RESULTS OCTOBER 30, 2011

First Lutheran Church, Manchester, IA passed first vote to leave the ELCA, 197-56. Date of second vote not set yet.

VOTING RESULTS

Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Export, PA passed second vote to leave the ELCA, September 18. They have joined the NALC.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Birchwood, WI passed second vote to leave the ELCA, October 23, 88-20, and affiliate with LCMC.

IOWA CHURCHES SERVE NOTICE TO SYNOD THEY WILL VOTING ON LEAVING THE ELCA

First Lutheran Church, Manchester, Iowa has served notice to the Northeast Iowa Synod of their intention to vote on leaving the ELCA, October 30, 2011.

St. John Lutheran Church, Clarksville, Iowa has served notice to the Northeast Iowa Synod of their intention to vote on leaving the ELCA. Date not known. This is their second effort at a first vote to leave the ELCA.

RESULTS OCTOBER 9: CONGREGATIONS VOTING TO LEAVE THE ELCA

1. St. John Lutheran Church (Hopewell) Celina, OH passed second vote to leave the ELCA. Plan to join the NALC.

2. First Lutheran Church, Houston, TX passed second vote to leave the ELCA by vote of 86.9%. Plan to join the NALC.

3. Port Madison Lutheran Church, Bainbridge, WA passed first vote to leave the ELCA and join the NALC, 86%.

ELCA MEMBERSHIP FROM 1987 THROUGH 2010

One has to look at the losses experienced by the ELCA since 1988 to understand the extent of people leaving. However the statistics printed below from the ELCA's own web site do not show the full extent of the losses they have suffered. Many congregations still count members on their rosters who left the ELCA long ago. And the information below does not reflect the losses for 2011.

ELCA Membership by Year
Statistics compiled by the ELCA Office of the Secretary

Year
Members Change % Congregations Change %
1987 5,288,048 11,133
1988 5,251,534 -36,514 -0.69% 11,120 -13 -0.12%
1989 5,238,798 -12,736 -0.24% 11,067 -53 -0.48%
1990 5,240,739 +1,941 0.04% 11,087 +20 0.18%
1991 5,245,177 +4,438 0.08% 11,074 -13 -0.12%
1992 5,234,568 -10,609 -0.20% 11,055 -19 -0.17%
1993 5,212,785 -21,783 -0.42% 11,023 -32 -0.29%
1994 5,199,048 -13,737 -0.26% 10,973 -50 -0.45%
1995 5,190,489 -8,559 -0.16% 10,955 -18 -0.16%
1996 5,187,363 -3,126 -0.06% 10,936 -19 -0.17%
1997 5,185,055 -2,308 -0.04% 10,889 -47 -0.43%
1998 5,178,225 -6,830 -0.13% 10,862 -27 -0.25%
1999 5,149,668 -28,557 -0.55% 10,851 -11 -0.10%
2000 5,125,919 -23,749 -0.46% 10,816 -35 -0.32%
2001 5,099,877 -26,042 -0.51% 10,766 -50 -0.46%
2002* 5,038,006 -61,871 -1.21% 10,721 -45 -0.42%
2003 4,984,925 -53,081 -1.05% 10,657 -64 -0.60%
2004 4,930,429 -54,496 -1.09% 10,585 -72 -0.68%
2005 4,850,776 -79,653 -1.62% 10,549 -36 -0.34%
2006 4,774,203 -76,573 -1.58% 10,470 -79 -0.75%
2007 4,709,956 -64,247 -1.34% 10,448 -22 -0.21%
2008 4,633,887 -76,069 -1.61% 10,396 -52 -0.49%
2009 4,543,037 -90,850 -1.99% 10,348 -48 -0.46%
2010 4,274,855 -268.182 -5.90% 9,995 -353 3.41%

* Only congregations existing on December 31 are included in the overall membership statistics. Prior to 2002, all congregations that existed during the course of the previous year were included.

RESULTS OCTOBER 2: CONGREGATIONS VOTING TO LEAVE THE ELCA

1. Mayer Memorial Lutheran Church, Newberry, SC, passed second vote to leave the ELCA, and voted to affiliate with the NALC.

2. Danevang Lutheran Church, Danvang, TX passed first vote to withdraw from the ELCA.