The leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America turned its back on members of its churches and threatens the very existence of the church by allowing noncelibate pastors in homosexual relationships to be ordained into the ELCA. The ELCA has acted contrary to “the inspired Word of God — the authoritative source and norm of — proclamation, faith and life.”

Most members were caught off-guard when just a few hundred people at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis made this decision last August. There were 4.6 million members of ELCA congregations, and those members did not have a voice in this critical decision. In fact, the ELCA Articles of Incorporation prevent us from voting. Congregations fund the ELCA from members’ offerings, but members have no voice.

The ELCA leadership certainly did not want congregational members voting on this controversial and unprecedented proposal because the vast majority of us would have opposed the decision. Last September, 91 percent of the members surveyed at a congregational meeting of Hosanna! Lutheran Church of Lakeville, one of Minnesota’s largest ELCA congregations, supported separation from the ELCA. Also, the two largest ELCA congregations in North Dakota voted to stop funding the ELCA.

Not only were the members of the ELCA denied a vote on this controversial proposal, those members do not have the opportunity to directly elect either the presiding bishop or the national church council that theoretically runs the ELCA. No one represents all the laity.

What should ELCA members do?

Think about our youth. The ELCA decision is a travesty upon our youth.

Hold a congregational vote on whether the ELCA should permit noncelibate homosexuals to be ordained as pastors.

Stop all funding to the ELCA.

Contact Lutheran CORE (www. lutherancore.org).

It’s up to us lay people.

Al Quie

Minnetonka