Cover story:

Virtual community too

These ELCA-affiliated ministries build community with face-to-face and virtual interaction—connecting across all areas of people’s lives.
• Church of the Beloved, Edmonds, Wash.
• House for all Sinners and Saints, Denver.
• Netzer Co-op, Seguin, Texas.
• The Well of Hope Lutheran Church, Pineville & Charlotte, N.C.
• Mercy Seat, Minneapolis.
• Jacob’s Porch, campus ministry at Ohio State University, Columbus.
• Church of the Apostles, Seattle.
• Jacob’s Well, Minneapolis.
• Shekinah Chapel, Chicago.

Other emerging ministries are (or soon will be) under way in: Detroit; Nashua, N.H.; Waterfront, N.J.; San Antonio; Buffalo, N.Y.; and Champlain, Minn.

Study guide

Even as we adjust to new realities and cultures, we remain rooted in the confessions of the Lutheran church and the insights that sparked the Reformation 500 years ago. Today's emergent churches are the latest expression of this dynamic.

Come2go

This is about an active God, who really listens

Age of community: 5 years.

Worshipers at come2go gather in a warehouse in Fort Wayne, Ind. About 80 to 120 attend worship.

Location: A Fort Wayne, Ind., warehouse.

Web site: www.come2go.org.

Leaders: Mark R. Minnick, an ELCA pastor; worship leader Dave Frincke; outreach leader Quincy McGhee. GO teams do community outreach, including ministry at a juvenile detention center and a nursing home. Christian rock, alternative, country and other concerts draw hundreds.

How do you involve people?: “One of the [Easter] baptisms was a gentleman who has played guitar on the worship team for six months,” Minnick said. “Instead of making people jump through hoops, we try to take hoops down. The act of participating is as much a catalyst of faith as [what we teach].”

Comments

keith bailey

Posted at 4:39 pm (U.S. Eastern) 6/17/2008

Dear Sir/Madam

I have a question for you. Is the Evangelical Lutheran Church liberal?

Keith Bailey (England)

Dave Hettlinger

Posted at 8:33 pm (U.S. Eastern) 6/29/2008

Dear Keith,

I don't have much authority to answer your question. However, as a lifelong member of the ELCA and a part-time seminarian, I think that I can safely write that ELCA congregations differ across the political spectrum. Some were against the Called to Common Mission full communion agreement with the Espiscopal Church, USA; others were for it. Some have been strongly against blessing same sex unions; others have been strongly for it.

On the national level, the ELCA has been cautious. Many of its social statements have a progressive tone, but overall acts in moderation.

Best regards,

David

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