The Reformers of St Paul's Brenham

09/09/2024

Total from today’s vote:

393 total votes =
158 For leaving the ELCA
235 Against leaving the ELCA

We want to thank everyone for their fervent support and prayers. What a faith journey this has been for all of us, both for and against! We rejoice in the Lord! Those that have attended meetings and have sought the Lord through Scripture and deep research have had their faith strengthened.

Just as Christ was defeated here on earth; He was victorious in conquering sin and death!

In defeat there is victory!

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4

May the Holy Spirit continue to move within our churches, community, and the world. Please continue to pray for St. Paul’s. Pray for the Truth to be found in Scripture and for the Holy Word of God to be instilled in our children. Pray for God’s guidance- He will show you the way.

The Reformers group is always growing and will continue to speak the truth. For everyone who has prayed for St. Paul’s- we consider you a Reformer. This page will continue to post pertinent information in the future.

09/08/2024

Dear Heavenly Father,

We ask that tomorrow, You grant the members of St. Paul’s the wisdom, clarity, and courage to be a voice for Your will. Thank you for sending our Savior, Jesus, to teach us how to live and serve. May the Holy Spirit continue to move within us and empower us to carry out Jesus’ Great Commission “to go and make disciples” and proclaim the Good News. We pray to be rooted in your Word, steadfast in Your Truth, and brave enough to answer Your call.

Continue to help us walk by faith. We know that Your plan is perfect, and You are beside us every step of the way. You have revealed Your truth in so many ways. We surrender to You. May your light shine in the darkness. We stand firm in our faith and believe that You, God, can do what we cannot.

We pray this in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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“Jesus said, ‘Peace! Be still!’” (Mark 4:39)

We humbly ask that our Brothers and Sisters in Christ in our church, in our community, and in the world pray this prayer with us and answer with a resounding, “Amen.”

09/07/2024

#27

We have been asked to clarify a follow up statement regarding a video that was posted of Reverend Cody Mills sharing what he experienced at seminary. Pastor Mills sent to us:

“I was informed by several people in public around Brenham, Tx, that Pastor Pat Dietrich spoke with her niece about my comment pertaining to individuals at Luther Seminary burning the Book of Concord. Pastor Pat said this was not happening at seminary.

1.) This happened when I attended around 2013.

2.) I do not know where Pat's niece was attending. That information was not given to me.

3.) I am glad Pat's niece did not encounter this action. This does not mean it did not happen.

Do not let Pat's comment be usable and or accurate about an event in 2013.

A couple of years after I left Luther Seminary, I found out students in 2015 would refuse to take courses by Stephen Paulson and J. Haemig, two highly conservative teachers who adhered to Confessions and Scripture.

Students protested Dr. Stephen Paulson, who was tenured, by sitting outside the classroom when they had no choice but to take his courses. As a tenured professor, he could not be relinquished, but he was still required to pass these students. He eventually quit. He and I had many conversations about my struggle with chapel and classes at Luther Seminary. He was very good at helping me during my time there.

I also mentioned Gehard Forde who was a beloved theologian. He wrote many articles at Luther Seminary condemning the direction of the ELCA. He also wrote against the direction the ELCA went when it formed an open pulpit and communion with the Episcopal USA.

One can only imagine why little is used from Gehard Forde today. He would be considered a radical today. He did not allow for other ways of salvation either.

I have been blessed by individuals from St. Paul's stopping me in public to thank me, hug me, shake hands, and even encourage me.

Again, I am thankful Pat's niece has not seen some of the things I went through. But then again, remember when in that position and teaching you won't realize anything out of the normal when it is the normal.

I needed to make a statement to keep reality in play.”

Many thanks to Pastor Mills for his witnessing. We are also grateful to Pastor Norm Sulicia, Pastor Bryce Formwalt, Pastor Jared Stillions, and Pastor Craig Dohse – all attended one or more of our gatherings at the Cannery Kitchen. They were each so informative and helpful.

After Pastor Dohse spoke on Thursday, his words were so inspirational that one attendee wrote to us:

​​ “ Reformers are all amazing!!

We are on fire with the Holy Spirit!

We couldn't have done this ourselves – there are so many great pastors and good churches…And we wouldn't have met these people or gotten to know each other without St. Paul's troubles.”

When is the last time you left St. Paul’s and felt that you were on fire with the Holy Spirit?

Sunday at 11:45 am, you have an opportunity to cast a vote to decide the future of St. Paul’s. A vote to disaffiliate from the ELCA is not a vote to leave St. Paul’s. It's a vote to set St. Paul’s on a path to study the true Word of God through the Bible and the teachings of Martin Luther.

09/07/2024

This is the video in reference to post #26.

09/07/2024

#26
As the members of St. Paul’s near a very important vote on Sunday- it is the children we should all be keeping in mind.

It is vital for parents and grandparents to know exactly what their children and grandchildren are being exposed to and unfortunately, this has become even more urgent in our church.

After countless hours and months of research, it is apparent that the social statements of the ELCA are indeed permeating into our youth programming. And because of this… we should all be very concerned.

Is the ELCA using the Holy Scripture to….

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."? (Proverbs 22:6)

_________________________

At this summer’s National Youth Gathering, group leaders were given these instructions: “We encourage you to also ask each person to share their preferred pronouns. An easy way to do this is by having people say, ‘Hi! My name is ____________ and I use the pronouns _______________.’ Having everyone share their pronouns might be a risk or challenge to some in the group.’”

The pronoun use movement was also encountered at Sky Ranch Camp, July 2024, when nine incoming freshmen youth from St. Paul’s attended. Sky Ranch Colorado is a Reconciling in Christ Camp. To learn more about this ELCA Camp, please visit the link attached in the comments.

During the welcome at Sky Ranch, every camp counselor introduced themselves with pronouns calling attention to their sexual identity. For example, “Hi, my name is Jane, and I am a she/they.”

When this made our youth uncomfortable (as many had not been exposed to this pronoun usage before), they were verbally labeled by the counselors as “Homophobic Conservatives,” and it was even called into question by camp leaders whether or not they would be allowed to hike the mountain.

For a church organization that prides itself in love for others and acceptance of others, did labeling our children as “Homophobic Conservatives” show love for everyone?

Is the ELCA focusing on sexual identity by promoting the use of pronouns with our youth? Does sexual identity need to be a part of youth events? Should a camp counselor be broadcasting their sexual identity to children?

_________________________

At this summer’s National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, youth were led to chant, “Free, Free, Free Palestine” while a Palestinian Flag was being waved on the stage.

(Please see the video in separate post)

We are asking you to consider…

Should a National Youth Gathering promote political views? Should a captive audience of teens be subjected to and encouraged to participate in political protest without parents present?

_________________________

We ask all to pause with us and pray as we approach tomorrow’s vote. We ask all to continue to fervently pray for St. Paul’s and our children – the future.

A vote to leave the ELCA is a vote to ground our children in Holy Scripture and Christian love, so they can continue to spread the Good News of Jesus in the world.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

09/06/2024

#25

Long post warning.

As we near a very important vote on Sunday, September 8th that will determine the future path of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brenham, TX, we continue to ask to pray for discernment. We will continue to share important information. We will continue to speak the truth.

We encourage all to take a look and compare the core values of 2 Lutheran affiliation options (NALC and LCMC) with St. Paul’s current affiliation- the ELCA.

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North American Lutheran Church (NALC)

www.thenalc.org

Core Values:

Christ Centered

We confess the apostolic faith in Jesus Christ according to the Holy Scriptures. We affirm the authority of the Scriptures as the authoritative source and norm, “according to which all doctrines should and must be judged” (Formula of Concord). We accept the ecumenical creeds and the Lutheran Confessions as true witnesses to the Word of God.

Mission Driven

We believe that the mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel and to make disciples for Christ. We believe that making disciples — in our congregations, in our communities and nations, and around the world — must be a priority of the Church in the present age.

Traditionally Grounded

We affirm the ecumenical creeds and the faithful witness of the Church across time and space. We endorse the form and practices of the universal Church that are consistent with Scripture, particularly the office of the ministry and the tradition of worship under Word and Sacrament. We seek dialogue and fellowship with other Lutheran churches and with faithful Christians of other confessions.

Congregationally Focused

We strive to be a church that is organized to facilitate the ministries of local congregations in a posture of servanthood and a spirit of partnership, through the provision of resources, connections and information.

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Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC)

www.lcmc.net

Core Values:

Who We Are
We’re Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, and our name pretty much says it all.
We’re not a denomination, we’re a movement. We view the local church as the place where people in the community come to get connected with God and one another. We celebrate the fact that everyone is wired a little differently; it allows each and every one of us to serve according to our own unique strengths, skills and talents.

We’re free in Christ
In Romans 6, Paul explains that those who follow Jesus receive God’s grace and are freed from being burdened by their sin. In LCMC, we celebrate this freedom. We also place a great emphasis on understanding what it means to follow Jesus, then doing it.

We understand that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to ministry because different communities often have different needs, backgrounds and cultures. Rather than micromanaging what they do, we give our members the freedom to be creative in how they do ministry, working together to transform the lives of others and fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus set forth in Matthew 28.

While we think it’s important to make promises to God rather than to an institution, we also think it’s important to have standards and practices in place for holding one another accountable when it comes to ministry.

We’re Accountable to one another
In LCMC, “ accountability" happens in three distinct ways:

First of all, when concerns are raised, the Board of Trustees always operates directly with the congregation to discern what has happened and what might be the best course of action. Unfortunately, there have been times when the name of a congregation has been brought to the convention to consider removing them from our list. Our association has given the Board of Trustees authority to remove congregations when they are no longer practicing our faith according to the Lutheran Confessions and Scripture. Over the years we have removed congregations, but have done so with heavy hearts.

Secondly, our Ministry Board has been given the charge to recommend to the Board of Trustees the removal of pastors when necessary. Again, this happens in a direct conversation, by the members of the Ministry Board, and our staff, hoping to restore a pastor while at the same time upholding the integrity of our core values and of our association as a whole. Over the years, we have had to remove pastors but always hoping for restoration and reconciliation.

Finally, we hope and expect that as pastors and congregations interact, there unfolds a “mutual accountability” that happens on a much more personal level. This is the highest form of accountability—where it is carried out among those who know, love and respect one another.



We’re rooted in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions
We strive to be a light to the world, not a reflection of it. We view God’s word as the #1 authority when it comes to our faith and how we practice it. While we understand that science, personal experience, tradition and other factors contribute to the conversations that we have, we do not believe that they have equal influence to what’s written in the Scriptures. We believe the Lutheran Confessions to be a faithful witness to the truth of Scripture and that they give us reliable principles by which to guide the continued development of this association.

We’re all working together to fulfill Christ's Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations
Our #1 mission as an association is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, both locally and abroad. We’re focused on strengthening the congregations that we have, and planting the ones we don’t. Here are just a few ways that we’re working to accomplish that:
Workshops: Throughout the year, the staff of LCMC offers congregational workshops, training opportunities for new and aspiring church planters, and leadership training workshops. These events are hosted by LCMC congregations and available at no cost to the congregation. All it takes is an invitation!

Events: Get inspired, learn, and meet other LCMC-ers by attending one or more of the events that we host throughout the year. If you’re new to LCMC, the Annual Gathering is a great place to find out who we are and what we’re all about and to get connected with other people from within the association.

Churches Connect: This online tool allows pastors and congregations to connect with one another in order to ask questions, share advice and collaborate on projects.

Online Resources: Whether you’re looking for a recommended mission agency to connect with, advice on calling a new pastor to your congregation, or information on how to start a new ministry in your area, we’ve got you covered.

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Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) (www.elca.org)

Values:

Our values are grounded in faith, in our biblical and Lutheran confessional sources and our love of God and neighbor. They speak to the way this church lives and practices our faith, and they will guide how we journey forward in Christ as church together.

Forgiveness and reconciliation

We are reconciled to God by God's forgiving mercy. Forgiveness and reconciliation flow from what God has made us to be in Jesus Christ and what God is doing with us in the world. As a people of God, we embody forgiveness in speech, action and relationships, and our ministry in reconciliation is foundational.

Dignity, compassion and justice

Each person is created in God's image. We respect this God-given right to dignity and, inspired by the life of Jesus, show love and compassion for all people. Through proclamation of the gospel, through worship and as servants of God working for healing and justice in the world, we uphold and seek to protect the dignity and human rights of all people.

Inclusion and diversity

As Christ's church, we value the richness of God's creation and offer a radical welcome to all people, appreciating our common humanity and our differences. We are a church that does not view diversity as a barrier to unity. We recognize and will challenge dynamics of power and privilege that create barriers to participation and equity in this church and society – for women, people of color, minority ethnic groups, people with disabilities, people who are marginalized or living in poverty, and the LGBTQ community.

Courage and openness to change

Because we trust in God's promise and understand faith to be a living, daring confidence in God's grace, we are emboldened to embrace learning and change in our spiritual and institutional journey as church. This means we are open to new ways and willing to take risks to discover God's plan for this church.

Faithful stewardship of God's creation and gifts

As church together, faithful stewardship is about holding to God's purpose and ensuring the responsibilities and resources that God has entrusted to us are used with great care and with accountability to God, to each other and those served by this church.

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God has been faithful through this entire process. God has placed people in our path that have opened eyes to the truth, offered encouragement and support, shared information and experiences, and been true prayer warriors.

May the Holy Spirit continue to move within us! As Dr. Craig Dohse, pastor of Salem Lutheran Church (NALC), said this evening:

“The Holy Spirit is POWER!” “The Holy Spirit is LOVE! Amen!”

09/05/2024

#24

Don’t forget that tonight, Thursday, Sept 6 @ 6 pm — Please join us at the Cannery Kitchen for the final scheduled meeting before the vote on Sept. 8. The meeting will feature Pastor Bryce Formwalt, Director of Mission Growth, Texas District, LCMC; Pastor Jared Stillions, Southesast Texas Mission District, Dean, NALC; Dr. Craig Dohse, Pastor of Salem Lutheran.

We are grateful for these pastors sharing time with our congregation to explore and compare other Lutheran denominations. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience.

The pastors of our churches are important leaders for churches to thrive and grow. Many have expressed concern that if we leave the ELCA, we won’t be able to find a pastor. At several of the Cannery Kitchen presentations, members from three different churches talked about the process of calling a pastor in the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) and “how easy it was” and how much quicker the process was than with the ELCA.

They explained that instead of being sent one pastor by the Synod to interview, the NALC provides a list that you can choose from and the church call committee can interview as many as pastors until the right fit is found for your congregation.

As a congregation at St. Paul’s, we come from many different backgrounds; we often talk and agree that politics and candidacy advocacy has no place inside the day-to-day operations and preachings of the church.

The current interim head pastor at St. Paul’s is a published author. He also published two books that can be purchased: “Mystery Without Rhyme or Reason: Poetic Reflections on the Revised Common Lectionary” and “Renounce, Resist, Rejoice: Being Church in the Age of Trump”. Both can be purchased on Amazon.

Here is an excerpt quoted from “Renounce, Resist, Rejoice: Being Church in the Age of Trump” (published in 2017) in the chapter titled, “Hey White Church”:

“Here’s a true confession: During the week after the election, I was feeling ashamed of being white. The words and actions, the fearfulness and self preserving focus of white culture led to a time in history when non-whites felt more intimidated and afraid for their well-being. I didn’t want to be a part of it anymore. I talked with friends, white and non-white, and was brought to tears trying to figure out: What the hell is wrong with white people? Well, this is nothing new of course, I’m not naïve about the long history of white supremacy in our culture and in the church. But it felt like it had more prominence and power than ever before in my lifetime.

“I felt like I had to do something. As a white man, I felt I had to become a part of the solution, and not a quiet and passive part of the problem. I could sit comfortably and innocuously in my white male life of relative ease, but that felt sickening to me now. What to do? Not only am I a part of the white church concerned about its faithfulness and it’s fearful clinging to whatever is left of white power and white supremacy, I am also a white man.”

What are the people of St. Paul’s to deduct from this? If the congregation of St. Paul’s had a choice or list of pastors to call from, would this be the pastor chosen?

While we should denounce all racism, the ELCA seems to be more focused on one over another. Bishop Rinehart said on Tuesday night at St. Paul’s: “So, white supremacy…America’s original sin.”

Please pray for St. Paul’s as we continue to work through the process of better understanding the ELCA and the future direction of this denomination. A vote on Sept. 8 is not a vote to leave St. Paul’s; it’s a vote to leave the ELCA.

09/04/2024

#23
Reminder that tonight at 6:30 pm, there is a meeting at Cannery Kitchen featuring a Pastor Norm Sulicia from St. John’s at Prairie Hill along with members from St. James and Salem Lutheran Churches to discuss other Lutheran denominations.

Last night, Bishop Rinehart from the Texas-Louisiana Synod spoke at St. Paul’s. There were several questions asked about different topics and we are grateful for all the members who attended and for the Bishop’s thoughtful approach to questions.

Bottom line: the ELCA is a sanctuary denomination for immigrants. He explained why there was support for Palestine at the youth gathering. And answered the question about white supremacy and why the ELCA is very focused on this and not all racism: “So, white supremacy…America's original sin. I think we should confess it and own it, and I think we should teach our kids about it.”

There were several other discussions that will be relayed in the days ahead but this was a very good opportunity for members of St. Paul’s to better understand the future of the ELCA.

09/03/2024

#22
Opportunities to learn more:

Tonight, Tuesday, Sept 3 at 6:30 pm — St. Paul’s will be hosting Bishop Michael Rinehart of the Texas-Louisiana Synod to speak to at St. Paul’s in the Fellowship Hall. This is an excellent opportunity to hear about the future direction of the ELCA as well as ask questions.

Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 6:30 pm — this will be held at the Cannery Kitchen. This meeting will feature Pastor Norm Sulicia from St. John Lutheran/Prairie Hill, Charlie Johnson from St. James Lutheran, New Wehdem & St. Paul, Phillipsburg along with Ray Weiss from Salem Lutheran. Charlie and Ray were both on their church council when their churches left the ELCA. This is a great time to ask questions about the difference between the ELCA, the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) and the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC).

Thursday, Sept. 5 at 6 pm — is the final meeting before the vote on Sept. 8. This again will be held again at the Cannery Kitchen and will feature Pastor Bryce Formwalt, Director of Mission Growth, Texas District, LCMC; Pastor Jared Stillions, Southeast Texas Mission District, Dean, NALC; Dr. Craig Dohse, Pastor at Salem Lutheran. Another excellent opportunity to learn more about other Lutheran churches and denominations!

We have had several questions if you must be a St. Paul’s member to attend? Absolutely not! Anyone is welcome to attend these meetings to learn more as you may be attending an ELCA church now and have questions about the future.

Again, thank you for all the prayers, input, and support. We are blessed to live in a community full of faith and love for one another.

09/02/2024

#21

When was the last time “Onward Christian Soldiers” was sung at an ELCA church?

It’s been a long, long time at St. Paul’s because all mentions of military and war have been removed from the Lutheran Book of Worship.

In the red/cranberry Lutheran Book of Worship, “Onward Christian Soldiers” was removed from the hymnal. Perhaps “Onward Christian Soldiers,” a song written to be a direct “call to arms” for God’s people against those who oppose God and His assembled Church, was removed because it does not align with the ELCA’s social platform?

Also, the ELCA decision makers cut out all verses with mentions of the military. For example, in the hymn, “For All the Saints,” the LBW no longer has the verse, “Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold; Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old; and win with them the Victor’s crown of gold!” Why is the ELCA removing verses that make reference to soldiers and war?

The hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers,” is about the spiritual battle between Christians and the forces of evil. The hymn's message is that Christians are fighting a spiritual war, not a physical one, and that their King is Christ.

The omitted verse from “For All the Saints” charges Christians to be courageous soldiers standing firm in faith to the end. We must fight bravely in a world that is hostile to Christ and His truth. If this world deprives us, ridicules us, or even kills us, the victor’s crown awaits all who remain faithful- for Christ already won the victory on the cross for all who believe in Him.

“Jesus said, You will be hated by all because of me, but he who perseveres to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22

Today, we are not in a physical battle. We are in a spiritual battle. May we fight bravely for Christ and His truth. We say to the members of St. Paul’s and our community, “Onward Christian Soldiers!”

And to yesterday’s preaching from the pulpit – we are not clinging to old traditions. We are clinging to the Bible.

08/31/2024

#20

It is one week before the “voting members” of St. Paul’s cast a vote to stay or disaffiliate from the ELCA.

First, many thanks to all in the community and St. Paul’s members who have opened their hearts and minds to this important conversation. This is not comfortable for anyone, but it is a conversation that is needed and will make all of us more committed to our faith journey, no matter the outcome. Just like Martin Luther was willing to do over 500 years ago, we must examine what is being preached and taught and question whether it is true to God’s word.

In recent days, there was an anonymous letter sent to the reformers with several questions and accusations. There has also been some not-so-anonymous “direct messages” (DM’s) with similar questions and accusations. Let’s address some of those:

1. Who are the reformers? — There is no secret who the reformers are! When the reformers went to Church Council on July 23, the Council required everyone to sign in. Plus, the members that signed the petition to call for a vote, those names have been shared with not only Church Council, but many members who are now using that list and contacting the signees.

Plus, the meetings at the Cannery are open to everyone and reformers are attending and are available for questions. The group continues to grow and is always evolving with people from our church, and with people from all over the state who have reached out with prayers, encouragement and questions.

2. This NOT about homosexuality and LGBTQ as the anonymous letter and others want you to believe — Please go back to every post and to every written document and you will find that this is a false statement. For the record, this movement has nothing to do with homosexuality and LGBTQ. This is about the Word of God and questioning if the true Word of God is being taught in the ELCA, such as Universalism (referenced in an earlier post) and other preaching's in the ELCA.

3. There is no movement to “take away” the church, but rather a movement to unite our church family under the true Word of God and a Lutheran Church that teaches the Word of God. Please note that this has been said on the record for anyone who tries to imply differently. There are many reasons that people are leaving the ELCA and why other churches are growing! The ELCA has lost over 50% of its membership since its inception in 1988.

Rather than make assumptions and accusations, please know that the slide presentation plus the posts have been referenced and researched with documentation.
We should all continue to seek God’s guidance and pray for the future of our church family — not just at St. Paul’s but across our nation and world.

Martin Luther said centuries ago, “Peace if possible; truth at all costs.”

Send a message to learn more

08/29/2024

#19

Do you believe there is a heaven and hell? Do you believe that accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior leads to salvation and everlasting life? Some believe in Universalism – that there is no eternal hell and that all humankind will eventually be saved. Is this idea of universalism being embraced in the ELCA?

When asked in an interview if there is a hell, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton said, “There may be,” and after pausing for a moment, adding, “but I think it’s empty.” (Christian Times, September 11, 2017)

When a top ELCA bishop makes this statement regarding salvation for all regardless of faith in Jesus, what does this say about the direction of the ELCA? Is the ELCA turning away from Christianity? Is the ELCA turning from the teachings of Martin Luther? Has the ELCA turned away from the people of St. Paul’s?

Let’s turn to the Holy Scripture to answer this question of salvation.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23: 39-43

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

As Lutherans, we can look to Martin Luther as a faithful example. Knowing that he was risking his life, Martin Luther bravely nailed the 95 Theses to the church doors and started a Reformation that changed the world. Martin Luther’s bravery was nothing short of a miracle – He listened to God and took a stand to show that the Church had strayed from the Holy Scripture. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the world was changed forever.

Should we love our neighbor? YES! Should we share the Good News of Jesus? YES! In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus's final words are recorded as, "Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you".

These are the questions at hand as we near the vote on Sept. 8 at St. Paul’s. A vote to disaffiliate with the ELCA is not a vote to leave St. Paul’s or Lutheranism. It is a vote to leave the ELCA.

We pray for the Holy Spirit to continue to move within our community. May our community be led by our Christian faith to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to all! May God be with the St. Paul’s members and give them courage to stand firm as Lutherans… stand firm in the truth… stand firm as Christians!