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New, more conservative Lutheran denomination to form

By Amanda Kost

Tyler, TX (KYTX) -  A conservative Lutheran group has decided to form a new denomination separate from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

This all started back in August when Evangelical Lutheran Church in America delegates voted to lift a ban on homosexual pastors.  That vote has prompted a conservative group called Lutheran Coalition for Renewal, also known as Lutheran Core, to start forming a new denomination.

 A wave of change has been building since the ELCA made the decision to allow gay clergy. "We've been inundated with phone calls and emails from congregations all across the country saying that we need to get out of the ELCA, we have no where to go, would you please do something," said Reverend Dr. Mark Braaten.

 Mark Braaten leads Our Saviour's Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Tyler.  He spoke with us by phone from Minnesota after attending the Lutheran CORE meeting where the group decided to move forward with 2 routes, to form a group to work with the churches that need to stay in the ELCA, and to form a new Lutheran denomination.

"I think it's quite safe to say the congregation is really struggling with its relationship with the ELCA and we're going to have to now make some decisions in the weeks ahead as to what we do," explained Braaten.

 Our Saviour's is in the midst of discussions including a survey in order to pin down the direction the congregation wants to go. "We want to make sure that this discussion doesn't become about institution and denominations and hierarchies and organizations, but rather become about mission, ministry and faithfulness. And if we can keep that focus, then it really does become a time of renewal and rediscovery for the Lutheran Church," concluded Braaten.

If Our Saviour's decides to leave the ELCA, their constitution reads that they would have to have a special congregational meeting, vote by 2/3 to leave, then after a three month consultation period with their bishop have a second congregational meeting and again vote 2/3 to leave.