ELCA Tries to Keep a Certain Congregation in Florida

As noted in an anonymous comment at Lutheran CORE,

The ELCA congregational report says that this little church is on a 5.5 million property, and has very little debt. Do you suppose that influenced the synod council?

The members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fort Pierce, Fla., voted unanimously in two required votes to end their affiliation with the ELCA. But their synod won’t let them go.

The Florida-Bahamas Synod Council decided during its Feb. 26-27 meeting that it will not allow the 105-member congregation to leave the ELCA. St. Peter received notification of the decision on March 11.

The synod is exercising its authority under a provision in ELCA constitutions that requires congregations which were affiliated with the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) prior to the ELCA’s formation “to receive synodical approval before terminating their membership” in the ELCA.

This is believed to be the first time that a synod has refused to allow a congregation that has followed the required procedures and attained the necessary votes to leave the ELCA.

The Rev. Ted Rice, pastor of St. Peter, said he thinks the actions of the synod council show the desperation of ELCA leaders in responding to congregations that are leaving the ELCA. “I think the synod and the national are saying, ‘We better try something,’” he said. “If the ELCA wants to keep us on the rolls, let them keep us on the rolls. It won’t affect us.” St. Peter has already joined another church body, Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC).

ELCA Secretary David Swartling has announced that the ELCA will not allow congregations to be members of more than one church body. It is not known how St. Peter’s dual affiliation will be handled by ELCA officials.

The Rev. Edward R. Benoway, bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, said that the Synod Council’s decision was made for reasons of mission, given the potential for mission in the area where the church is located. “We’re hoping to build a relationship. It’s going to be a difficult road, no doubt,” he said.