Here is the latest tally according to an email received from the Office of the ELCA Secretary:
As of September 2, the Office of the Secretary has been advised that congregations have taken 529 first votes to terminate their relationship with the ELCA (some congregations have taken more than one first vote). Of these 529 first votes, 362 passed and 167 failed. Synods also have informed the Office of the Secretary that congregations have taken 236 second votes, 222 of which passed and 14 failed.
222 have taken the second vote and left the ELCA. So that means that, if there are 10,380 ELCA congregations, and 222 have left, that means that 10,160 have not seen fit to do any such thing. If I did the math correctly that means that about 98% remain. No matter how you look at it, 98% is an overwhelming majority that reflects well, very well, on the ELCA.
Keith: 2 separate 2/3 majority votes with 90 days in between them. In the 90 days the bishop must consult with the congregation. Would you say the process to leave the ELCA is an easy one? 🙂 I don’t think anyone, on either side, is surprised at the number that have left yet, if anything I would have figured less congregations would have actually officially left given the process it takes to leave the ELCA.
@ Keith … and 529 congregations have taken a first vote, which sounds like there’s enough conversation in another 5% of congregations to at least precipitate a first vote. (Unless, of course, the 222 which have taken the second vote are also included in the 529 that have taken the first vote…just can’t tell for sure from the way the numbers are coming out from the Office of the Secretary.) And, who knows how many more have been having the conversations but have agreed to disagree for what ever reason: bound conscience, satisfaction with the way things are, concern over procedural/constitutional issues that could override a vote to leave (the provisions applying to former LCA congregations and those formed in the ELCA post-1988), to name a few.
FWIW, an admittedly anecdotal and unscientific survey: Of 16 congregations in our immediate vicinity,in the 12 moths ending 9/30/2010: Four have passed the second vote to leave. Two more have passed the first vote as well taking an affiliation vote thst makes them dual-rostered. That means that in 6 of 16 congregations (37.5%) in our particular Lutheran neighborhood … our closest congregational friends and neighbors … it’s seemed good to the Holy Spirit and them to take a vote, if not two votes. The remaining 10 congregations are also addressing the matter in ways appropriate to their settings and their leaderships’ sense of what’s best for the congregation.
What does this mean? Three things worth noting, IOHO:
1)there is no congregation in our area that hasn’t had at least some internal conversation,informal or formal, about these things in the last twelve months.
2)the informal conversation of the laity between congregations is significant, and it goes on regardless of anything anyone might try to do to spin it, one way or another; and,
3)can’t we just appreciate ANY congregation and its leadership when they are proactive, rather than reactive or suppressive in addressing these matters … again, regardless of what way they’re leaning on these things?
@Church Grandma and Grandpa
I suppose this is quibbling, but I think it’s important to note that 529 first votes have been taken by congregations – not that 529 congregations have taken first votes. There’s a congregation in SD that has taken three first votes, for example, and they’d all be counted in that number.
I’m surprised how many congregations in the area where I grew up are waiting for NALC to take shape – I know of four or five that will be taking first votes this fall.
@Ann
Not quibbling, Ann, IOHO … we’ll stand corrected on the point you made. Interesting to note those synods which actually post, congregation by congregation, the actions in terms of votes taken, and, in at least one case, copies of correspondence from the synod. Not a bad idea … it at least could diffuse a lot of speculation and rumor-mongering.
@Ann
You are varifying what I am predicting will happen. There are those Lutherans who do prefer a bishop and a structure and are not ready to go it semi- independent.
LCMC is a nice concept until you start thinking about having to call the next pastor and do it within the context or the disagreements that happen so readily among the sinners in the church.
@Lilly
I have family in a church that switched to LCMC very quickly after the CWA vote, and they also really dislike the publications they receive now through their church. I send them my copy of “The Lutheran,” and they subscribe to the “Christ in Our Home” devotional booklets, because they don’t think the stuff they get now is up to par.
@Ann
I visit the LCMC church often enough to think that as a publishing house, Sola has a ways to go. At this church though, the membership who voted for LCMC and don’t know the quiet or not so quiet internal struggle that some of us had think the pastor can do no wrong. I really think there is better conservative Lutheran material out there that they could be using. But there is a man on the council who is very Word Alone and insists on Sola. In time it might be good but I emphasize– IN TIME!
Two more congregations in the Clintonville-Marion WI area took their first votes last Sunday to leave the ELCA. I expected this because last year the pastor went to the Lutheran CORE meeting in Indiana. I haven’t heard which group they plan to affiliate with but the pastor’s brother is an intern who is pro LCMC.
Our congregation is one of the 500 that took a first vote. The 2/3 chose to remain in the ELCA. The next week 10 members and our organist (a retired LCMS pastor) resigned. They now meet twice a month under the retired pastor’s leadership. We were the only congregation in either our conference or the cluster accross the border that took the vote.
It was a painful time, but as new faces arrive each month, we are regularly feeling joy in God’s grace.