If a person is LCMS, ELCA, or WELS

[cenimo]

Is that set in stone so to speak, or is there ever any converting from one to another?

I know there's also other types of Lutherans (have seen that mentioned here) but I guess those are the main ones.

My wife and I attend an Anglican church and are "friends" of an ELCA church we have joint services with. Just wondering.

[Rechtgläubig]

It happens every now and then...


the last guy who jumped ship got tangled in the barbed wire and the dogs got him... it was a horrible sight... :sigh:
:D


But seriously, yeah it happens...

[SemStudent08]

Two examples. While in college (an independent Lutheran college with a history with the LCMS church) I knew of 3 or 4 LCMS students who came out of college ELCA. Now I'm at an ELCA seminary and after our first semester a good friend of mine here dropped out, and I'm pretty sure he will be starting down in St.Louis at the LCMS seminary in the fall. Of course, my college is 10x bigger than my seminary, which probably explains the numbers more. However, a disturbing trend in all three of the churches mentioned in the OP of this tread, is that all three are aging churches. The average age of the members of all three churches is rising (this is based on info from the church websites and talking with pastors in all three denoms). Perhaps thats a thread that needs to be started, one concerning Lutheranism and Youth ministry. Excuse me while I drift over to the Youth Ministries forum here on CF...

[Phoebe]

It happened alot here two years ago. We (ELCA congregation) gained about five or six LCMS families. (maybe more)

[KagomeShuko]

I know of a few people where the jump from LCMS to ELCA and the jump from ELCA to LCMS has happened.

Some of my ELCA friends were once LCMS and some of the members from St. Paul joined the LCMS church.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[KagomeShuko]

The average age of the members of all three churches is rising (this is based on info from the church websites and talking with pastors in all three denoms). Perhaps thats a thread that needs to be started, one concerning Lutheranism and Youth ministry. Excuse me while I drift over to the Youth Ministries forum here on CF...

It's NOT just Lutherans. . .there are already two threads in the YM forum about this.

Besides, there's about only one other Lutheran that comes there, anyway.

However, let me refer you to www.elcaymnet.org (http://www.elcaymnet.org)

I am a member of the ELCA's Youth Ministry Network.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[revjpw]

However, a disturbing trend in all three of the churches mentioned in the OP of this tread, is that all three are aging churches. The average age of the members of all three churches is rising (this is based on info from the church websites and talking with pastors in all three denoms).

This is happening in every church in the country, not just the Lutheran ones. It is a reflection of the country as a whole. A majority of the population is older now.

[KagomeShuko]

This is happening in every church in the country, not just the Lutheran ones. It is a reflection of the country as a whole. A majority of the population is older now.
Yes, but it is also called Youth and Young Adults don't care. For those who do, the churches do not provide any programs.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[revjpw]

Yes, but it is also called Youth and Young Adults don't care. For those who do, the churches do not provide any programs.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

But the Church isn't about "programs," it's about the Gospel. The baby-boomers seem to have forgotten this and that is one reason why the young people aren't involved.

[KagomeShuko]

Programs, anything ABOUT the gospel. All studies are geared ONLY towards the aged and the really young.

Yes, we need young people who care about the gospel. My church is concerned with the gospel, too. They need to see this and realize that it is important.

But, the churches also need to realize that they are neglecting a very important age group.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[pastel]

We get Catholics coming to our LCMS. I haven't heard lately of any jumping ship, but we certainly no doubt have from time to time, from both directions. We have two ELCA, our LCMS, and a WELS congregation in this town.

[RedneckAnglican]

Is that set in stone so to speak, or is there ever any converting from one to another?

I know there's also other types of Lutherans (have seen that mentioned here) but I guess those are the main ones.

My wife and I attend an Anglican church and are "friends" of an ELCA church we have joint services with. Just wondering.

I've seen it...When I was in College I went to the Lutheran Church in Nacogdoches, Texas...It was LCMS...I didn't know there was a difference (i had really studied much about Religion and Denominationalism at the time...I just knew it was Lutheran)..I belonged to an ELCA congregation at the time...no one seemed to care...at least for the 2 years I was there...(that was about 16 years ago)...

[BereanWannaBe]

I heard of someone from an LCMS church marrying someone from and ELCA church -- but I also heard that these mixed marriages rarely work out.
;)

[revjpw]

I heard of someone from an LCMS church marrying someone from and ELCA church -- but I also heard that these mixed marriages rarely work out.
;)

That and they are seperated by barbed wire in heaven. ^_^ ^_^

[Phoebe]

But, the churches also need to realize that they are neglecting a very important age group.

Stein Auf!
Bridget



It could also be said that this age group is neglecting the church.

[RedneckAnglican]

It could also be said that this age group is neglecting the church.

I've been in several different Churches in the last 15 or so years...the problem with this argument is that it is a "chicken and egg" arguement...Did the Churches just start negelicting these people all of a sudden?...or did they stop coming and the Church cut back on programs because of a lack of funds(this way they can allocate funds for programs for people who show up?...the over 50's and the youth)...not everyone tithes you know...I personally think it's a little of both...unfortunatly the only solution I can think of is for enough of those folks to get active in WHATEVER ministry is there and get stuff started on thier own...

[Phoebe]

Part of this lies with a change in society. Couples are starting their families later in life. People are marrying at an older age. More young people attend college now. Priorities are changing, some for the worse.

I'm not referring to a funding of programs. It could be something like young singles having their own Bible study group. If they don't come, it can't be much of a group. If the congregation isn't in a college town, they aren't as likely to have 18- 28 year-olds as regularly attending members.

[RedneckAnglican]

unfortunatly that's VERY true...

[KagomeShuko]

It could also be said that this age group is neglecting the church.
Yep, it is definitely BOTH things. It's crazy. .and I live in a nonLutheran area. . .that is IN a college town. . .so, while I was at college there were probably about three to four ELCAers on that campus. I don't know of any LCMSers that go to McNeese, except one once visited our church. She came from a little town nearby called "Jennings" and was going to McNeese.

I don't know what to do about people not coming, and neither does the church. The young adults just aren't involved, and yet, there's just nothing for them so they CAN get involved.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[Tetzel]

I became a member of the LCMS today. Before that I was ELCA.

[alabaster jar]

I have stayed with LCMS; but to me it isn't a big deal. I have relatives in both my synod and ELCA; nobody has horns. (some are just liberal)