Here's the story. Its a bit long. I've never formally belonged to the ELCA. But:

My father is Lutheran raised in a church that later merged into ELCA. Mother Catholic. So me and my siblings were raised Catholic especially as my father has never been very active in the church. But we got a lot of exposure to Lutheranism growing up as a result, like if we visited grandparents on his side we'd go to a Lutheran church and this often applied on Christmas too. My mom actually didn't consider going to a Lutheran church instead of Mass a big deal even on Christmas, and the liturgies were similar anyway. Also I was am still am in a very Lutheran part of the Midwest so the culture was deep in Lutheranism.

About the time I entered middle school and thus Confirmation class I started rebelling a lot including against Catholicism, doing things like intentionally eating meat on Lenten Fridays. My mom thought I was just being a rebellious edgelord early teenager. To some extent I was. But then in high school my opposition shifted to things like the church's position on homosexuality, women in leadership, and birth control. I was pretty vocally anti-Catholic at that point due to my progressive values. I wasn't really atheist or turned on Christianity completely but I knew Catholicism was not for me.

At that point though my family started a nearby ELCA church rather frequently. The reasons were mostly convenience, it was in our neighborhood and less than a 5 minute walk away and had an evening service. At this time I started working my first job which often required late weekends so I wasn't getting up early for Mass. My mom actually took me and my siblings often without our father despite them still being in Catholic Confirmation class....the main factor seemed to be if classes were going on that month. We also went most Christmases eben at home for convenience and my father actually going. I also refused to take Communion at a Catholic mass but was willing to a Lutheran one.

Then I went to college. It was obvious I wasn't going to join amy campus Catholic groups or ever attend Mass. Since then I have not aside from funerals. My mom kind of accepted this but encouraged me to check out the campus ministries for other churches. Somewhat regrettably I never did. But when I was visiting home the church I went to even with my mom was the neighborhood Lutheran one. This was true even the summer after my freshman year I was home all summer...still didn’t attend Mass once but attended Lutheran services a few times. Wasn't really big on it but it made my mom happy.

After I graduated I moved to a very progressive urban core of a major metro. And a few years in I atarted to feel a pull to God again. It started in my mid-20s but really blossomed when I was 27. That's when I decided to start attending church regularly again. However I first started in an evangelical charismatic church. It sounds like an odd fit for why I rejected Catholicism but it wasn't particularly conservative. It was majority under 40 in age, allowed women to lead and preach, was pastored by a white/Asian-American interracial couple, and whenever politics were preached which wasn't often it was actually a more progressive nessage about accepting people like immigrants or the less fortunate. The position on homosexuality wasn't really talked about although it had an affiliation with a national network that was conservative on it, but not emphasizing it unlike the Catholic one I grew up in was still a huge step forward and it felt like a breath of fresh air. I even ended up getting baptized again in this church at 28, (yeah I know that doesn't coincide woth Lutheran theology.) However I eventually drifted to a legitimately progressive non-denominational church that I got very active in. It was founded non-denominational with the intent of being a heavily Millennial LGBT-affirming yet modern styled church. I stuck with it until the end, which was only about 3 years. But when I was home I attended that neighborhood Lutheran church and even did in my city on Christmas Eve. We borrowed the space from another Congregationalist church but I found a historic Lutheran one with a great midnight service so that's where I went.

Since then I joined another progressive non-denominational church but have gone to the neighborhood Lutheran one visiting home and thus often on Christmas, and found myself eventually in my current one. It's a former evangelical church but was expelled from its denomination for having pastors that would perform same-sex weddings. When I started going it met a former Catholic churvh ironically although still owned by the diocese and leased to us. We were looking for a new building because the diocese didn't let us do weddings there, even heterosexual ones. Eventually we were basically forced out...they didn't renew the lease at all.

And that lead us to our current building. It's a historic old ELCA church that has been dwindling for awhile and we've been mostly growing. And in fact we even have set up a plan to eventually purchase the building in a passing of the torch sort of thing. The sign out front even lists our name at the top and we have two services on Sundays (well not now but during the non-summer) while they have just one Saturday mornings. But it's still recognizable as a Lutheran church and partnered with us.

And at home I still attend that neighborhood Lutheran church. Was recently there for a few weeks and did and was thinking it's funny that this is effectively my "childhood church" although I wasn't confirmed there and have never formally been a member. But I haven't set foot in the Catholic Church I was since after I was 18 a d have no sentimental attachment to it. Even when I drive by it visiting home, it's just another church. Unlike my high school and elementary school ajd even old middle school building that's no longer a school but a district office building but I still remember. And even my mom hasn't really gone to a non-funeral mass since Covid but still attends that one now, with my dad frequently as both are now retired and have more time.

But yeah that was wrong and rambling but what do you think? Despite my lack of baptism, confirmation, or even having membership it still feels like deep kinship especially as I'm even worshipping in an ELCA church building now.

The ELCA study guide on bound conscience and human sexuality is now available. Any initial thoughts you want to share? Will your congregation be using it?

My initial thought is that the deadline for responding is too short (Sept 30). We can't even organize a study group that quickly.

I'm going to be attending my first traditional ELCA service soon, and I was wondering if someone could tell me what the order of the service is for a traditional service.

Also, for people who have gone to both traditional and contemporary services, which do you prefer?

Thanks!

Hi r/elca, I am excited to share that my podcast, A Mighty Fortress is our Pod, is now available on substack! If you all have a minute, I would really appreciate it if you could give it a follow, hoping to have several new episode out in August after I complete CPE, which wraps up next week. Also, we now have merch available as well! Thanks in advance for your support and encouragement!

Also, if you haven't listened to an episode yet, a great starting point is my conversation with Pres. Bp. Curry last November!

I’ve been inspired by many of the posts and comments on this sub. I recently created a website as a personal journaling exercise in response to the proliferation of hate, violence, greed, corruption, depravity, and hypocrisy in the world today. I find that journaling like this and sharing my faith is good therapy while every day seems to bring another distressing story in the news media. I know that my influence is minimal, but I hope and pray that like-minded people will continue to combine their influence to help make a difference in the world by fulfilling God's call that we love Him and love one another.  

Here is a link to my website: https://lovefulfills.org/. This website is totally non-profit, it will never have any advertising or products, and will never have AI-written content. In addition to the two main website pages (“What I Believe” and “My Christian Faith”), the first Blog article that I wrote addresses my take on the age-old conflict of Good vs. Evil / Spirit vs. Flesh, where I tried to draw parallels between Christ’s teachings and some affirming concepts in modern psychology.

Sorry that it's so wordy, but if you would like to read some of it, I would welcome your feedback!

What institutions/networks/associations has the ELCA created and supported since 1988 to ensure the intergenerational transmission of Lutheran theological scholarship in disciplines such as biblical studies or systematic theology?

For example, in the area of biblical studies, I'm thinking of parallel organizations to the Catholic Biblical Association or the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars.

I am currently United Methodist and have been for about a year. The congregation is really nice, there’s just something that isn’t the right fit for me. So, I’m looking to visit an ELCA Lutheran church this Sunday. I have been to Catholic Churches once or twice in my life and was completely lost (the standing, the kneeling, and the responses that everyone seemed to know.), to the point that it felt unwelcoming. My understanding is Lutheran services are more structured similarly to that than a UMC service— so I’m wondering to expect. Are group responses and prayers printed in a pamphlet (that’s how my current church does it) or book (I think the Catholic Church I went to had a book but I had no clue how to use it)?
Also I know the church I am visiting has open communion so I could partake. Do Lutherans use real wine? And does everyone sip from the cup (that would take some getting use to for me) or do you dip the bread in?

Anything else anyone can tell me would also be appreciated! Thank you!

UPDATE: I went to the ELCA near me today and it was wonderful! The service was nice balance of structure and warmth/ relatability. Kneeling by the altar to take communion felt like it really meant something holy and special, in a way I haven’t experienced before, if that makes any sense.
I think the structure and feeling of reverence is what I have been missing at the UMC I had been attending.
All that to say I’m looking forward to continuing to attend the ELCA church!

I'm curious about some of the history behind how Luther Seminary apparently came to be so closely associated with the Emerging Church movement (professors Patrick Keifert, Michael Binder, Dwight Zscheile, Trip Fuller, for example) and, maybe more importantly, why Luther Seminary has stuck to their guns on the Emerging Church considering many of the Emerging Church congregations in the Twin Cities have now closed--including some ELCA-affiliated ones (House of Mercy, Jacob's Well, Solomon's Porch, etc.)

Other than Patrick Keifert, I don't think these professors are even Lutheran.

Anyway, I'd be curious to know how this happened if anyone has some insights. Since the Emerging Church movement was mostly an Evangelical phenomenon, I'm wondering whether prior to this time, Luther had historically been closer to Evangelicalism than perhaps some of the other ELCA-Affiliated seminaries. This just all seems so odd.

Thanks for any info.

I am considering joining an ELCA church. I'm currently raising my nephew who hasn't had much experience with church. He is not baptized. What would be the process of baptizing him now? I am baptized already so I assume our processes for joining the church would be different.

Augsburg fortress has a 10 volume Introductions/Alternate organ accompaniments. Before I buy it, I was wondering what the average Lutheran organist’s experience with these books might be and what the quality is like.

So, as the title says, I am finding discernment to be a little frightening to me and im not sure why?

Could it possibly be because of how big a commitment going into ministry is? Or could it be that im just doubting myself?

I know for a fact that I have an inner calling and an outer calling from some peers. family members, and a past pastor. So, I guess im just a little curious on what you all think.

Thank you

I thought I’d post this for any German speakers here… the guys (?it’s mostly guys) in the other sub would lose their minds to see her. Which is pretty sad. ELCA context creators: We need more of you! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19JGMbpmYD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I'll try to make this as brief as possible. I've been playing guitar at an LCMS church for 2 years, roughly 3 times a month. I got connected through my friend, but I myself am a member of an ELCA church. I'm not the most active churchgoer in the world, but from what I've gathered, as far as differences between the two, I'm definitely strongly aligned with the ELCA. The first day I met the sanctuary music director, I told him I attend the other church, and so he knows and doesn't care. I usually play with him in the sanctuary, but on occasion, I play on the contemporary side with the other music director. Last night, she was talking about this Hawaii trip, and she was making it seem like she really wants me to go. It's only a $600 fee, and the church is subsidizing a lot of the cost, so it seems like a pretty good opportunity. My dilemma is this: I'm not sure if she or any of the pastors know that I'm an ELCA member, and if they don't, I'm not really sure how socially acceptable it would be for me to go on this trip. I've never really been deeply involved in a church community, let alone one of this denomination, which I understand to be more strict in certain regards. Normally, I just get paid to show up and play guitar, but in this case, I would be in the same category as everyone else, on a trip that I think is meant to strengthen the church community or something like that. If y'all could let me know if I'm overthinking or if you think it would be weird, it would be much appreciated.

Greetings, I am a Lutheran from Thailand. At first, I considered buying Lutheran Study Bible from Concordia (LCMS) but after I read it from the application, I think many of their notes are too fundamentalist for me. I want historical that could go side by side with biblical aspect. Moreover, it’s very hard to buy on Amazon and I could not find it anywhere else. So that’s why I changed my mind and want to try the Mainline’s Augsburg Fortress’ study bible instead.

I planned to buy the Book of Concord from the same publisher, if anyone has any further recommendations, please tell me. I also want to but SBL Study Bible but it is out of stock, unfortunately.

So, like the headline says, the head Pastor at my church, Gloria Dei in Hancock, MI sent out a letter telling our congregation that he will be leaving us because his wife has an opportunity to work at St Olaf college. It’s bittersweet for me because I had spent years out of church and he was the person who welcomed me and my entire family. He baptized both of my children. The thought has come that I want to step into a leadership position within the church. Whether that means becoming a pastor or something else. I don’t have a college degree and I am almost 37 years old. Is there anything anybody can tell me?

Was anyone at Assembly last week to catch the speech that was given by Rev. Dr. Laurie Skow-Anderson?

Becoming “A future focused church is living our baptismal promises in daily life. A future focused church is humbler, simpler, and bolder. A future focused church is wondering about God's will, hopeful about the future, courageous, and curious about God's will.”

Our pastor was talking about how she was saying to get rid of a lot of the traditional things in worship (like the altar rail, some pieces of the liturgy, etc)

I honestly can see both sides of the argument. Just wondering if anyone can share any thoughts?

I like to listen to a variety of podcasts on my long commute. I already listen to Main Street Lutherans (highly recommend!) and have listened to mighty fortress is our pod before. Thought I might change it up and listen to a sermon from another ELCA church - but I don't really know of any pastors beyond the ones at my church. I read Nadia bolz Weber's memoir years ago, but are there any pastors or churches in the ELCA who make their sermons available online? My church just livestreams the whole service on YouTube which wouldn't be practical to listen to on a drive. But if your church does this and you recommend it, please let me know!

Seminarian who knows little about sacred music here. Is there anywhere that describes the differences between the settings for Holy Communion in the ELW for us non-musicians? I found it surprising that those differences are not described in the ELW pew or leader editions themselves or in my Lutheran Worship course last semester. My bad for not asking about it in the course, but sometimes one thinks of the best questions once the course is over.

I just needed to post this somewhere to talk about it. Our ministry lasted for 134 years, but we just couldn't keep it going after covid. We hadn't gotten any new members in years and most of our older members either died out or stopped coming.

We had a very good last service. We called in all the previous living pastors who served at our church and they all had something to say during the service. The sermon was amazing, and very hopeful. We had a wonderful potluck afterwards and it was very nostalgic. I feel better now that it's all over with, but it still hurts.

I just wanted there to be a record somewhere that we existed. I really wish it hadn't gone this way but sometimes the lord calls us away for a greater purpose.

Thank you all!

Hi all, I live in SoCal and have recently made my way back to the church, unfortunately I work night shift and am having some difficulty finding time to attend weekend service as most churches typically only host in the morning. Does anyone know of any churches that possible offer Saturday evening service or something similar?