More Evidence That the End Result Is Pre-Determined: An Analysis of the ELCA’S “Learn and Discern” Series
HERE is a link to a series of five podcasts which the ELCA describes as “an educational tool . . . as we journey together through the reconsideration of the social statement ‘Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.’” The ELCA very much wants those with traditional views to believe that their firmly held convictions do matter, that their voices will be heard, and that they and their views will be treated with profound dignity and respect. But no matter how hard they may try, the ELCA cannot build a convincing case that the end result is not pre-determined and they cannot cover over the multitude of ways in which the ELCA has shown through its actions and behavior over the years that traditional views and those who hold them come in a distant second.
One of the presenters in the fourth podcast said, “The church’s unity is grounded not in agreement on every issue, but in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and shared belief in God’s grace.” But I do not believe that the ELCA is in agreement on the Gospel, even though everyone uses that term. I do not agree with those in the church—even leaders in the church—who reject the teaching that Jesus died for our sins. Instead they believe that Jesus was crucified because He was a threat to the oppressive political power structures of His day and now we need to join with Him in working to dismantle the oppressive political power structures of our day. And I find many in the ELCA not wanting to help people experience God’s grace but instead wanting to coerce them into endless groveling, repenting, and confessing of their racism, white supremacy, male dominance, sexism, patriarchalism, homophobia, transphobia, and Islamophobia.
Several of the presenters spoke of “where the Spirit is leading us” (which they see as in sharp contrast with “the way the world is dividing us.”) They also spoke of the need to “move further into where the Spirit is calling us.” The problem with that language is the implication that anyone who disagrees with the end result is not listening to and is even resisting the Spirit. Dr. Roger Willer is the recently retired Director of Theological Ethics for ELCA Churchwide. In the first podcast he said, “The Spirit does new things.” He then added that the church should not change “just because culture changes.” But is it not interesting that the ELCA is changing in the same way and at the same time as culture changes? Dr. Timothy Wengert, professor emeritus at United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia, was a member of the 2009 task force. It was under his influence that the whole concept of bound conscience was introduced into the 2009 social statement. He makes the comment in the third podcast that he was opposed to the changes when they were introduced in the 1990’s statement. But talking with several LGBTQ seminary students led him to change his mind. The implication is that those with traditional views would also change their minds if they were to have enough open, caring, and compassionate conversations with LGBTQ persons.
One of the presenters in the fourth podcast emphasized the need for “mutual understanding” and “remaining in relationship despite differences.” This person saw this whole process as “ultimately calling the church to engage in conversation with compassion and a commitment to the well-being of the whole body of Christ.” But is that the way the ELCA is behaving? I would say absolutely not. Here are several compelling counterarguments.
1. Even though the task force claims that the changes made as part of the first reconsideration process were “simply editorial,” what they amounted to was nothing less than a full embrace of every form of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender preference.
2. The ELCA Church Council passed several Continuing Resolutions prior to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly, which made every form of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender preference part of a special group of privileged people who will be empowered beyond their numbers because they are seen as “historically marginalized persons.” These Continuing Resolutions have become part of the governing documents of the church even though they were never approved by a Churchwide Assembly and even though most people do not know anything about them.
3. ELCA youth gatherings have become grooming events for LGBTQ and non-binary ideology. They would never have a speaker who advocates for traditional views. Instead—In 2018 Nadia Bolz-Weber led 30,000 young people in a chant rejecting traditional views as a lie from Satan and a pre-adolescent, transgender child was featured on stage. In 2024 keynote speaker Keats Miles-Wallace promoted transgender ideology, and a film based on the creation account in Genesis 1-2 promoted non-binary ideology. I believe that until the ELCA apologizes for and distances itself from what Nadia Bolz-Weber said and did at the 2018 youth gathering, any talk on the part of the ELCA of honoring and treating with a high level of dignity and respect those with traditional views has absolutely no credibility.
4. I wrote to Imran Siddiqui, vice president of the ELCA and chairperson of the Church Council, when I read that ReconcilingWorks had been given a voice but no vote position on the Church Council. I asked if the same kind of position would be given to an organization with traditional views. He wrote back, saying that ReconcilingWorks had historically been marginalized. I then asked, What about people who are currently marginalized, like those with traditional views? He did not respond. I did not feel that I had been listened to, heard, and treated with profound respect.
The ELCA has a long way to go if it wants people with traditional views to believe that it is trying to do more than just damage control—get through this process with as few losses as possible. It has a long way to go to build a convincing case that the end result is not pre-determined, all views are valued and will be heard, and that people with traditional views will be treated with profound respect.
