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- June 18, 2002

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While Confessing movements supporting orthodox Christian teachings have been successfully organized among Methodists, Presbyterians and other North American Protestant church bodies, until now a nationwide confessional movement has been noticeably absent from the 5.1 million member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Members of the fledgling Evangelical Lutheran Confessing Fellowship (ELCF) hope to change that.

Around 60 concerned ELCA pastors and laypersons meeting on June 18, 2002 at Christ Lutheran Church, Hamilton Square, Pennsylvania, approved governing documents, elected officers, approved fund raising activities, and set in place strategies for gathering support for orthodox teachings within the ELCA.

The ELCF has already sent a letter to all 66 ELCA bishops and members of an ELCA sexuality task force asking for the ELCA to dissolve a sexuality study ELCF members consider illegitimate.

Widespread allegations have surfaced within the ELCA that the sexuality taskforce was intentionally biased to ensure the approval of the blessing of same sex unions and changing of ordination standards to include individuals engaged in same sex behavior.

However, because ELCF says the ELCA does not have the authority to change biblical teachings, ELCF is not simply calling for the taskforce to become more balanced. Instead, ELCF expressed numerous concerns about the drift of the ELCA away from adherence to orthodox teachings, including within official ELCA publications, such as 'The Lutheran' magazine and Augsburg Fortress Books.

Mainline American Protestant denominations have been in a severe crisis for some time regarding adherence to the authority of scripture, traditional morality and other key Christian teachings such as the Trinity and divinity of Christ.

Several ELCA bishops responded to the ELCF's letter. A few expressed support. Others suggested that the ELCF simply utilize official channels. Most bishops remained silent.

While ELCF members suggested that some ELCA bishops are orthodox in their perspective, ELCF members are concerned that other bishops are actively working towards the revision of orthodox Christian doctrines and moral teachings.

ELCF members cited an instance at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod Assembly on May 31, 2002, where the bishop personally instructed the committee responsible for overseeing resolutions to substitute a resolution supporting the ELCA study for one which had already been submitted by ELCF members supporting teachings on sexuality as found in the Bible and Lutheran doctrinal statements. The bishop's resolution was approved by the assembly.

Initial ELCF strategies include more letters, including to the ELCA Church Council, which holds authority between biannual Churchwide Assemblies, as well as gathering grassroots membership and support through its website and other efforts to organize within the ELCA.

At the same time, the ELCF expressed concern about being considered a schismatic group, they included a statement about their desire to work within the ELCA constitution in their newly approved organizational principles.

The Rev. Dr. Christopher Hershman, a pastor and psychologist from Allentown, Pennsylvania, was elected president. The Rev. Dr. Ronald Yergey, also from Allentown, was elected vice president. The Rev. Dr. Don Edwards, Muncy, Pennsylvania, was elected secretary-treasurer.

The ELCF previously held March and April meetings in Allentown. Their next ELCF meeting will be in Philadelphia on September 10, 2002. In October, ELCF members will meet in Kansas City, Missouri.

For further information please contact: The Rev. Christopher Hershman, MA, STM, DMin Licensed Psychologist/LMFT Covenant Counseling Services 923 North Brookside Road P.O. Box 3303 Allentown, PA 18106-0303 610-366-7880 Fax 610-366-1960