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St Paul's Affiliation
Changed by vote on
November 3rd, 2002
On
November 3, 2002, St. Paul's congregation had its second and final vote to
leave the ELCA. The congregation also voted to join Lutheran
Congregations in Mission for Christ, a new centrist denomination made up
of congregations dissatisfied with the positions and direction of the ELCA.
The
issues that caused the congregation to make this change were many, but four stand out.
They are:
1.
The ELCA Board of Pensions Health Plan paying for all abortions,
whether elective or therapeutic;
2.
The adoption of the mandatory
"historic episcopate" which is a superstition/myth which is
part of the agreement called "CCM" which the ELCA has with the
Episcopal Church USA;
3.
The apparent promotion of the homosexual
lifestyle, including a $1.15 million study that seemingly will lead to the
ordination of "active" homosexuals and blessing of same sex
marriages; (for traditional Lutheran & Bible view of human
sexuality, click on this link Open letter to ELCA
4. The abandonment of Sola Scriptura (scripture alone being the
norm for Christian faith and life) in the above actions.
The SC
Synod, in Assembly, has supported the positions/actions of the ELCA stated
above. Over about a 4 year period, St. Paul's tried to make a
difference in the SC Synod. Failing in its attempt to implement
changes in the SC Synod, the congregation voted to withdraw following the
SC Synod Council's decision to let the congregation go with its blessings
and without contesting property rights, if the congregation had its second
vote.
On Nov. 3, the congregation, by more than the two-thirds
majority needed (78%), voted to leave the SC Synod and ELCA and join LCMC.
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