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A new Lutheran denomination will be born over the next two days in Columbus, made up ofChristians disturbed by what they consider a liberalizing of their church, particularly on issuesof homosexuality.
The North American Lutheran Church, or NALC, will be mostly made up of theologicallyconservative congregations who have left or will leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,or ELCA, the country's largest Lutheran denomination.
The ELCA angered some conservative members last summer when it voted to allow people in same-sexrelationships to serve as clergy members and professional lay workers. Prior to that, gay clergyand lay workers had to be celibate.
The denomination also passed a resolution supporting congregations that recognize same-sexrelationships, a move some said would lead to wider use of blessings of those relationships.
But the problem for conservatives is wider than homosexuality, said the Rev. Paull Spring ofState College, Pa., who is expected to be elected bishop of the NALC at the meeting.
Also at play is a misunderstanding of what authority -- Scripture or "the mood of thetimes" -- should guide the church, he said.
The ELCA is following cultural norms, not the Bible, Spring said.
The NALC grew out of Lutheran CORE, a conservativegroup mostly within the ELCA. Upper Arlington Lutheran Church is hosting CORE as it forms the newdenomination Thursday and Friday.
The ELCA was formed out of three Lutheran bodies in Columbus in 1987.
The NALC will be small and lean in terms of administration, Spring said. He expects 200congregations to join by the end of next year.
The CORE convocation is taking place at Grove City Church of the Nazarene because it has morespace. About 1,200 people are expected to attend, said the Rev. Paul Ulring of Upper ArlingtonLutheran.
Ulring's church is still officially part of the ELCA but has passed a first vote to leave. Asecond vote is required and may take place in late October, Ulring said.
Out of 10,239 congregations, 504 have taken a first vote to leave, said John Brooks, a nationalspokesman for the ELCA. Of those, 348 passed.
Of the 348, 212 congregations have taken a second vote, with 199 voting to leave. They have theoption of joining the NALC or another Lutheran denomination.
In the Southern Ohio Synod, which includes Columbus, two churches have left, said Bishop CallonW. Holloway Jr. Four are considering a first vote, in addition to Upper Arlington Lutheran havingalready taken it.
The combination of the sexuality debate and the economy has taken a toll on the synod'sfinances, Holloway said. The income received from congregations is down 9 percent over this timelast year, he said.
The members of NALC are "still people of good will," Holloway said. "My hope is that they wouldremain, but I understand they feel they must leave."
Nationally, the church council is slashing the budget, Brooks said. The council cut $7.7 millionand 41 full-time positions in November, and another $4.2 million was cut this month.
The national staff has been told to expect a reorganizing in October in response to decliningrevenue, he said.
The issue of homosexuality shouldn't tear apart a denomination, said the Rev. Chris Adams,pastor of North Community Evangelical Lutheran Church at 114 Morse Rd. His church will stay withthe ELCA, he said.
"God's love and call to serve the people and spread the Gospel is stronger than one particularissue," he said.
"I love this denomination, and I hate to see a family ripped apart."
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