It was a banner day in the ELCA. . .

Just in case you missed it, in the space of one day the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America elected not one but two homosexual bishops.   First elected was Pastor Bryan Penman to be bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (SEPA).  A quick journey across a few states and Pastor Jen Negel was elected bishop by the Minneapolis Area Synod.  A couple of bio quotes shows that bishop-elect Penman believes that Jesus Christ is calling the church to be a tad more fabulous and quotes RuPaul in support of self-love.  Not be outdone, bishop-elect Negel believes that her experiences as an LGBTQ+ leader in the
church and as a parent in a transracial family have equipped her for nimble leadership even though she is a white bodied person.  I am not making this stuff up.

The elections are rather a joke since neither has a wealth of pastoral experience unconnected to their stance on sexuality and gender and it is clear that both were elected in part because they are LGBTQ+ of some form or another.  In fact, it has become an asset for advancement in the ELCA where diversity has come to be exclusively associated with sexual preference and gender identity but conveniently prevents someone from disagreeing with the ELCA on just about any political or sexuality issue.  In fact, there is no room within the ELCA for anyone who holds to the position of that church body as recent as 1993 (when the ELCA Council of Bishops formally refused to provide a rite for same sex marriage).  In little more than a generation the ELCA has become a church body captive to culture.  This is no less true of the current student demonstrations in support of the Palestinian cause against Israel and the overt ELCA support for such students and their demonstrations.  

Just in case you missed it, this is not your grandfather's ELCA and proudly so.  Also, in case you missed it, there is little room in the ELCA for a gospel of death and resurrection, sin and forgiveness.  Just so you know, the ELCA youth gathering is all about this stuff.  In fact, today the ELCA is officially kicking off their pride bracelet project.  I am sure it will become official wear for all ELCA bishops and pastors -- coming to a church near you.

And we think Missouri has problems.  Oh, my.