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Originally Posted by AlphaFrog
My church did leave. We're now LCMC, which is Lutheran Churches in Missions for Christ. So far, the only thing that's REALLY changed at our church (besides removing the references to ELCA in our Constitution and etc) is us now spending our own Benevolence dollars our way, instead of sending them to ELCA to spend for us. We've been able to do a LOT more local philanthropy then we were ever able to before.
Our newest project that we're supporting is this guy who started a cooking school in Charlotte. The school is for poor/unemployed people who need a skill-set. While learning to cook, the students prepare 400+ meals a day for the needy. Teaching a man to fish AND feeding the poor in one shot - that's the best charity idea I've heard of in awhile.
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We do pretty well locally, we're rural so it is different than your situation, but a lot of the people in the congregation like the ELCA use of the money and our involvement in global issues and giving to LWF. I've been on the receiving end of a lot of ELCA benefits so I'd not be in favor of leaving the ELCA. What was told to me, and I'm sure I could look it up, is that the amount of people opposed to/taking issue with ordination of same sex partnered pastors was the same percentage as when the ordination of women came up. If we survived that, I think we can survive this.
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Originally Posted by 33girl
I don't think it's "shopping" or a horrible thing any more than it would be if you said to your parents "I realize this is your hometown and I love it, but I hate it and it makes me miserable. I'm going to live someplace where I'm not miserable." Have you actually gone to other houses of worship or just read about them? I don't think you can feel it just reading about it. (This is starting to sound like rush advice. Har.)
Part of the problem I think I'm having is the ELCA church nearest me has a female minister and I just do not feel comfy with a female as the primary minister. I completely support their right to be one, I just don't want to be in their congregation. And then I think...that's kinda messed up...it should be the message that gets me there, not the person it's coming through. So I kind of feel like an a-hole going downtown when there is an ELCA congregation fairly nearby. (Keep in mind that the church I was raised in was literally 3 houses away from me. I guess I just have it set in my mind that church = community.)
As far as another denomination, I really feel I need something with "pomp" and that leaves Catholic and Episcopalian. I'm not going full out Catholic and as far as Episcopalian, the congregations around here left the main church over the gay ordination issue.
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Shopping for a congregation happens too, I know I've done it. When I first went away to college I chose the less monied more out of the way church because they used the green book and didn't have guitar church camp sing-a-longs. I'm not interested or comfortable with what the downtown church offered, so I went to the one on the outskirts of town, which amusingly enough was the Scandinavian congregation. I don't think it is wrong for you to chose a church based on the pastor, since you're not against her ordination, just like I couldn't handle amps on the altar and clapping and singing with a tambourine. Don't feel like an a-hole because you want to find a place where you fit in and feel comfortable worshiping and sharing faith.
I so hear you on the pomp thing, I like my service less contemporary, and more singing older songs, reflecting in silence, and keeping it under an hour and a half. I need vestments and paraments so I know where I am in the Church year and I like the ritual of it all, including the standing, sitting, and kneeling. If it wasn't for vestments I'd have no idea if it was a Presbyterian or Lutheran week at the church in Delta, so I'd peep Pastor Bear's ensemble and grab the right books if I was late.