ** indicates second vote

Based on membership statistics published in the ELCA's 2010 Year Book, the baptized membership loss for the ELCA congregations on the following list is: 196,465. This number does not include those ELCA members who left to begin new congregations or those who simply have left their various congregations.

Please inform us of any additions or corrections to this list: wordabide@aol.com

ARIZONA 5** 1*
** Light of the Desert Lutheran, Cave Creek
** Light of Christ Lutheran Church, Chandler
** Community Church of Joy, Glendale
** Victory Lutheran Church, Mesa
* La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, Scottsdale
** Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Tempe

CALIFORNIA 22** 4*
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Arroyo Grande
** Sierra Lutheran Church, Auberry
** Chinese Life Lutheran Church, Alhambra
** Christ the King Lutheran Church, Fallbrook
** Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran, Frazier Park
** Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Galt
** St. Mark Chinese Lutheran, Hacienda Heights
** Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Irvine
** Concordia Lutheran Church, Kingsburg
** Lutheran Church of the Cross, Laguna Woods
** St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, La Mesa
** Emanuel Lutheran Church, Lodi
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Los Banos
** Mount of Olives Lutheran Church, Mission Viejo
** Calvary Lutheran Church, Modesto
** Grace Lutheran Church, Redway
* Life Lutheran Church, Richmond
** Grace Lutheran Church, Ridgecrest
**Rancho Penasquitos Lutheran Church, San Diego
** St. Timothy Lutheran Church, San Diego
** St. Luke Lutheran Church, San Diego
** Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, San Jose
* Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Torrance
** Red Hill Lutheran Church, Tustin
** Mount Calvary Faith Lutheran, West Covina
* Westminister Lutheran Church, Westminister

COLORADO 4**
** Faith Lutheran Church, Castle Rock
** Bethel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs
** St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs
** Lutheran Church of the Cross, Evergreen

FLORIDA 7** 1*
* Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, Dade City
** St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fort Pierce
** Shepherd of the Woods Church, Jacksonville
** Faith Lutheran Church, Lakeland
** Hope Lutheran Church, Miami
** Peace Lutheran Church, Palm Bay
** St. John Lutheran Church, Palatka
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Titusville
Note: Although St. Peter Lutheran of Fort Pierce voted unanimously to withdraw, the ELCA will not allow them to leave with their property.

GEORGIA 6** 1*
** Laurel Hill Lutheran Church, Clyo
** Wingard Memorial Lutheran Church, Clyo
* Christ the King Lutheran Church, Evans
** Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Haralson
** Faith Lutheran Church, Hartwell
** Bethel Lutheran Church, Springfield
** Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield

IDAHO 3** 1*
** Zion Lutheran Church, Deary
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Hayden
** First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Idaho Falls
** Faith Lutheran Church, Pierce

ILLINOIS 9** 11*
** First Lutheran Church, Dongola
** St. John of Union County Lutheran, Dongola
** St. Peter Lutheran Church, Emden
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Flanagan
** Joyful Harvest Lutheran Church, Johnsburg
* Messiah Lutheran Church, Joliet
** First Lutheran Church, Kirkland
* Calvary Lutheran Church, Lee
** St. Mark Lutheran Church, Lindenhurst
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Metropolis
** Faith Lutheran Church, Moline
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Oregon
* First Lutheran Church, Pontiac
* Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Quincy
* American Lutheran Church, Rantoul
* Calvary Lutheran Church, Rockford
** Prince of Peace, Rockton
* St. John Lutheran Church, Royal
* Hosanna Lutheran Church, St. Charles
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Thomasboro

INDIANA 2** 4*
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Auburn
* St. John Lutheran Ft. Wayne (Lake Twp.)
* Antioch Lutheran Church, Hoagland
** St. James Lutheran Church, Holland
** St. Mark Lutheran Church, St. Joe
* St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Stendal

IOWA 15** 10*
** St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Bode
** Zion Lutheran Church, Des Moines
* Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eagle Grove
** Samuel Lutheran Church, Eagle Grove
** Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Evansdale
** Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fontanelle
** Zion Lutheran Church, Hudson
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Inwood
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Irwin
** Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
** Bethany Lutheran Church, Kelley

* St. Mark Lutheran Church, Marion
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Monona
* St. John Lutheran Church, Plainfield
* Elim Lutheran Church, Randall
* Salem Lutheran Church, Roland
* Zion Lutheran Church, Ruthvan
** United Lutheran Church, Shelby
** Skien Lutheran Church, Sloan
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Story City
** Stratford Lutheran Church, Stratford
** Ulensvang Lutheran Church, Thor
* Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Waterville
* Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Waukon
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Waukee
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Williams

KANSAS 1**
** Christ the King Lutheran Church, Dodge City

KENTUCKY 3**
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Augusta
** Hopeful Lutheran Church, Florence
** Hebron Lutheran Church, Hebron

MARYLAND 2** 1*
** Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Damascus
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Joppa
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Sabillasville

MICHIGAN 6** 2*
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bridgewater
** St. Michael Lutheran Church, Canton
** Zion Lutheran Church, Felch
* First Lutheran Church, Iron Mountain
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Iron Mountain
** Christ Lutheran Church, Reese
** Christ Lutheran Church, Shingleton
** Christ Lutheran Church, Warren

MINNESOTA 33** 9*
** Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Afton
* Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, Badger
** Trefoldighed Lutheran Church, Battle Lake
** Lutheran Church of the Master, Brooklyn Center
** Brooklyn Park Lutheran Church, Brooklyn Park
** Wangen Prairie Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Crosby
** Lund Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes
** Bethlehem/West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church
** Central Lutheran Church, Elk River
* First Lutheran Church, Ellendale
** Grace Lutheran Church, Erskine
** Rodnes Lutheran Church, Erskine
** Hope Lutheran Church, Floodwood
** Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fridley
** Calvary Lutheran, Golden Valley
* United Lutheran Church, Gonvick
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hanover
* Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley
** Singaas Lutheran Church, Hendricks

* Looney Valley Lutheran Church, Houston
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Howard Lake
** Christ the King Lutheran Church, Hutchinson
** Faith Lutheran Church, Hutchinson
* South Zumbro Lutheran Church, Kasson
** Hosanna Lutheran Church, Lakeville
** American Lutheran Church, Long Prairie
** Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Maple Lake
** Christ Lutheran Church, Maple Plain
** Bethany Lutheran Church, Menahga
* First English Lutheran Church Menahga
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
** Faith Lutheran Church, Monticello
** Rejoice Lutheran Renewal Church, Northfield
** Salem Lutheran Church, Osakis
** Sauk Valley Lutheran Church, Osakis
** Christ Lutheran Church, Otsego
** Community Church of Hope, Rosemount
* Rushford Lutheran Church, Rushford
** Sychar Lutheran Church, Silver Bay
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Springfield
** Zoar Lutheran Church, Tofte
** Riverside Lutheran Church, Wannaska

MISSOURI 1*

** Trinity Lutheran Church, Ava

MONTANA 18**
** Peace Lutheran Church, Belgrade
** Bethany Lutheran Church, Bigfork
** Little Missouri Lutheran Church, Capitol
** Our Savior Lutheran Church, Chester
** Golden West Lutheran Church, Conrad
** Pondera Valley Lutheran Church, Conrad
** First Lutheran Church, Dillon
** Calvary Lutheran Church, Evergreen
** Zion Lutheran Church, Flaxville
** Pleasant Prairie Lutheran Church, Flaxville
** Faith Lutheran Church, Great Falls
** St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Ledger
** Peerless Lutheran Church, Peerless
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Popular
** Scobey Lutheran Church, Scobey
** Valier Lutheran Church, Valier
** Christ Lutheran Church, Whitefish
** American Lutheran Church, Winifred

NEBRASKA 5** 4*
* Peace Lutheran Church, Alma
* Trinity Lutheran Church, Axtel
** Thanksgiving Lutheran Church, Bellevue
* Peace Lutheran Church, Deshler
** Fridhem Lutheran Church, Funk
** Bethel Lutheran Church, Holdrege
** Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Norfolk
* St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Republican City
** Hope Lutheran Church, Smithfield
Note: Although Bethel Lutheran, Holdrege voted twice successfully to withdraw, their ELCA synod will not allow them to leave with their property.


NEW YORK 5** 3*
** St. Nicodemus Lutheran Church, Aurora
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Delhi
** Advent Lutheran Church, Elmont
* Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gallupville
* First Lutheran Church, Lyons
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Middleburgh
** St. James Lutheran Church, Niagara Falls
** St James Lutheran Church, Stewart Manor

NORTH CAROLINA 9** 5*
** Well of Hope Lutheran Church, Charlotte
* Millers Lutheran Church, Hickory
** New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Hickory
** Center Grove Lutheran Church, Kannapolis
** Grace Lutheran Church, Newton
* St. James Lutheran Church, Newton
** Christiana Lutheran Church, Salisbury
** St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Salisbury
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Salisbury
* Union Lutheran Church, Salisbury
** Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church, Statesville
* St. John Lutheran Church, Statesville
** Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Weddington
* Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Wilkesboro

NORTH DAKOTA 2** 3*
* Peace Lutheran Church, Devil's Lake

* Anselm Trinity Lutheran Church, Enderlin
** Peace Lutheran Church, Hazen
* Mabel Lutheran Church, Sutton
** First Lutheran, Washburn

OHIO 8** 9*
** St. Michael Lutheran Church, Ashland
** First Lutheran Church, Barberton
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Cardington
** Faith Lutheran Church, Cincinati
* Puritas Lutheran Church, Cleveland
* Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, Columbus
* Zion Lutheran Church, Columbus (Obetz)
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Crestline
** Greenford Lutheran Church, Greenford
* St. John Lutheran Church, Greenville
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Greenville
** First English Lutheran Church, Mansfield
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Maumee
* St. Martin Lutheran Church, Malvern
* Resurrection Lutheran Church, Port Clinton
* Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sulphur Springs

OREGON 2**
** Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Boardman
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Hermiston

PENNSYLVANIA 8** 5*
** Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Abington
** Christ Lutheran Church, Dallastown
* Dunmyer Lutheran Church, Johnstown
** St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran, Millersburg
** St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Muncy
* St. James Lutheran Church, Philadelphia
* Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh (Brentwood)
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sarver
* Zion (Shaffers) United Lutheran, Seven Valleys
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, West Manchester
St. Paul Lutheran Church, McConnellsburg *
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Big Cove Tannery *
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Little Cove *
(* The last three congregations listed were kicked out of the ELCA for calling a non-ELCA pastor and for holding dual membership in another church body.)

SOUTH CAROLINA 2** 1*
** Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Conway
* Lake Wylie Lutheran Church, Fort Mill
** Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, York

SOUTH DAKOTA 15** 2*
** East Lake Andes Lutheran Church, Armour
* St. Peter Lutheran Church, Armour
** American Lutheran Church, Castlewood
** Hope Lutheran Church, Delmont
** Lands Lutheran Church, Hudson
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Hudson
** Calvary Lutheran Church, Irene
** Ladner Lutheran Church, Ladner
** Shepherd of the Hills, Lead
** Our Savior Lutheran Church, Long Valley
** Deep Creek Lutheran Church, Midland
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Midland
** First Lutheran Church, Philip
** Bethlehem Lutheran, Pierpont
**Trinity Lutheran Church, Platt
** First American Lutheran, Tripp
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Whitewood

TEXAS 19** 8*
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alice
** St. John’s Lutheran, Boerne
* Salem Lutheran Church, (Welcome) Brenham
** St. John Lutheran Church, Dime Box
** Grace Lutheran Church, Ennis
* Holy Ghost Lutheran, Fredricksburg
** Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Giddings
** Living Word Lutheran Church, Grapevine
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Haskell
** Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Inez
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Braunfels
** First Lutheran Church, Orange Grove
** St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Point Comfort

* St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Portland
* Peace Lutheran Church, Rosenberg
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Rosenberg
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Taylor
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Taylor
** Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Taylor
* St. John Lutheran Church, Thrall
** Our Savior Lutheran Church, Three Rivers
** First Lutheran Church, Tivoli
* Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Tyler
** Zion Lutheran of Mission Valley, Victoria
** St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Weesatche
* St. John Lutheran Church, Winters
** Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Yoakum
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Yorktown

UTAH 1**
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Roy

VIRGINIA 4**
** Apostles Lutheran Church, Chesapeake

** Lebanon Lutheran Church, Lebanon
** Morning Star Lutheran Church, Mt. Jackson
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Roanoke

WASHINGTON 6** 3*
** Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum
** Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Lacey
* Emmanuel Lutheran, Longview
* Central Lutheran Church, Morton
** Christ Lutheran Church, Odessa
** Richland Lutheran Church, Richland
** St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Rochester
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Stanwood
* Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Walla Walla

WEST VIRGINIA 1*
** St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Charleston

WISCONSIN 16** 4*
** St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Big Falls
* Zion Lutheran Church, Caroline
** Christus Lutheran Church, Clintonville
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Dupont
* Peace Lutheran Church, Edgar
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Gillett
** Northland Lutheran Church, Iola
** Hitterdahl Lutheran Church, Iola
** Olivet Lutheran Church, LaCrosse
** St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Luck
** Zion Lutheran Church, Manawa
** Bethlehem Lutheran Church, (Pella) Marion
** First Lutheran Church, Ogdensburg
** Grace Lutheran Church Oconto Falls
* Trinity Lutheran Church, Pell Lake
** Stanfold Lutheran Church, Rice Lake
* Peace Lutheran Church, Split Rock, WI
** Living Water Lutheran Church, Sun Prairie
** North West Prairie Lutheran Church, Viroqua
** South West Prairie Lutheran Church, Viroqua

WYOMING 1*
* Christ the King Lutheran Church, Newcastle

RESULTS FOR CONGREGATIONS VOTING TO LEAVE ELCA

These are results from congregations voting September 26 to leave the ELCA:

Grace Lutheran Newton, NC 2nd vote passed 68-2 as did vote to join NALC
Christ Lutheran Church, Maple Plain, MN 2nd vote passed 89%; voted to join LCMC
Christiana Lutheran Salisbury, NC 2nd vote passed 94%; voted to join NALC.
Old East Paint Lutheran Church, Waterville, IA first vote passed 111-1; voted to join NALC
Old West Paint Lutheran Church, Waukon, IA first vote passed 72-8; voted to join NALC
First Lutheran Church, Pontiac, IL first vote passed 172-16

St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Portland, TX first vote passed 89%

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Salisbury, NC second vote passed 203-6

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Lead, SD second vote passed 59-8

Calvary Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, MN second vote passed 828-227

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Crosby, MN second vote passed 225-35

Faith Lutheran Church, Castle Rock, CO second vote passed (no count)

Trinity Lutheran Church, Ava, MO second vote passed unanimously

* first vote ** second vote

If you know of additions and/or voting results for these congregations, contact us

at wordabide@aol.com

Waiting on results from:
St. John’s Lutheran, Arroyo Grande CA **
West Immanuel Lutheran, Osceola, WI *

Epiphany Lutheran Church, Toledo, OH *

First Lutheran Church, Stephen, MN * A STRAW VOTE FAILED; DID NOT ATTAIN TWO-THIRDS: 94-32.

CONGREGATIONS KNOWN TO HAVE SCHEDULED A VOTE OCTOBER 3, INCLUDE:

Christ Lutheran, Warren, MI **
Looney Valley Lutheran Church, Houston, MN *
Zion Lutheran Church, Priddy, TX *
Our Savior, Dannebrog, NE *
Faith Lutheran Church, Seguin * (second try)

Please inform us of any additions or corrections: wordabide@aol.com

THE LORD WHO HAD THE FIRST WORD WILL HAVE THE LAST

Praise the Lord! In times like these, we have a Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord! He alone offers hope and salvation to this troubled world.

The unmistakable signs of Jesus’ imminent return are all about us. The Lord’s words spoken to His disciples are appropriate for every believer today: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear and did not hear it” (Matthew 13:16-17).

Global unrest and the present economic crisis are producing fear in the hearts of many. Fear is causing the world to move closer to a global government and a global monetary system. Even now, nations are longing for a leader who will solve the world’s economic woes and bring peace to the earth. What a time to proclaim the angelic message— “Fear not! For unto you has been born a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”

Far too many Christians today are focusing on the problem rather than on the solution, forgetting whose we are, as well as the true source of our hope. Paul reminds us, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). The Greek word for citizenship in this verse is “polituma,” from which we get our word politics. Truly, the believer’s politics are in heaven. No matter who may be in charge of human governments, let us always remember the Lord of heaven and earth will have the last word.

BISHOP HERBERT CHILSTROM’S LETTER TO THOSE LEAVING THE ELCA

PASTOR DAVID R. BARNHART RESPONDS

In an open letter to those withdrawing from the ELCA, Bishop Herbert Chilstrom, first bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), asked three questions:

1. What is it about sex that pushed you over the edge?
2. Why are you organizing new churches?
3. What will you say to your sons and daughters, sisters and brothers and others in your churches when they tell you they are homosexual?

Even though Bishop Chilstrom’s questions are uncharacteristically sarcastic in tone and obviously intended to ridicule those who do not agree with him, I will attempt to answer his questions with the hope of generating more light than heat on an issue that has already caused immeasurable heartache for so many members and former members of the ELCA.

“WHAT IS IT ABOUT SEX THAT PUSHED YOU OVER THE EDGE?”
Bishop Chilstrom, it is not “sex” that has caused over 800,000 members and at least 1000 congregations to leave the ELCA since its establishment in 1988; it is the ELCA’s ongoing denial of the Bible as the inspired Word of God and its blatant attack on the teachings of Scripture. Those who have left and those who are still in the process of leaving the ELCA, including some of your own most respected theologians and former bishops, have explained this repeatedly, but you and ELCA leaders apparently are not listening. Instead, you have chosen to ridicule and insult them by suggesting some warped attitude about “sex” has prompted their leaving.

The people of the ELCA were not the ones who raised the issue of promoting homosexuality as being virtuous, nor did they raise the issue of ordaining practicing homosexuals as pastors. You, Bishop Chilstrom, and the ELCA leadership were responsible for relentlessly driving this agenda in the ELCA over the past 22 years. It was you and liberal ELCA leaders who initiated studies, costing millions of benevolence dollars, in order to reeducate ELCA members that homosexuality should be fully accepted by the church, in total contradiction to the teachings of Scripture.

Because the Bible clearly identifies homosexuality as sin and an abomination before God, (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-28; Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Jude 1:7), ELCA leaders gathered theologians and teachers to write books, papers and articles that would “prove” numerous biblical passages that identify homosexual acts as sin do not really mean what the text declares. This is clearly reminiscent of the first false teacher, Satan, who used the same tactic with Eve when he asked her: “Did God really say? (Genesis 3:1). Paul described such deceitful teachers when he wrote:

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…” (1 Timothy 4:1).
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and will turn from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Bishop, you and the ELCA leadership permitted the pro-homosexual lobby to bring their political agenda before the Churchwide Assembly year after year, even though it was repeatedly rejected. Your persistence paid off when the 2009 Churchwide Assembly approved a resolution that officially allows practicing homosexuals to serve as pastors. The fact is—the ELCA leadership had permitted practicing homosexuals to serve in the ELCA for years with little or no discipline being imposed on them or the congregations they served.

The resolution to sanction the ordination of practicing homosexuals was passed at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly only because ELCA Church Council drafted and backed a provision that permitted its passage by a simple majority vote instead of the customary two-thirds plurality. Had the people in the pews of the ELCA been given the opportunity to vote on ordaining practicing homosexuals as pastors, the measure would not have passed. No, Bishop Chilstrom, the issue that has “pushed” literally hundreds of thousands of former ELCA members “over the edge,” to use your words, is not sex; the issue was, is, and continues to remain the ELCA’s low view and arrogant rejection of the Scriptures.

“WHY ARE YOU ORGANIZING NEW CHURCHES?”
In answer to your second question, Bishop Chilstrom, former ELCA members have organized new church bodies and joined existing Bible-believing Lutheran churches in order to preserve our rich heritage as Lutherans. Those who have withdrawn from the ELCA have done so with heavy hearts and agonizing grief. The pain of leaving a congregation, friends and a church body in which one has worshipped, loved and labored for so many years is beyond describing. But the Scripture’s call to “obey God rather than man” supersedes loyalty to a congregation or a denomination. Once we recognized the ELCA had been hijacked by those who substitute the teachings of Scripture for socially accepted values and man-made opinions, there was no other choice. God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions instruct us to pass on to our posterity the pure Word of God and doctrines that agree with the Scriptures.

The ELCA’s low view of Scripture has not only brought about the endorsement of homosexual perversions, it has opened the door to goddess worship and a host of other false doctrines and practices. For example, the liturgy used in the Reception Service in San Francisco last August to welcome practicing homosexual pastors into the ELCA contained pagan prayers and goddess worship. Several ELCA bishops participated in the service.

You may be right, Bishop Chilstrom, that the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) and the North America Lutheran Church (NALC) were established in some measure because other existing Lutheran bodies do not ordain women. The ordination of women marks a clear distinction between the LCMC, the NALC and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Wisconsin Evangelical Synod, the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, the American Association of Lutheran Churches and other smaller Lutheran bodies. Even so, the LCMC and the NALC are more in agreement with established conservative Lutheran bodies than they are with the ELCA which has deliberately chosen to abandon biblical and confessional Lutheranism. Have you ever stopped to consider why it is that the ELCA has no official fellowship with any of these Lutheran bodies? Perhaps it is the ELCA’s hubris that you are altogether right, while all other Lutherans are wrong. Lutheranism does not begin and end with the ELCA.

You cannot imagine the freedom those who left the ELCA have found in any and all of these Lutheran bodies and newly established congregations. It is such a blessing not to have to spend your life fighting your own church over the authority of Scripture and correct doctrine, especially in times like these, when our nation needs churches that will stand on the solid foundation of God’s truth.

Perhaps, Bishop, there are too many Lutheran bodies in the United States today, as your question implies, but as long as the ELCA persists in departing from Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, there can never be too many Lutheran churches to lift high the banner of the truth contained in God’s Word.

WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO YOUR SONS, DAUGHTERS, SISTERS, BROTHERS AND OTHERS WHEN THEY TELL YOU THEY ARE HOMOSEXUAL?
Your question implies only you and those who agree with you have anything meaningful to say to homosexuals, while those who disagree with you do not. But let me assure you when it comes to offering help and hope to homosexuals, we have more to offer them than you and your liberal supporters.

Unlike you, we do not tell them God approves their behavior. We continue to compassionately tell our sons, daughters, sisters and brothers— We love you with all of our hearts and nothing will change that, but we can not and will not accept the lifestyle you have chosen.

To those within our churches who tell us they are homosexuals, we say—You are welcome in our congregations. But our welcome does not mean we condone your sinful behavior, nor does it mean we will permit you to serve as a pastors or as leaders in our churches. We love you enough to tell you homosexual practices are contrary to the Word of God. If you continue to embrace homosexuality or other deviant behaviors, you will bring endless grief into your life and shut yourself off from God’s grace. We love you enough to remind you that your chosen lifestyle could cause you to acquire AIDS and shorten your life. The life expectancy of a homosexual man is age 42, while the life expectancy of a heterosexual man is 75.

To all homosexuals, we say—We love you enough to tell you there is a Savior who is able to redeem, forgive and totally transform your life, if you turn to Him in faith and repentance. Don’t listen to those who tell you that you can’t change or be changed. Come to the Savior and be made whole.

YOU ARE RELIEVED TO SEE US GO
Finally Bishop, you state: “I am both sad and relieved that you are leaving. Sad, because this was not what we hoped for when the ELCA was formed 22 years ago. We believed we could be a church where we held to the essentials and allowed for differences on non-essentials. But I am also relieved. Now those of us who remain in the ELCA can get on with our primary mission of telling everyone — ‘Jesus loves you. You are welcome in this church.’”

Let me assure you Bishop, denying the teachings of the Bible and lifting up homosexuality as a virtue are not non-essentials. The Bible is clear, those who do such things “will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Yes, Bishop, we know these verses include other sinners. But thankfully, all who come to Christ by faith and repent of their sins will be washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. This truth is the very heart and soul of the gospel of salvation.

You say you are sadden but relieved to see us go, so the ELCA can get on with its primary mission—to tell everyone “Jesus loves you. You are welcome in this church.” But that is not the mission of the Church. According to the Bible the mission of the church is to teach “all things Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:20). Telling homosexuals or any other sinner “Jesus loves you,” while failing to proclaim their need of faith and repentance is to love them into hell, which is no love at all.

Our prayer Bishop Chilstrom, is that our leaving may cause you and others in the ELCA to reexamine the Scriptures and return to the pure teaching of God’s Word.

UPDATE 9/21/10: CONGREGATIONS VOTING TO LEAVE ELCA SINCE AUGUST 2009

This week we added the following congregations to our list:

1. Puritas Lutheran Church, Cleveland, OH * first successful vote
2. St. Martin Lutheran Church, Malvern, OH * first successful vote
3. St. Michael Lutheran Church, Ashland, OH ** second successful vote
4. Greenford Lutheran Church, Greenford, OH ** second successful vote
5. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Boardman, OR ** second successful vote 24-1
6. Our Savior Lutheran Church, Stanwood, WA ** second successful vote 189-45
7. St. James Lutheran Church, Philadelphia PA ** first successful vote 136-15
8. St. Mark Lutheran Church, Hayden Lake, ID ** second successful vote passed
9. Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Wilkesboro, NC * first successful vote passed 43-0
10. Zion United Lutheran Church, Seven Valleys, PA * first successful vote passed 85.6%
11. Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley, MN * first successful vote passed 70+% (second attempt)
12. St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sulphur Springs, OH * first successful vote passed 77-15
13. Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Lacey, WA ** second successful vote passed 91%
14. St. Paul Lutheran Church, Rosenberg, TX * first successful vote passed 83-3
15. St. John Lutheran Church, Winters, TX * first successful vote passed



We are still awaiting voting results for Sept 19 from:

Zoar Lutheran Church, Tofte, MN second voted passed 85%

Lund Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes, MN second vote passed!

Bethany Lutheran Church, Menahga, MN second vote passed 33-0.

Grace Lutheran Church, Ennis, TX second voted passed unanimously.

St. Peter Lutheran Church, Benson, IL
(Correction: St. Peter Lutheran, Benson, is scheduled to vote Sept 26)


St. John Lutheran Church, American Falls, ID voted to remain in the ELCA.




PRAY!
Churches scheduled to vote Sunday September 26 include:

(Please inform us of other congregation that should be on this list)
St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Salisbury, NC **
Christ Lutheran Church, MaplePlain,MN **
Shepherd of the Hillls Lutheran Church, Lead, SD **
Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Waterville Ia *
Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Waukon, Ia *
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Arroyo Grande CA **
West Immanuel Lutheran Church, Osceola, WI *
Calvary Lutheran Church of Golden Valley, Minneapolis, MN **
St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Portland, TX *
First LutheranChurch, Pontiac, IL *
Faith Lutheran Church, Castle Rock, CO **

St. Peter Lutheran Church Benson, IL *
First Lutheran Church, Stephen, MN * (Straw vote to determine direction)

West Immanuel Lutheran Church *

Epiphany Lutheran Church, Toledo, OH *


* represents first vote ** represents second vote

(Please inform us of any addition or corrections to this list at:

wordabide@aol.com


ARIZONA 5** 1*
** Light of the Desert Lutheran, Cave Creek
** Light of Christ Lutheran Church, Chandler
** Community Church of Joy, Glendale
** Victory Lutheran Church, Mesa
* La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, Scottsdale
** Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Tempe

CALIFORNIA 21** 5*
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Arroyo Grande
** Sierra Lutheran Church, Auberry
** Chinese Life Lutheran Church, Alhambra
** Christ the King Lutheran Church, Fallbrook
* El Camino Pines Lutheran Church, Frazier Park
** Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Galt
** St. Mark Chinese Lutheran, Hacienda Heights
** Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Irvine
** Concordia Lutheran Church, Kingsburg
** Lutheran Church of the Cross, Laguna Woods
** St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, La Mesa
** Emanuel Lutheran Church, Lodi
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Los Banos
** Mount of Olives Lutheran Church, Mission Viejo
** Calvary Lutheran Church, Modesto
** Grace Lutheran Church, Redway
* Life Lutheran Church, Richmond
** Grace Lutheran Church, Ridgecrest
**Rancho Penasquitos Lutheran Church, San Diego
** St. Timothy Lutheran Church, San Diego
** St. Luke Lutheran Church, San Diego
** Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, San Jose
* Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Torrance
** Red Hill Lutheran Church, Tustin
** Mount Calvary Faith Lutheran, West Covina
* Westminister Lutheran Church, Westminister

COLORADO 3** 1*
* Faith Lutheran Church, Castle Rock
** Bethel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs
** St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs
** Lutheran Church of the Cross, Evergreen

FLORIDA 7** 1*
* Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, Dade City
** St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fort Pierce
** Shepherd of the Woods Church, Jacksonville
** Faith Lutheran Church, Lakeland
** Hope Lutheran Church, Miami
** Peace Lutheran Church, Palm Bay
** St. John Lutheran Church, Palatka
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Titusville
Note: Although St. Peter Lutheran of Fort Pierce voted unanimously to withdraw, the ELCA will not allow them to leave with their property.

GEORGIA 6** 1*
** Laurel Hill Lutheran Church, Clyo
** Wingard Memorial Lutheran Church, Clyo
* Christ the King Lutheran Church, Evans
** Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Haralson
** Faith Lutheran Church, Hartwell
** Bethel Lutheran Church, Springfield
** Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield

IDAHO 3** 1*
** Zion Lutheran Church, Deary
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Hayden
** First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Idaho Falls
** Faith Lutheran Church, Pierce
ILLINOIS 9** 10*
** First Lutheran Church, Dongola
** St. John of Union County Lutheran, Dongola
** St. Peter Lutheran Church, Emden
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Flanagan
** Joyful Harvest Lutheran Church, Johnsburg
* Messiah Lutheran Church, Joliet
** First Lutheran Church, Kirkland
* Calvary Lutheran Church, Lee
** St. Mark Lutheran Church, Lindenhurst
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Metropolis
** Faith Lutheran Church, Moline
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Oregon
* Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Quincy
* American Lutheran Church, Rantoul
* Calvary Lutheran Church, Rockford
** Prince of Peace, Rockton
* St. John Lutheran Church, Royal
* Hosanna Lutheran Church, St. Charles
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Thomasboro

INDIANA 2** 4*
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Auburn
* St. John Lutheran Ft. Wayne (Lake Twp.)
* Antioch Lutheran Church, Hoagland
** St. James Lutheran Church, Holland
** St. Mark Lutheran Church, St. Joe
* St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Stendal

IOWA 12** 10*
** St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Bode
** Zion Lutheran Church, Des Moines
* Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eagle Grove
** Samuel Lutheran Church, Eagle Grove
* Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Evansdale
** Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fontanelle
** Zion Lutheran Church, Hudson
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Inwood
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Irwin
* Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
** Bethany Lutheran Church, Kelley
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Monona
* Salem Lutheran Church, Roland
* Zion Lutheran Church, Ruthvan
** United Lutheran Church, Shelby
** Skien Lutheran Church, Sloan
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Story City
** Stratford Lutheran Church, Stratford
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Strawberry Point
** Ulensvang Lutheran Church, Thor
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Waukee
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Williams

KANSAS 1**
** Christ the King Lutheran Church, Dodge City

KENTUCKY 3**
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Augusta
** Hopeful Lutheran Church, Florence
** Hebron Lutheran Church, Hebron

MARYLAND 2** 1*
** Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Damascus
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Joppa
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Sabillasville

MICHIGAN 5** 3*
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bridgewater
** St. Michael Lutheran Church, Canton
** Zion Lutheran Church, Felch
* First Lutheran Church, Iron Mountain
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Iron Mountain
** Christ Lutheran Church, Reese
** Christ Lutheran Church, Shingleton
* Christ Lutheran Church, Warren

MINNESOTA 27** 14*
** Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Afton
* Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, Badger
** Trefoldighed Lutheran Church, Battle Lake
** Lutheran Church of the Master, Brooklyn Center
** Brooklyn Park Lutheran Church, Brooklyn Park
** Wangen Prairie Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Crosby
* Lund Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes
** Bethlehem/West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church
** Central Lutheran Church, Elk River
* First Lutheran Church, Ellendale
** Grace Lutheran Church, Erskine
** Rodnes Lutheran Church, Erskine
** Hope Lutheran Church, Floodwood
** Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fridley
* Calvary Lutheran, Golden Valley
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hanover
* Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley
** Singaas Lutheran Church, Hendricks
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Howard Lake
** Christ the King Lutheran Church, Hutchinson
** Faith Lutheran Church, Hutchinson
* South Zumbro Lutheran Church, Kasson
** Hosanna Lutheran Church, Lakeville
** American Lutheran Church, Long Prairie
** Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Maple Lake
* Christ Lutheran Church, Maple Plain
* Bethany Lutheran Church, Menahga
* First English Lutheran Church Menahga
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
** Faith Lutheran Church, Monticello
** Rejoice Lutheran Renewal Church, Northfield
** Salem Lutheran Church, Osakis
** Sauk Valley Lutheran Church, Osakis
** Christ Lutheran Church, Otsego
** Community Church of Hope, Rosemount
* Rushford Lutheran Church, Rushford
** Sychar Lutheran Church, Silver Bay
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Springfield
* Zoar Lutheran Church, Tofte
* Riverside Lutheran Church, Wannaska

MONTANA 17** *1
** Peace Lutheran Church, Belgrade
** Bethany Lutheran Church, Bigfork
** Little Missouri Lutheran Church, Capitol
** Our Savior Lutheran Church, Chester
** Golden West Lutheran Church, Conrad
** Pondera Valley Lutheran Church, Conrad
** First Lutheran Church, Dillon
** Calvary Lutheran Church, Evergreen
** Zion Lutheran Church, Flaxville
** Pleasant Prairie Lutheran Church, Flaxville
** Faith Lutheran Church, Great Falls
* St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Ledger
** Peerless Lutheran Church, Peerless
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Popular
** Scobey Lutheran Church, Scobey
** Valier Lutheran Church, Valier
** Christ Lutheran Church, Whitefish
** American Lutheran Church, Winifred

NEBRASKA 5** 4*
* Peace Lutheran Church, Alma
* Trinity Lutheran Church, Axtel
** Thanksgiving Lutheran Church, Bellevue
* Peace Lutheran Church, Deshler
** Fridhem Lutheran Church, Funk
** Bethel Lutheran Church, Holdrege
** Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Norfolk
* St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Republican City
** Hope Lutheran Church, Smithfield

NEW YORK 5** 3*
** St. Nicodemus Lutheran Church, Aurora
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Delhi
** Advent Lutheran Church, Elmont
* Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gallupville
* First Lutheran Church, Lyons
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Middleburgh
** St. James Lutheran Church, Niagara Falls
** St James Lutheran Church, Stewart Manor

NORTH CAROLINA 6** 8*
** Well of Hope Lutheran Church, Charlotte
* Millers Lutheran Church, Hickory
** New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Hickory
** Center Grove Lutheran Church, Kannapolis
* Grace Lutheran Church, Newton
* St. James Lutheran Church, Newton
* Christiana Lutheran Church, Salisbury
* St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Salisbury
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Salisbury
* Union Lutheran Church, Salisbury
** Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church, Statesville
* St. John Lutheran Church, Statesville
** Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Weddington
* Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Wilkesboro

NORTH DAKOTA 2** 2*
* Anselm Trinity Lutheran Church, Enderlin
** Peace Lutheran Church, Hazen
* Mabel Lutheran Church, Sutton
** First Lutheran, Washburn

OHIO 8** 9*
** St. Michael Lutheran Church, Ashland
** First Lutheran Church, Barberton
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Cardington
** Faith Lutheran Church, Cincinati
* Puritas Lutheran Church, Cleveland
* Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, Columbus
* Zion Lutheran Church, Columbus (Obetz)
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Crestline
** Greenford Lutheran Church, Greenford
* St. John Lutheran Church, Greenville
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Greenville
** First English Lutheran Church, Mansfield
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Maumee
* St. Martin Lutheran Church, Malvern
* Resurrection Lutheran Church, Port Clinton
* Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sulphur Springs

OREGON 2**
** Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Boardman
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Hermiston

PENNSYLVANIA 8** 4*
** Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Abington
** Christ Lutheran Church, Dallastown
* Dunmyer Lutheran Church, Johnstown
** St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran, Millersburg
** St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Muncy
* St. James Lutheran Church, Philadelphia
* Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh (Brentwood)
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sarver
* Zion (Shaffers) United Lutheran, Seven Valleys
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, West Manchester
St. Paul Lutheran Church, McConnellsburg *
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Big Cove Tannery *
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Little Cove *
(* The last three congregations listed were kicked out of the ELCA for calling a non-ELCA pastor and for holding dual membership in another church body.)

SOUTH CAROLINA 2** 1*
** Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Conway
* Lake Wylie Lutheran Church, Fort Mill
** Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, York

SOUTH DAKOTA 14** 3*
** East Lake Andes Lutheran Church, Armour
* St. Peter Lutheran Church, Armour
** American Lutheran Church, Castlewood
** Hope Lutheran Church, Delmont
** Lands Lutheran Church, Hudson
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Hudson
** Calvary Lutheran Church, Irene
** Ladner Lutheran Church, Ladner
* Shepherd of the Hills, Lead
** Our Savior Lutheran Church, Long Valley
** Deep Creek Lutheran Church, Midland
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Midland
** First Lutheran Church, Philip
** Bethlehem Lutheran, Pierpont
**Trinity Lutheran Church, Platt
** First American Lutheran, Tripp
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Whitewood

TEXAS 18** 9*
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alice
** St. John’s Lutheran, Boerne
* Salem Lutheran Church, (Welcome) Brenham
** St. John Lutheran Church, Dime Box
* Grace Lutheran Church, Ennis
* Holy Ghost Lutheran, Fredricksburg
** Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Giddings
** Living Word Lutheran Church, Grapevine
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Haskell
** Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Inez
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Braunfels
** First Lutheran Church, Orange Grove
** St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Point Comfort
* Peace Lutheran Church, Rosenberg
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Rosenberg
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Taylor
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Taylor
** Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Taylor
* St. John Lutheran Church, Thrall
** Our Savior Lutheran Church, Three Rivers
** First Lutheran Church, Tivoli
* Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Tyler
** Zion Lutheran of Mission Valley, Victoria
** St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Weesatche
* St. John Lutheran Church, Winters
** Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Yoakum
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Yorktown


UTAH 1**
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Roy

VIRGINIA 2** 1*
* Apostles Lutheran Church, Chesapeake
** Morning Star Lutheran Church, Mt. Jackson
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Roanoke

WASHINGTON 6** 3*
** Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum
** Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Lacey
* Emmanuel Lutheran, Longview
* Central Lutheran Church, Morton
** Christ Lutheran Church, Odessa
** Richland Lutheran Church, Richland
** St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Rochester
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Stanwood
* Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Walla Walla

WEST VIRGINIA 1*
** St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Charleston

WISCONSIN 15** 5*
** St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Big Falls
* Zion Lutheran Church, Caroline
** Christus Lutheran Church, Clintonville
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Dupont
* Peace Lutheran Church, Edgar
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Gillett
** Northland Lutheran Church, Iola
** Hitterdahl Lutheran Church, Iola
** Olivet Lutheran Church, LaCrosse
** St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Luck
** Zion Lutheran Church, Manawa
* Bethlehem Lutheran Church, (Pella) Marion
** First Lutheran Church, Ogdensburg
** Grace Lutheran Church Oconto Falls
* Trinity Lutheran Church, Pell Lake
** Stanfold Lutheran Church, Rice Lake
* Peace Lutheran Church, Split Rock, WI
** Living Water Lutheran Church, Sun Prairie
** North West Prairie Lutheran Church, Viroqua
** South West Prairie Lutheran Church, Viroqua

WYOMING
* Christ the King Lutheran Church, Newcastle

RESULTS-- CONGREGATIONS VOTING TO LEAVE ELCA SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Wilkesboro, NC first successful vote 43-0
Zion (Shaffers) United Lutheran Church, Seven Valleys, PA first successful vote 85.6%
Brooklyn Park Lutheran Church, Brooklyn Park, MN second successful vote 182-4
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Newcastle, WY first successful vote 67-4
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sulphur Springs, OH first successful vote 77-15
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Stanwood, WA second succesful vote 88% in favor
Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley, MN first successful vote 70+% in favor (second attempt)

St. John Lutheran Church, American Falls, ID voted Sept 19 to remain in the ELCA.

ELCA TO HOLD SECOND RECEPTION SERVICE FOR HOMOSEXUAL CLERGY

St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN

A service of reconciliation (Reception) for Pastors Anita Hill, Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zillhart will be held Saturday, September 18, 2:00 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul, Mn.

All three were previously ordained in a service conducted by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, not recognized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This service is meant to officially recognize their ordination and welcome them into the ELCA. A service of reconciliation that welcomed six homosexual pastors, held a few weeks ago in San Francisco, featured pagan prayers. One can only wonder what will be included in this service.



Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zillhart are partnered homosexuals. Anita Hill is partnered with Janelle Bussert, a teacher in the Religion Department of Augsburg College (ELCA), Minneapolis.



Peter Rogness, Bishop, St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA will preside at the service.

Barbara Lundblad, a member of the ELCA clergy roster and teacher at Union Theological Seminary, New York, will preach. Lundblad has long promoted both the feminist and homosexual agenda in the ELCA. At the 1993 Re-imagining Conference, Barbara Lundblad said she "did not need Jesus as long as she had Sophia."



According to the announcement there will be a "party after the service. "Celebration Dinner/Dance at the St. Paul Hotel begins with conversation and cocktails at 6 p.m. Dinner served 7 p.m. with brief program followed by dancing.

IS THERE ANY WORD FROM THE LORD?

In every age circumstances and trials cause a stirring in the human heart for a word from the Lord. No other word will do. Surely ours is such a time when a word from the Lord is greatly needed. Take heart friend, God has an encouraging Word for us today.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near…For as
the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there without
watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the
sower and bread to the eater; so will my Word be which goes forth from My mouth;

it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without

succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:6, 11).

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called

in one body; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and
admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing

with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:15-17).

UPDATE 9/13/10 CONGREGATIONS VOTING TO WITHDRAW FROM THE ELCA

CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO OUR LIST SINCE LAST POSTED:
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Chester, MT ** second successful vote
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Springfield MN ** 2nd vote passed 71.9%.
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Luck, WI ** second vote passed
Deep Creek Lutheran Church, Midland/Hayes ** second vote passed
St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Ledger, MT * first vote passed
First Lutheran Church, Tivoli, TX ** second vote passed
St. Mark Lutheran Church, Point Comfort, TX **second vote passed
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Inez, TX ** second vote passed
Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, Badger, MN * first vote passed
First Lutheran Church, Kirkland, IL ** second vote passed 88-4
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Cardington, OH ** second vote passed
Mount Calvary Faith Lutheran, West Covina, CA ** second vote passed
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Hayden, ID * first vote passed
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Republican City, NE * first vote passed
Trinity Lutheran Church, Axtel, NE ** second vote passed
Peace Lutheran Church, Alma, NE * first vote passed
Mount of Olives Lutheran Church, Mission Viejo, CA ** second vote passed
Westminster Lutheran Church, Westminster, CA * first vote passed
Holy Trinity, Abington, PA ** second vote passed
First Lutheran Church, Idaho Falls ** second vote passed
Bethany Lutheran Church, Menahga, MN * first vote passed

First English Lutheran Church, Menahga, MN * first vote passed

St. John's Lutheran Church, Flanagan, IL * first vote passed

Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, PA * first vote passed

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Metropolis, IL * first vote passed

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Millersburg, PA * second vote passed

Center Grove Lutheran Church, Kannapolis, NC ** second vote passed

Information on voting results from September 12
First Lutheran Church, Idaho Falls, ID ** second vote passed 219-89
Holy Trinity Abington, PA ** second vote passed 134-11
New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Hickory, NC ** second vote passed 126-1 with 4 abstentions.

Peace Lutheran Church, Split Rock, WI - first successful vote 38-4

Zion Lutheran Church, Caroline, WI - first successful vote 79-38

St. John's Lutheran Church, Flanagan, IL * first successful vote

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Irwin, IA - second successful vote 44-3

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, IA - second successful vote 37-2
Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, PA - first successful vote 122-10

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Metropolis - first successful vote 90-12

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Millersburg, PA - second successful vote

Center Grove Lutheran Church, Kannapolis, NC - second successful vote

St. Mark Lutheran Church, Hayden, ID - second successful vote

St. James Lutheran Church, Philadelphia - first successful vote

Waiting for results from September 12 votes:

St. Peter Lutheran Church, Elgin, TX - first vote
If you know of voting results in the above churches, please inform us.

Congregations scheduled to vote September 19 include:
Zion Lutheran Church, Tofte, MN – second vote
Lund Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes, MN – second vote
Faith Lutheran Church, Castle Rock, CO – second vote
Brooklyn Park Lutheran Church, Brooklyn Park, MN – second vote
Bethany Lutheran Church, Manahga, MN - second vote

St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Benson, IL - first vote

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sulphur Springs, OH - first vote

Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley, MN - first vote (second attempt)

Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Wilkesboro, NC - first vote

If you know of changes, additions, or corrections to any of these lists below, please inform us:
wordabide@aol.com

* indicates first successful vote ** indicates second successful vote

ARIZONA 5** 1*
** Light of the Desert Lutheran, Cave Creek
** Light of Christ Lutheran Church, Chandler
** Community Church of Joy, Glendale
** Victory Lutheran Church, Mesa
* La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, Scottsdale
** Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Tempe

CALIFORNIA 21** 5*
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Arroyo Grande
** Sierra Lutheran Church, Auberry
** Chinese Life Lutheran Church, Alhambra
** Christ the King Lutheran Church, Fallbrook
* El Camino Pines Lutheran Church, Frazier Park
** Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Galt
** St. Mark Chinese Lutheran, Hacienda Heights
** Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Irvine
** Concordia Lutheran Church, Kingsburg
** Lutheran Church of the Cross, Laguna Woods
** St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, La Mesa
** Emanuel Lutheran Church, Lodi
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Los Banos
** Mount of Olives Lutheran Church, Mission Viejo
** Calvary Lutheran Church, Modesto
** Grace Lutheran Church, Redway
* Life Lutheran Church, Richmond
** Grace Lutheran Church, Ridgecrest
**Rancho Penasquitos Lutheran Church, San Diego
** St. Timothy Lutheran Church, San Diego
** St. Luke Lutheran Church, San Diego
** Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, San Jose
* Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Torrance
** Red Hill Lutheran Church, Tustin
** Mount Calvary Faith Lutheran, West Covina
* Westminster Lutheran Church, Westminster

COLORADO 3** 1*
* Faith Lutheran Church, Castle Rock
** Bethel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs
** St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs
** Lutheran Church of the Cross, Evergreen

FLORIDA 7** 1*
* Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, Dade City
** St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fort Pierce
** Shepherd of the Woods Church, Jacksonville
** Faith Lutheran Church, Lakeland
** Hope Lutheran Church, Miami
** Peace Lutheran Church, Palm Bay
** St. John Lutheran Church, Palatka
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Titusville
Note: Although St. Peter Lutheran of Fort Pierce voted unanimously to withdraw, the ELCA will not allow them to leave with their property.

GEORGIA 6** 1*
** Laurel Hill Lutheran Church, Clyo
** Wingard Memorial Lutheran Church, Clyo
* Christ the King Lutheran Church, Evans
** Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Haralson
** Faith Lutheran Church, Hartwell
** Bethel Lutheran Church, Springfield
** Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield

IDAHO 3** 1*
** Zion Lutheran Church, Deary
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Hayden
** First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Idaho Falls
** Faith Lutheran Church, Pierce
ILLINOIS 9** 9*
** First Lutheran Church, Dongola
** St. John of Union County Lutheran, Dongola
** St. Peter Lutheran Church, Emden

* St. John's Lutheran Church, Flanagan
** Joyful Harvest Lutheran Church, Johnsburg
* Messiah Lutheran Church, Joliet
** First Lutheran Church, Kirkland
* Calvary Lutheran Church, Lee
** St. Mark Lutheran Church, Lindenhurst
** Faith Lutheran Church, Moline
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Oregon
* Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Quincy
* American Lutheran Church, Rantoul
* Calvary Lutheran Church, Rockford
** Prince of Peace, Rockton
* St. John Lutheran Church, Royal
* Hosanna Lutheran Church, St. Charles
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Thomasboro

INDIANA 2** 4*
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Auburn
* St. John Lutheran Ft. Wayne (Lake Twp.)
* Antioch Lutheran Church, Hoagland
** St. James Lutheran Church, Holland
** St. Mark Lutheran Church, St. Joe
* St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Stendal

IOWA 12** 10*
** St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Bode
** Zion Lutheran Church, Des Moines
* Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eagle Grove
** Samuel Lutheran Church, Eagle Grove
* Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Evansdale
** Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fontanelle
** Zion Lutheran Church, Hudson
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Inwood
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Irwin
* Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
** Bethany Lutheran Church, Kelley
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Monona
* Salem Lutheran Church, Roland
* Zion Lutheran Church, Ruthvan
** United Lutheran Church, Shelby
** Skien Lutheran Church, Sloan
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Story City
** Stratford Lutheran Church, Stratford
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Strawberry Point
** Ulensvang Lutheran Church, Thor
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Waukee
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Williams

KANSAS 1**
** Christ the King Lutheran Church, Dodge City

KENTUCKY 3**
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Augusta
** Hopeful Lutheran Church, Florence
** Hebron Lutheran Church, Hebron

MARYLAND 2** 1*
** Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Damascus
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Joppa
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Sabillasville

MICHIGAN 5** 3*
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bridgewater
** St. Michael Lutheran Church, Canton
** Zion Lutheran Church, Felch
* First Lutheran Church, Iron Mountain
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Iron Mountain
** Christ Lutheran Church, Reese
** Christ Lutheran Church, Shingleton
* Christ Lutheran Church, Warren

MINNESOTA 26** 12*
** Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Afton
* Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, Badger
** Trefoldighed Lutheran Church, Battle Lake
** Lutheran Church of the Master, Brooklyn Center
* Brooklyn Park Lutheran Church, Brooklyn Park
** Wangen Prairie Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Crosby
* Lund Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes
** Bethlehem/West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church
** Central Lutheran Church, Elk River
* First Lutheran Church, Ellendale
** Grace Lutheran Church, Erskine
** Rodnes Lutheran Church, Erskine
** Hope Lutheran Church, Floodwood
** Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fridley
* Calvary Lutheran, Golden Valley
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hanover
** Singaas Lutheran Church, Hendricks
* St. John’s Lutheran Church, Howard Lake
** Christ the King Lutheran Church, Hutchinson
** Faith Lutheran Church, Hutchinson
* South Zumbro Lutheran Church, Kasson
** Hosanna Lutheran Church, Lakeville
** American Lutheran Church, Long Prairie
** Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Maple Lake
* Christ Lutheran Church, Maple Plain

* Bethany Lutheran Church, Menahga

* First English Lutheran Church, Menahga
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
** Faith Lutheran Church, Monticello
** Rejoice Lutheran Renewal Church, Northfield
** Salem Lutheran Church, Osakis
** Sauk Valley Lutheran Church, Osakis
** Christ Lutheran Church, Otsego
** Community Church of Hope, Rosemount
* Rushford Lutheran Church, Rushford
** Sychar Lutheran Church, Silver Bay
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Springfield
* Zoar Lutheran Church, Tofte
* Riverside Lutheran Church, Wannaska

MONTANA 17** 1*
** Peace Lutheran Church, Belgrade
** Bethany Lutheran Church, Bigfork
** Little Missouri Lutheran Church, Capitol
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Chester
** Golden West Lutheran Church, Conrad
** Pondera Valley Lutheran Church, Conrad
** First Lutheran Church, Dillon
** Calvary Lutheran Church, Evergreen
** Zion Lutheran Church, Flaxville
** Pleasant Prairie Lutheran Church, Flaxville
** Faith Lutheran Church, Great Falls
* St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Ledger
** Peerless Lutheran Church, Peerless
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Popular
** Scobey Lutheran Church, Scobey
** Valier Lutheran Church, Valier
** Christ Lutheran Church, Whitefish
** American Lutheran Church, Winifred

NEBRASKA 6** 4*
* Peace Luthran Church, Alma
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Axtel
** Thanksgiving Lutheran Church, Bellevue
* Peace Lutheran Church, Deshler
** Fridhem Lutheran Church, Funk
** Bethel Lutheran Church, Holdrege
** Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Norfolk
* St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Republican City
** Hope Lutheran Church, Smithfield

NEW YORK 5** 3*
** St. Nicodemus Lutheran Church, Aurora
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Delhi
** Advent Lutheran Church, Elmont
* Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gallupville
* First Lutheran Church, Lyons
* St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Middleburgh
** St. James Lutheran Church, Niagara Falls
** St James Lutheran Church, Stewart Manor

NORTH CAROLINA 5** 8*
** Well of Hope Lutheran Church, Charlotte
* Millers Lutheran Church, Hickory
** New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Hickory
* Center Grove Lutheran Church, Kannapolis
* Grace Lutheran Church, Newton
* St. James Lutheran Church, Newton
* Christiana Lutheran Church, Salisbury
* St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Salisbury
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Salisbury
* Union Lutheran Church, Salisbury
** Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church, Statesville
* St. John Lutheran Church, Statesville
** Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Weddington

NORTH DAKOTA 2** 2*
* Anselm Trinity Lutheran Church, Enderlin
** Peace Lutheran Church, Hazen
* Mabel Lutheran Church, Sutton
** First Lutheran, Washburn

OHIO 6** 8*
* St. Michael Lutheran Church, Ashland
** First Lutheran Church, Barberton
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Cardington
** Faith Lutheran Church, Cincinati
* Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, Columbus
* Zion Lutheran Church, Columbus (Obetz)
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Crestline
* Greenford Lutheran Church, Greenford
* St. John Lutheran Church, Greenville
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Greenville
** First English Lutheran Church, Mansfield
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Maumee
* Resurrection Lutheran Church, Port Clinton
* Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield

OREGON 1** 1*
* Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Boardman
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Hermiston

PENNSYLVANIA 7** 3*
** Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Abington
** Christ Lutheran Church, Dallastown
* Dunmyer Lutheran Church, Johnstown
* St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran, Millersburg
** St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Muncy

* Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh (Brentwood)
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sarver
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, West Manchester
St. Paul Lutheran Church, McConnellsburg *
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Big Cove Tannery *
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Little Cove *
(* The last three congregations listed were kicked out of the ELCA for calling a non-ELCA pastor and for holding dual membership in another church body.)

SOUTH CAROLINA 2** 1*
** Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Conway
* Lake Wylie Lutheran Church, Fort Mill
** Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, York


SOUTH DAKOTA 14** 3*
** East Lake Andes Lutheran Church, Armour
* St. Peter Lutheran Church, Armour
** American Lutheran Church, Castlewood
** Hope Lutheran Church, Delmont
** Lands Lutheran Church, Hudson
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Hudson
** Calvary Lutheran Church, Irene
** Ladner Lutheran Church, Ladner
* Shepherd of the Hills, Lead
** Our Savior Lutheran Church, Long Valley
** Deep Creek Lutheran Church, Midland
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Midland
** First Lutheran Church, Philip
** Bethlehem Lutheran, Pierpont
**Trinity Lutheran Church, Platt
** First American Lutheran, Tripp
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, Whitewood

TEXAS 18** 7*
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alice
** St. John’s Lutheran, Boerne
* Salem Lutheran Church, (Welcome) Brenham
** St. John Lutheran Church, Dime Box
* Grace Lutheran Church, Ennis
* Holy Ghost Lutheran, Fredricksburg
** Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Giddings
** Living Word Lutheran Church, Grapevine
** Trinity Lutheran Church, Haskell
** Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Inez
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Braunfels
** First Lutheran Church, Orange Grove
** St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Point Comfort
* Peace Lutheran Church, Rosenberg
** St. Paul Lutheran Church, Taylor
** Immanuel Lutheran Church, Taylor
** Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Taylor
* St. John Lutheran Church, Thrall
** Our Savior Lutheran Church, Three Rivers
** First Lutheran Church, Tivoli
* Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Tyler
** Zion Lutheran of Mission Valley, Victoria
** St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Weesatche
** Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Yoakum
* St. Paul Lutheran Church, Yorktown

UTAH 1**
** Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Roy

VIRGINIA 2** 1*
* Apostles Lutheran Church, Chesapeake
** Morning Star Lutheran Church, Mt. Jackson
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Roanoke

WASHINGTON 4** 5*
** Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum
* Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Lacey
* Emmanuel Lutheran, Longview
* Central Lutheran Church, Morton
** Christ Lutheran Church, Odessa
** Richland Lutheran Church, Richland
** St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Rochester
* Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Stanwood
* Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Walla Walla

WEST VIRGINIA 1*
** St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Charleston

WISCONSIN 15** 3*
** St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Big Falls

* Zion Lutheran Church, Caroline
** Christus Lutheran Church, Clintonville
** St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Dupont
* Peace Lutheran Church, Edgar
** St. John’s Lutheran Church, Gillett
** Northland Lutheran Church, Iola
** Hitterdahl Lutheran Church, Iola
** Olivet Lutheran Church, LaCrosse
** St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Luck
** Zion Lutheran Church, Manawa
* Bethlehem Lutheran Church, (Pella) Marion
** First Lutheran Church, Ogdensburg
** Grace Lutheran Church Oconto Falls
* Trinity Lutheran Church, Pell Lake
** Stanfold Lutheran Church, Rice Lake

* Peace Lutheran Church, Split Rock
** Living Water Lutheran Church, Sun Prairie
** North West Prairie Lutheran Church, Viroqua
** South West Prairie Lutheran Church, Viroqua

THE FIRST AND SECOND DEPARTURE WAVES FROM THE ELCA by David R. Barnhart

"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you

the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).

The first departure wave from the ELCA took place immediately prior to the ELCA’s organization in 1988 and lasted through July 2009. According to the ELCA’s own statistics, 737 congregations were lost to the ELCA between 1988 and 2008. The loss of membership during that same period was 654,161.
The second departure wave from the ELCA began in August 2009, following the Churchwide Assembly’s vote to permit practicing homosexuals to be placed on its clergy roster. Since that fateful decision in August 2009, an estimated 400 congregations have successfully taken their first and/or second votes to leave. These congregations that have left or are in the process of leaving represent a net loss of over 240,000 members. This figure does not include the thousands of ELCA members who have left to start new Lutheran mission congregations, nor does it include the thousands who withdrew on their own as a direct result of the 2009 decision. The full extent of ELCA’s loss may not be known for years, but it is significant.
There are established ELCA congregations that may not survive because so many members have chosen to leave the denomination. Even now, congregations are being disbanded and their property sold. Some congregations where the vote to leave failed, often by the slimmest margin, have reported a 25-35 percent drop in both attendance and giving.
ELCA members and congregations need to know the Lutheran Church is alive and well outside the ELCA, where the Word of God is both believed and honored. Those choosing to leave the ELCA have many choices.
Congregations and members who are waiting for the ELCA to change its policy of accepting practicing homosexual clergy should realize it is not going to happen. ELCA members may either remain and give financial and tacit approval of their church’s unbiblical theology and practices, or they can follow the instructions of Scripture and unite with a church body that rightly teaches and upholds the Word of God. The choice has never been as clear! “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14).

ELCA RELEASES SEPTEMBER COUNT OF CONGREGATIONS VOTING TO LEAVE

As of September 2, the Office of the Secretary has been advised that congregations have taken 529 first votes to terminate their relationship with the ELCA (some congregations have taken more than one first vote). Of these 529 first votes, 362 passed and 167 failed. Synods also have informed the Office of the Secretary that congregations have taken 236 second votes, 222 of which passed and 14 failed.

According to this count, we are missing 50 congregations from the list below of congregations that have successfully passed their first and/or second votes. If you are aware of congregations not on our list, please inform us. wordabide@aol.com Thank you.

Please not the updated list of congregations that will vote tomorrow September 12 and keep them in your prayers-- * first vote ** second vote:
New Jerusalem Lutheran, Hickory, NC**Holy Trinity Lutheran, Abington, Pa**Center Grove Lutheran, Kannapolis, NC **St. James Lutheran, Philadelphia PA *St. Paul Lutheran, Irwin, IA**Bethlehem Lutheran, Jacksonville IA **Zion Lutheran, (Brentwood) Pittsburgh, PA *First Lutheran Church, Idaho Falls, ID **St. Mark's Lutheran, Hayden, ID **

BURNING THE QU'RAN IS TO BE CONDEMNED

BURNING THE QURAN BETRAYS THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST AND THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM

The Dove World Outreach Center of Gainesville, Florida, a non-denomination church, plans to burn the Qu’ran on September 11. They want churches and Christians across the country and around the world to join them in this protest of “the evils of Islam.” “Islam and Sharia law was responsible for 9/11," Pastor Terry Jones said. “We will burn Qurans because we think it's time for Christians, for churches, for politicians to stand up and say no; Islam and Sharia law is not welcome in the US,” the pastor added.

General David Petraeus has warned such an action could place our troops in harm’s way.
Various national and religious leaders have called on The Dove World Outreach Center to halt their plans to burn the Qu’ran.

Speaking on behalf of Abiding Word Ministries I am unalterably opposed to those who to stir up such hatred against Muslims, or claim they are doing so in the name of Christianity. This is just plain wrong.

If an Islamic group set out to publicly burn Bibles somewhere in this country as an incitement against Christianity, protests would rise from Christians throughout the land, and rightfully so. I rise to condemn the act of burning the Qu’ran as being contrary to the principles of Scripture and the principles of freedom. Anyone who chooses to burn Qu’rans as a means of protest against Islam or Sharia should not assume they are doing so in the Name of Christ or with the sanction or approval of the freedom-loving citizens of America.

What a contradiction for a church which bears as part of its name “World Outreach” to engage in such a despicable act. Muslims need the Lord! They need a demonstration of Christ’s Love. Instead of burning Qu’rans, the members of this church and all Christians should be witnessing the Gospel of Christ to their Muslim neighbors.

PASTOR DAVID R. BARNHART TO SPEAK IN BUTLER, PA

PASTOR DAVID R. BARNHART WILL BE SPEAKING

AT A BUTLER PENNSYLVANIA AREA MEETING

THE STATE OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH

Why so many are leaving the ELCA

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010 - 7:30 P.M

DAYS INN CONFERENCE CENTER

139 PITTSBURGH ROAD (ROUTE 8)

BUTLER, PA

FOR INFORMATION

PHONE: (614) 834-5206

or

(724) 789-9176

CONGREGATIONS SCHEDULED TO VOTE IN SEPTEMBER TO LEAVE ELCA

PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL BE ADDING CONGREGATIONS OR MAKING CHANGES TO THIS LIST ON A REGULAR BASIS AS PEOPLE CONTACT US. Check it often.

According to information we have obtained, the following congregations are scheduled to vote
during the month of September. Please keep the congregations in your prayers.

If you know of additions or corrections to this list, please inform us at wordabide@aol.com

* FIRST VOTE ** SECOND VOTE


September 5
Deep Creek Lutheran, Midland/Hayes, SD **

September 7
First Lutheran, Kirkland, IL **

September 12
New Jerusalem Lutheran, Hickory, NC**
Holy Trinity Lutheran, Abington, Pa**
Center Grove Lutheran, Kannapolis, NC **
St. James Lutheran, Philadelphia PA *
St. Paul Lutheran, Irwin, IA**
Bethlehem Lutheran, Jacksonville IA **
Zion Lutheran, (Brentwood) Pittsburgh, PA *
First Lutheran Church, Idaho Falls, ID **
St. Mark's Lutheran, Hayden, ID **

September 19
Zoar Lutheran, Tofte, MN **
Lund Lutheran, Detroit Lakes, MN **
Faith Lutheran, Castle Rock, CO **
Brooklyn Park Lutheran, MN **
Our Savior Lutheran, Stanwood, WA **
Hawley Lutheran, Hawley, MN *
St. John's Lutheran, American Falls, ID *

September 26
St. Matthew's Lutheran, Salisbury, NC **
Christ Lutheran, MaplePlain,MN **
Shepherd of the Hillls Lutheran, Lead, SD **
Old East Paint Creek Lutheran, Waterville IA *
Old West Paint Creek Lutheran, Waukon, IA *
St. John’s Lutheran, Arroyo Grande CA **
West Immanuel Lutheran, Osceola, WI *
Calvary Lutheran, Golden Valley, MN ** (votes on 27th)
St. Stephen's Lutheran, Portland, TX *
First Lutheran, Pontiac, IL *
Grace Lutheran Church, Newton, NC **

UPDATE SINCE AUGUST 30 REPORT ON CONGREGATIONS VOTING TO LEAVE ELCA

Changes since August 30
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Chester, MT ** second successful vote
First Lutheran Church Pontiac, IL will take first vote September 26
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Springfield, MN ** 2nd vote passed 71.9%.