FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
A SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HAS BEEN CALLED ON SUNDAY, MARCH 7 TO CONSIDER WHETHER BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH SHOULD TERMINATE ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA (ELCA). THE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER CHURCH ON THE 7TH!!!
At our Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 17, the congregation voted to convene a special congregational meeting to consider terminating our relationship with the ELCA. The vote to call this meeting passed by 37-0. At this meeting we will consider the following resolution:
WHEREAS the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA adopted a human sexuality
statement that contains teachings that are contrary to the clear meaning of Scripture.
& WHEREAS the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA voted to make changes to
the ministry policies based on the false teachings of this statement which are contrary to the clear meaning of Scripture.
& WHEREAS the ELCA has decided to accept this human sexuality statement as a
teaching document that sets policy for the ELCA, and implement the changes to the ministry policies, placing the ELCA in direct conflict of its own constitution with regards to the authority of Scripture.
& WHEREAS Bethlehem Lutheran Church wishes to remain a Scriptural and confessional Lutheran Church.
& WHEREAS these changes in policy and teaching do not allow Bethlehem Lutheran Church to
fulfill its mission as a Lutheran Church or remain true to our constitution regarding the authority of Scripture.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Bethlehem Lutheran Church terminate its relationship with the `Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
This is the first vote and requires a 2/3 vote of the voting members present to pass. If it does pass there will be a second vote in 90 days. During the interim the Bishop of the Western Iowa Synod of the ELCA may consult with the congregation regarding its decision. The second vote also requires a 2/3 vote of the voting members present to pass. If the second vote passes, Bethlehem Lutheran Church will have ended its relationship with the ELCA.
A couple of things should be mentioned. If this vote is to be valid, according to our constitution and the constitution of the ELCA, there must be a quorum at the special congregational meeting. A quorum for Bethlehem is 15 voting members. A voting member is an active confirmed member of the church. To be considered active, you must have communed in the past year, and you must have contributed to the church in the past year. Also, the vote requires 2/3 of the voting members present to pass, not 2/3 of the votes cast. At the congregational meeting we will have to register the members.
Pastor Ron