What went wrong with the ELCA? Russ Saltzman asks today in his On the Square column . Membership in the denomination that was supposed to unite two-thirds of American Lutheranism is “poised to dip below four million, and the number of congregations below nine thousand,” the denomination has an “essentially pro-choice abortion statement,” and a less than biblically inspired resolution of issues of human sexuality. The problem from the start, he concludes, was quotas:
Quotas were supposed to correct certain inequities in heretofore white-male-dominated institutions, like the Democratic Party and American Lutheranism. I don’t know how quotas were to help the Democrats, but they were supposed to make Lutheran churches holy. Neuhaus annoyingly kept saying the holiness of the church is located elsewhere than in quotas. It’s found in fidelity to the call of God to serve—regardless of external factors like sex or race.
While I have you, can I ask you something? I’ll be quick.
Twenty-five thousand people subscribe to First Things. Why can’t that be fifty thousand? Three million people read First Things online like you are right now. Why can’t that be four million?
Let’s stop saying “can’t.” Because it can. And your year-end gift of just $50, $100, or even $250 or more will make it possible.
How much would you give to introduce just one new person to First Things? What about ten people, or even a hundred? That’s the power of your charitable support.
Make your year-end gift now using this secure link or the button below.
