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COMMENTS ON THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD

Someone has asked for comments about the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, so I am sending this to the entire doctrinal bulletin list. You can forward them to others without asking permission.

In the past I have been very generous in my comments about the ELS, but there has been a disturbing trend for the synod to serve simply as the Amen Halleluiah corner of the Wisconsin Synod. Some points are below:

The ELS had nothing to say whatsoever about the James P. Tiefel pan-denominational worship conference at Carthage College. Although it was WELS sponsored, the leaders were ELCA, Episcopal, Church of Rome, Evangelical, and LCMS. Five WELS women taught the men about worship. The Episcopalian led the WELS youth choir in worship. The conference was no less liberal and ecumenical than the National Council of Churches.
The ELS commonly practices open communion. Ukraine Seminary rector Jay Weber explained why when he served the congregation on Cape Cod (paraphrased): “I give the ELCA relatives communion when they come here because it does not upset anyone.” When I mentioned open communion in a published article, one ELS pastor wrote, “It depends on what you mean by open communion.” That is not a vague term. One might as well say, “It depends on what you mean by pregnant.