National Public Radio continues its reporting on changes in ELCA since Churchwide Assembly
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National Public Radio continues its reporting on changes in ELCA since Churchwide Assembly PDF Print E-mail

American Public Media and the Public Insight Network are continuing their examination of the impact of the decisions of the Churchwide Assembly on the ELCA. They have sent the following message out:

Help us examine the impact of changes in the ELCA church.
You and more than 2,000 Lutherans told us recently about how changes in the ELCA might affect you or your church.
Your responses have inspired us to embark on a reporting project examining how changes in the ELCA are affecting everything from individual churches to missionary work abroad to friendships.
To do so, we're teaming up with Speaking of Faith — American Public Media's program on religion, ethics, life, meaning and ideas — and several other partners, including theologians and religion writers.
Help us explore this issue in greater depth by going to:
http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?isPIJ=Y&form_code=d190353e4f40
OR, JUST USE THIS tinyURL to get to the same place:
http://tinyurl.com/yzxnu8q
In particular, we would appreciate it if you could share a story or a photo that helps us understand the more nuanced and less-obvious effects the vote to allow gay clergy and/or an ELCA split is having within the church and beyond.
Please also pass this along to ELCA friends so they can tell us their own stories.

On that website you will find questions to frame your response: What does the ELCA's stance on homosexual clergy mean to you and your community? What changes have you observed in your church and community since the vote in August? What changes do you anticipate?

It is extremely important that as many of you as are comfortable with doing so contact them on the website above. The voices of dissent are raised in much greater volume than their actual numbers would merit. Your voice needs to be heard lest the minority of the disaffected come to represent, or misrepresent, the reality of the new life in the ELCA.

And, as they requested, pass the word on to others so that they hear as many celebratory voices as possible.