Enough is Enough

“…we ought constantly to shout and cry out against all who preach and believe falsely”
 - Luther’s Large Catechism, The Book of Concord (Kolb & Wengert), p. 446.


Several clergy in the Eastern Synod of the ELCIC brought forward unsubstantiated allegations of impropriety and unfairness (“manifest constitutional and procedural irregularities”) with respect to the vote by this church at the 2005 National Convention in a feeble attempt to justify their own clearly illegitimate actions taken at the 2006 Eastern Synod Convention…Enough!

A synod that acts in defiance of the constitution and action taken at a national convention…Enough!

A National Church Council, instead of censuring such a synod, rewards the synod by bringing back a motion that was defeated at the previous national convention…Enough!

An Eastern Synod bishop who notifies his synod, “The fact is, this issue is before us and will continue to be for a good long time. I know some of us wish that it would be resolved once and for all, or that it would simply go away. But neither of those things are going to happen anytime soon. Like it or not, we…are going to continue to engage this question for a good long time, despite whatever resolutions we might pass or not pass at this or any other assembly of the faithful”…Enough!

Despite assurances that the essays solicited by the National Church Council “to inform” its decision making regarding a ‘local option’ for same sex blessings were to “honour…the many voices…heard across the church”, the National Church Council by its own admission described the essays as being “one-sided in favouring a local option for same sex blessings.”…Enough!

A pastor from the Eastern Synod, a strong proponent of same-sex blessings, tells the people gathered at the 2005 National Convention that “There are two theologies in the hearts and minds of our people”…Enough!

Claims by clergy in the ELCIC that the existence of theological differences and different understandings of the Gospel within this church need to be “recognized and respected”…Enough!

Despite the obligation of bishops of this church to uphold the church’s constitution, preserve unity and maintain good order, the National Bishop and Eastern Synod Bishop stood by and remained silent in the face of the Eastern Synod Convention’s act of defiance…Enough!

A ‘leadership’ in this church that is leading the people down a path that diminishes the authority of the Bible and repudiates God’s Word by blessing and affirming what the Bible teaches as sin…Enough!

Enough! It’s time for the people of this church, the ELCIC, to Take a Stand!

We are taking our stand by subscribing to the Here We Stand declaration.

The Book of Concord provided confessional statements responding to the false teachings and controversies evident in the 16th century just as in earlier times Christian creeds and confessions were formulated in God’s church (The Apostles’ Creed, The Nicene Creed, The Athanasian Creed) when major controversies broke out. Likewise, we regard the Here We Stand confessional declaration as responding to the false teachings and controversies of our time.

The Augsburg Confession, the basic Lutheran confession found in the Book of Concord, has been described as being “like a banner that unites us and a rampart that defends us against error”. We look upon the Here We Stand confessional declaration in the same way. We hope and pray that those of you who are equally concerned about the revisionist theological drift in the ELCIC will likewise look upon the Here We Stand confessional declaration as being “like a banner that unites us and a rampart that defends us against error”.

Recently we have sent a letter to the council chair of every congregation in the ELCIC. The closing paragraph in that letter reads as follows:

“We ask that you share this letter and declaration with your Church Council, Pastor and congregational members. Those who would like to work with our group are invited to contact us. God willing, we can work together to address the challenges facing the ELCIC!”