Another Article on the New Shift (click pic)
IF there ever was a similar period of time compared to the 1800′s when whole congregations left their denominations to become “simply Christians” it certainly must be now. While many are stunned by the continued and relentless attack on Scripture by their own religious leaders the time may be ripe to present the message of Scripture only and Christian only.
While many congregations will not risk losing their buildings and ministers may be reluctant to forfeit their pensions others may be more daring. One church congregation did it. Perhaps you can encourage others do also take the bold step toward freedom from the continued corruption of the mainline denominations.
RANCHO PENASQUITOS, Calif. — Alarmed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s decade-long progression to the left, Peñasquitos Lutheran Church in San Diego, Calif. voted in July to leave the denomination—weeks before its leadership voted Aug. 21 to allow practicing homosexuals to serve as clergy.
“We wanted to make our separation known in advance of the convention so they would see this wasn’t just a knee-jerk decision over one issue, one experience,” said senior pastor Jerald Borgie. “There was a whole series of things building over time.”
The spiritual head of a congregation that numbers 800 in weekend attendance said the withdrawal from the denomination began more than 10 years ago when he said church structure and ideology began to supplant Scripture.
“It’s just relentless, push, push, push,” the pastor said.
The latest ECLA decision, approved by a vote of 559-451, still allows each congregation to choose for itself whether to call a gay pastor.
Although the issue of homosexuality has been a major issue in recent years, Borgie said many pastors became alarmed as early as 1996 when the denomination entered a covenant agreement with the Episcopal Church. Other concerns include ecumenical agreements not in accord with the Word, the decline in global missions and new church starts, and the influence of universalism.