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A few months have now passed since the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America passed by a vote of 559-451 a resolution allowing practising homosexual people in committed relationships to serve as rostered clergy of the church. What follows is a sampling of the fallout. It is by necessity an incomplete list. Some congregations’ votes have not been reported in the media. Some congregations have chosen to remain in the ELCA, while condemning the August vote. Numerous congregations are still in the discernment stage as they decide what they should do. And of course numerous individuals have left ELCA churches as a result of the vote.

NOTE: Official withdrawal of membership from the ELCA by a congregation requires two votes, held 90 days apart, that each reach 2/3 majority. Hence the “first vote”/”second vote” language that follows.

2009

August 24 – St. Timothy Lutheran Church (Charleston, West Virginia) covers the word “Lutheran” on its sign.

August 26 – International Lutheran Renewal (ILR) Director Paul Anderson encourages each church to pray about leaving: “Those who leave can depart without shame from a Church that has lost its moorings. Those who stay to be a voice from within must pray for courage and focus, lest they lose their cutting edge and sink into trivialities rather than kingdom issues.”

August 31 – The International Lutheran Council (ILC) “in light of the current turmoil regarding same-gender relationships” releases a statement affirming its commitment to a biblical understanding of human sexuality.

September 6 – Zion Lutheran Church (Mission Valley, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 95 percent majority.

September 13 – Calvary Lutheran Church (Evergreen, Montana) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA and joining Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), which passes.

September 13 – Hebron Lutheran Church (Hebron, Kentucky) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 138-6 vote.

September 13 – St. Peter Lutheran Church (Ceylon, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 66% majority by 8 votes. Church leadership decides that another vote on the matter will not be allowed. As a result, numerous individuals and families leave the congregation, many joining local LCMS churches.

September 19 – Zoar Lutheran Church (Tofte, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 85% majority. This was Zoar’s second attempt at a second vote, as a first attempt failed in May 2010.

September 20 – El Camino Pines Lutheran Church (Frazier Park, California) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

September 20 – Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Walla Walla, Washington) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 87% majority.

September 26 – Lutheran Coalition for Reform (CORE) is re-established as “a free-standing synod for all faithful Lutherans” which intends to work with “other compatible churchly organizations leading toward a possible reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism” during an assembly of more than 1,200 Lutherans from the United States and Canada. Leaders will reconvene in a year’s time to decide whether to stay in the ELCA, form a new denomination or join an existing one.

September 27 – St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Minneapolis, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA and joining LCMC, which passes with a majority of 96 percent.

September 27 – St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church (Roanoke, Virginia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA and joining LCMC, which passes with a 342-143 majority. The congregation is considered “one of the largest, if not the largest” congregations in the Virginia Synod.

September 27 – Community Church of Joy (Glendale, Arizona), the 10th largest congregation in the ELCA, holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA and joining LCMC. It passes unanimously.

September 27 – Bethany Lutheran Church (Bigfork, Montana) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, but fails to reach 2/3 majority.

September 27 – Canton Lutheran Church (Canton, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, but fails to reach 2/3 majority (80% vote to stay).

September ?? – First Lutheran Church (Fargo, North Dakota), the second largest ELCA congregation in Fargo, redesignates its benevolence funds to bypass the national ELCA offices.

September ?? – Pontoppidan Lutheran Church (Fargo, North Dakota) votes to suspend its funds to the ELCA.

September ?? – St. Paul Lutheran (New Braunfels, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

September ?? – St. Andrew’s Lutheran (Weesatche, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

September ?? – Peace Lutheran Church (Rockdale, Texas) decides to suspend benevolence payments to the ELCA.

September ?? – Bethlehem/West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church (Elbow Lake, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes in a 42-11 vote. However, because of concerns as to whether proper notice was given, the vote will be retaken December 13.

September ?? – Trinity Lutheran Church (Hermiston, Oregon) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. While a majority vote in favour of the proposal (52-30), the vote fails to reach the 2/3 majority needed to pass. A second vote held at a later date also fails to pass. One member notes, “We now have a divided congregation and a pastor who wrote on his door of his office ‘pastor in exile’.”

October 1 – LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick sends a letter to ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson and the Conference of Bishops stating, “I share this letter with you to confirm what I have already stated, namely, that this is a very serious matter, one that we cannot ignore. To the greatest extent possible, it would be a blessing to our ongoing cooperative relationships if the actions taken at the ELCA Assembly were not implemented, nor given influence, in the context of inter-Lutheran ministries involving the LCMS and the ELCA, so that these relationships would be neither damaged nor destroyed.”

October 4 – Christ Lutheran Church (Odessa, Washington) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 55-12 vote.

October 4 – Lands Lutheran Church (Hudson, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 71-4 vote.

October 11 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Hudson, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 22-4 vote.

October 11 – Wangen Prairie Lutheran Church (Rural Cannon Falls, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, but fails to reach 2/3 majority by one vote. The church would vote again November 15, 2009. This time, the vote passes (see details in November 15 entry).

October 11 – First Lutheran Church (Little Falls, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, but it fails to pass. As a result, Senior Pastor Bjorge resigns (effective October 20). Following resignation, he begins leading worship for a group (many being disaffected members of First Lutheran and other local congregation Bethel Lutheran) who plan on starting an LCMC church in Little Falls.

October 11 – Christus Lutheran Church (Clintonville, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 162-28 vote.

October 13 – In North Carolina, approximately 450 vote unanimously to form a North Carolina chapter of Lutheran CORE.

October 18 – Concordia Lutheran Church (Kingsburg, California) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes overwhelmingly by 121 to 14.

October 18 – Singsaas Lutheran Church (Hendricks, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

October 18 – Christ Lutheran Church (Cottonwood, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. 74 vote to leave, but 44 vote to stay meaning the necessary 2/3 majority is not reached.

October 18 – Peace Lutheran Church (Pendleton, Oregon) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The motion is defeated in a 57-121 vote. Disaffected members form Faith Lutheran Church.

October 18 – Rodnes Lutheran Church (Erskine, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 80% majority.

October 18 – Advent Lutheran Church (Murfreesburo, Tennessee) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority.

October 18 – Christ Lutheran Church (Prattville, Alabama) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority. As a result, about half the regular attendees of Christ Lutheran leave to establish a new LCMC congregation: Agape Lutheran.

October 20 – Hope Lutheran Church (Fargo, North Dakota), a congregation with two campuses and the largest ELCA congregation (10,000 +) in North and South Dakota, announces that it has suspended funding to the ELCA.

October 21 – The Economist reports that “at least a dozen congregations have already left to join Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.”

October 22 – Breham Banner-Press reports 120 gathered this day to discuss the “rebirth” of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Texas (ELST). The First (German) Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Texas existed as a separate denomination from 1851-1896 before being subsumed by larger groups which eventually became part of the ELCA.

October 25 – Bethel Lutheran Church (Little Falls, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails. Disaffected members join likeminded disaffected members of First Lutheran Church (including Senior Pastor Bjorge who resigned after his church voted to stay in the ELCA) with plans of starting an LCMC congregation in Little Falls.

October 25 – Zion Lutheran Church (Des Moines, Iowa) holds its first vote to leave the ELCA, which passes.

October 25 – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Waukee, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

October 25 – Hopeful Lutheran Church (Florence, Kentucky) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

October 25 – Richland Lutheran Church (Richland, Washington) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 269 to 57 vote.

October 25 – Mount Pilgrim Lutheran Church (Haralson, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes unanimously. An additional vote to join the LCMC also passes unanimously.

October 25 – Abiding Saviour Community Church (Tempe, Arizona) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

October 25 – Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (New London, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails in a split vote with 76 in favour and 77 against. The 76 in favour of breaking ties with the ELCA leave the congregation, and begin a new congregation called “Shepherd of the River” which officially joins the LCMC December 6, 2009.

October 26 – The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), a church with a membership of 5.3 million, breaks off communion with the ELCA, stating that the North American church had “wilfully disobyed the Word of God” and that the EECMY could no longer “in good conscience” partner with the ELCA.

October 28 – Christ the King Lutheran Church (Hutchinson, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes with a 226-99 majority.

October 29 – The ELCA issues a news release stating that at least 50 churches have held first votes to leave the ELCA since the August vote. Only five have failed.

October ?? – Oak Valley Lutheran Church (Velva, North Dakota) holds its first vote to leave the ELCA. 70% vote against the measure and it fails.

October ?? – St. Timothy Lutheran Church (Charleston, West Virginia) removes the cloth blocking the word “Lutheran” from its sign. Underneath “Lutheran” a new sign has been placed which states “Reclaiming the Name.”

November 1 – Faith Lutheran Church (Moline, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA but fails to reach 2/3 majority by a margin of 18 votes (182-118). However, motions to end benevolence funding to the ELCA, and join the LCMC both pass with votes of 195-104 and 190 to 109 respectively. A new vote on leaving the ELCA is held January 10, 2010.

November 1 – Community of Hope Lutheran Church (Rosemount, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

November 1 – Trinity Church (Pell Lake, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes unanimously.

November 2 – Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (Bessemer City, North Carolina) mails a letter to the ELCA informing them of their decision to end financial contributions to the denomination.

November 8 – Disaffected members of ELCA congregations in Effingham County (Georgia) hold the first worship service of a new alternate congregation (Lutherans for Bible Based Beliefs). The members of this alternate congregation intends to continue worshipping together until their respective congregations vote to separate from the ELCA. If their congregations vote to remain, then this alternate congregation could “very easily become permanent.”

November 8 – Central Lutheran Church (Elk River, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes easily in a 574-171 vote.

November 8 – Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Castroville, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 67% majority.

November 8 – First Evangelical Lutheran Church (Orange Grove, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 83% majority.

November 8 – Hosanna Lutheran Church (St. Charles, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes by a margin of 89.2% (207-25). A second vote to join the LCMC passes by a margin of 90.1% margin (209-25). Hosanna Lutheran Church had changed its constitution in 2004 to require only one vote to leave the ELCA.

November 8 – St. John Lutheran Church (Edgar, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. While 106 vote in favour of the resolution, 67 vote against, resulting in a failure to reach 2/3 majority by four votes. Later that night, all congregational leaders and council members resign their positions, with the exception of one deacon.

November 11 – King of King’s Lutheran Church (Woodbury, Minnesota) is reported as having withheld $30,000 in funds to the ELCA while it reflects on theological issue arising from the August vote.

November 11 – Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran Church and School (Jacksonville, Florida) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA which passes with an 85% majority. An additional vote to join the LCMC (to take effect after the second vote on leaving the ELCA) passes with an 89% majority. According to Rev. Johnson, suggestions have been made that the congregation will be pressured to return subsidy funds received from the ELCA during 1988-1992.

November 14 – The Northeastern Iowa Synod Council votes 10 to 5 (with one abstention) to uphold existing 1990 ministry policies in the synod (which require homosexual clergy to remain celibate), with a further vote of 8-6 (two abstentions) repudiating the General Convention’s August vote as unconstitutional. The Council also called on the Northeastern Iowa Synod to officially affirm its commitment to the 1990 policies at its assembly in 2010.

November 15 – St. John Lutheran Church (Boerne, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

November 15 – Wangen Prairie Lutheran Church (Rural Cannon Falls, Minnesota), after holding a failed vote to leave the ELCA on October 11, holds a new vote which passes. Rev. Joy Gonnerman announces her resignation from Wangen Praire and intention to serve elsewhere in the ELCA.

November 15 – Joyful Harvest Church (Johnsburg, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA and joining the LCMC. The resolution passes in a 71-19 vote.

November 15 – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Lebanon, Oregon) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 127-39 vote.

November 15 – Evangelical Lutheran Church (Langford, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 31-91 vote.

November 18, 2009 – Lutheran CORE leaders announce an acceleration in their plans to leave the ELCA. CORE originally announced it would remain in the ELCA for a full year before deciding if splitting from the ELCA was absolutely necessary. That year commitment has now been scrapped. A working group will immediately begin drafting the constitution of a new Lutheran denomination, with plans to have it launch by August 2010. In the meantime, CORE will continue to operate as a free-standing synod of the ELCA.

November 18 – John Brooks, spokesman for the ELCA, reports that since the August vote, five congregations have ended their affiliation with the ELCA. Another 87 congregations have held first votes on leaving the ELCA; 28 of these have failed.

November 20 – LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick issues an open letter in response to CORE’s November 18 announcement that they will be accelerating the formation of a new Lutheran denomination for disaffected members of the ELCA. Noting again that such division in the ELCA is a natural result of the August vote which ignored the clear teaching of Scripture, he offered the continued prayers of the LCMS for the ELCA and other denominations divided by the issue of homosexuality, and charged all members, congregations and leaders of the ELCA: “As [you] deliberate and determine future courses of action in the days ahead, we urge [you] to be guided by the Word of God and the consensus of 2,000 years of Christian theological affirmation regarding what Scripture teaches about human sexuality. We offer this assurance of prayer and encouragement to faithfulness with deep humility and keen awareness of the reliance of all upon the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our great and holy God.”

November 22 – Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church (Weddington, North Carolina) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA this day.

November 22 – Zoar Lutheran Church (Tofte, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA and joining the LCMC. Both resolutions pass with an 85% majority.

November 22 – Lutheran CORE’s website, as of this day, lists 87 member congregations.

November 25 – Peñasquitos Lutheran Church (San Diego, California) holds its second vote to leave the ELCA. It passes with a 97% majority. Peñasquitos was one of the largest congregations in the Pacifica Synod, with an average attendance of about 850.

November 25 – St. John’s Lutheran Church (Rincon, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails.

November 26 – The Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Churches of the ELCA issue a statement condemning the General Convention August vote. It is further reported that these Ethiopian-American ELCA congregations (along with their international Oromo Lutheran partners) “have unanimously voted to join Lutheran CORE.”

November 29 – St. Timothy Lutheran Church (Hudson, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority.

November ?? – Calvary Lutheran Church (Brookfield, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 185-40 vote.

November ?? – St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Galena, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority.

November ?? – Geneva Lutheran Church (Geneva, Illinois) holds a vote on affiliating with the LCMC. It passes unanimously.

December 6 – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Maumee, Ohio) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 87% majority.

December 6 – Faith Lutheran Church (Grantsburg, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The vote fails as 119 vote in favour of the resolution while 154 vote against it. Disaffected members of Faith Lutheran and other local ELCA congregations have been holding alternate worship services in Siren, Wisconsin. This vote “solidifies their plan to start a new Lutheran church.”

December 6 – Christ Lutheran Church (Whitefish, Montanna) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The resolution passes in a 171-23 vote. A second resolution on joining the LCMC passes in a 171-16 vote.

December 6 – Bethel Lutheran Church (Springfield, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

December 6 – Zion Lutheran Church (Des Moines, Iowa) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

December 6 – First Lutheran Church (Harvey, North Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes with 2/3 majority.

December 6 – Victory Lutheran Church (Mesa, Arizona) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 139-19 vote.

December 6 – Stanfold Lutheran Church (Rice Lake, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 50-0 vote.

December 6 – Peace Lutheran Church (Palm Bay, Florida) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which falls just short of 2/3 majority with 64.5%.

December 11 – Lutheran CORE’s website as of today lists 114 member congregations in the USA. It also lists 4 Canadian Oromo member congregations, and 15 international Oromo member congregations.

December 11 – LCMC’s website as of today lists 212 member congregations in the USA, and an additional 48 international member congregations from seven other nations.

December 12 – A tri-parish in Pennsylvania leaves the ELCA after calling a pastor from the Evangelical Lutheran Conference & Ministerium (ELCM). The three churches involved are St. Paul Lutheran Church (McConnellsburg), St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Big Cove Tannery), and Mount Zion Lutheran (Little Cove).

December 13 – East Lake Andes Lutheran Church (Armour, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 36-13 vote.

December 13 – Zion Lutheran Church (Clear Lake, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The resolution passes in a 238 to 119 vote, exactly the 2/3 majority needed to pass. [Bishop Steven L. Ullestad (Northeastern Iowa Synod) is disputing the results of this vote, suggesting that there were 366 (and not 357) members registered to vote at the meeting and that thus 244 (not 238) votes were needed. The congregational president denies the charge.]

December 13 – Bethlehem/West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church (Elbow Lake, Minnesota) will retake its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The previous vote, taken in September, passed but questions were raised as to whether proper notice had been given.

December 13 – American Lutheran Church (Long Prairie, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The resolution passes in a 129-11 vote.

December 13 – Hebron Lutheran Church (Hebron, Kentucky) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 117-4 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

December 13 – Zion Lutheran Church (Finland, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The resolution fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 27-20 vote.

December 13 – St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (La Mesa, California) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. The congregation further votes to officially join the Fellowship of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (FELC).

December 13 – Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church (Smithfield, Nebraska) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 72-29 vote (1 abstention). An additional vote to associate with the LCMC passes in a 76-24 vote (1 abstention).

December 13 – Resurrection Lutheran Church (Fredericksburg, Virginia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails in a 101-136 vote.

December 13 – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Rockton, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes by 76%. A further vote to join the LCMC passes with an 81% majority.

December 13 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Platte, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 69-0 vote (1 abstention).

December 13 – Martin Luther Lutheran Church (Giddings, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 191-40-1 vote.

December 16 – The Longmont Times-Call reports John Brookes (spokesman for ELCA) to have said 135 congregations have held votes on leaving the ELCA, 97 of which have passed first vote and are in consultation periods as of this date.

December 19 – Zion Lutheran Church (Guyton, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails. Disaffected members of local ELCA congregations continue to hold alternate services together under the title Bible Based Lutherans of Efingham (BiBLE Church). (As of March 28, 2010, the new congregation changes its name to Bible Lutheran Church).

December 20 – Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Pierpont, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in 12-0 vote.

December 20 – Grace Lutheran Church (Detroit Lakes, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The resolution fails in a 48-92 vote.

December 20 – El Camino Pines Lutheran Church (Frazier Park, California) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA and joining the American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC). It passes with a 98% majority. The church renames itself Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church.

?? – Pondera Valley Lutheran Church (Conrad, Montana) holds its first on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 94-18 vote.

?? – Golden West Lutheran Church (Conrad, Montana) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 32-10 vote.

?? – Peace Lutheran Church (Edgar, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes unanimously.

?? – Pilgrim Lutheran Church (Payallup, Washington) splits after a vote. The senior pastor and a number of congregants leave to start a new congregation.

?? – Bethel Lutheran Church (Colorado Springs, Colorado) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Thanksgiving Lutheran Church (Bellevue, Nebraska) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Skien Lutheran Church (Sloan, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – St. Nicodemus Lutheran Church (East Aurora, New York) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Grace Lutheran Church (Oconto Falls, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Northland Lutheran Church (Iola, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – St. Peter’s Lutheran Church (Big Falls, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (DuPont, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Zion Lutheran Church (Manawa, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – First Lutheran Church (Ogdensburg, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Christus Lutheran Church (Clintonville, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Gillet, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Rejoice! Lutheran Renewal Church (Northfield, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Skien Lutheran Church (Sloan, Iowa) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. In response, Rev. Lilette Johnston resigns as pastor.

?? – Ascension Lutheran Church (Navarino, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails to reach 2/3 majority by 2 votes. In response, Ascension’s pastor resigns from the ELCA.

2010

January 10 – Laurel Hill Lutheran Church (Clyo, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 47-0 vote.

January 10 – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Springfield, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

January 10 – St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church (Roanoke, Virginia) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA and joining the LCMC, which passes in a 350-104 vote.

January 10 – Faith Lutheran Church (Moline, Illinois) reholds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 208-78 vote.

January 10 – St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Minneapolis, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA and joining the LCMC. It passes unanimously.

January 10 – Northland Lutheran Church (Iola, Wisconsin) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in 86-5 vote. The congregation subsequently joins LCMC.

January 10 – St. John’s Lutheran Church (Springfield, Minnesota) holds its [first?] vote on leaving the ELCA. The motion gains 63% support, just short of 2/3 majority. On January 24, the church votes to redirect all benevolence from ELCA, and further joins LCMC and WordAlone in a 71% majority vote.

January 14 – Bishop David Zellmer (South Dakota Synod) announces he has no intention of leading his synod out of the ELCA, ending speculations on the matter.

January 17 – Moe Lutheran Church (Roseau, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 95-39 vote.

January 17 – Peace Lutheran Church (Palm Bay, Florida) holds its second attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 176-80 vote.

January 17 – Singsaas Lutheran Church (Hendricks, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

January 17 – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Rockfalls, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach the required 2/3 majority. Disaffected members form a new church after three days: New Life Lutheran Church (Sterling, Illinois). Their first service draws 103 congregants.

January 17 – Christ Lutheran Church (Reese, Michigan) votes to affiliate with the LCMC.

January 17 – Jerusalem Lutheran Church (Rincon, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails. Disaffected members of local ELCA congregations continue to hold alternate services together under the title Bible Based Lutherans of Efingham (BiBLE Church). (As of March 28, 2010, the new congregation changes its name to Bible Lutheran Church).

January 17 – Hope Lutheran Church (Delmont, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 14-15 vote.

January 17 – Leganger Lutheran Church (Toronto, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 51-69 vote.

January 19 – ELCA Secretary David Swartling issues a memo to synod bishops and vice presidents with the title “‘Dual Rostering’ of ordained ministers and congregations is impermissible under the Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.” The document may have major implications for congregations currently dual-rostered or intending to dual-roster with CORE, LCMC, or another group.

January 24 – Peace Lutheran Church (Deshler, Nebraska) passes a resolution to delay a final ratification vote on ELCA membership until 2011.

January 24 – Hosanna! Lutheran Church (Lakeville, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 92.5 % majority. Hosanna! is the second largest ELCA congregation in Minnesota with an average attendance of 4,500 people per Sunday.

January 24 – Sychar Lutheran Church (Silver Bay, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 48-17 vote. An additional vote to affiliate with the LCMC passes in a 49-15 vote.

January 24 – St. Mark Lutheran Church (Lindenhurst, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 249-20 vote.

January 24 – Holy Cross Lutheran Church (Maple Lake, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The vote passes with a 92% majority. An additional vote to join LCMC passes with a 93% majority.

January 24 – Mount Pilgrim Lutheran Church (Haralson, Georgia) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 94% majority.

January 24 – Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Portage, Michigan) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails.

January 24 – St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church (Columbus, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails in a 54-99 vote. Three weeks later, Rev. Larry Barksdale resigns.

January 24 – Bethel Lutheran Church (Colorado Springs, Colorado) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes. An additional vote to join LCMC also passes.

January 24 – First Evangelical Lutheran Church (Barberton, Ohio) holds its [second?] vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes.

January 24 – Faith Lutheran Church (Hartwell, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

January 24 – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Lake Oswego, Oregon) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The vote gains 64% support, just short of the 2/3 majority needed to pass. Disaffected members begin a new LCMC church “Community of Faith”.

January 24 – Rejoice! Lutheran Renewal Church (Northfield, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

January 30 – The Northeastern Iowa Synod rescinds a controversial resolution (see entry for November 14, 2009) which refused to acknowledge the results of the nationwide convention in August. Vice-President Susan Armstrong explained the about-face, stating, “Concerns were raised that the synod council had made decisions that placed the council as a higher authority than the local congregation. There was also the concern that the synod council had placed itself as a higher authority than the churchwide assembly.”

January 31 – Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (Afton, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 90% majority (410 of 455 present). An additional vote to join LCMC passes with a 91% majority (414 out of 455 present).

January 31 – Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Ramsey, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

January 31 – South Zumbro Lutheran Church (Kasson, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 74-11 vote. Unconfirmed reports suggest the ELCA refuses to acknowledge the vote, and that the congregation has sought legal counsel.

January 31 – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Oregon, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes.

January 31 – Christ Lutheran Church (Otsego, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 160-8 vote.

January 31 – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Monroeville, Pennsylvania) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA and joining the LCMC. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 113-111 vote (with 2 abstentions).

January 31 – First English Lutheran Church (Wausau, Wisconsin) holds a vote affirming its affiliation with the ELCA. It passes in a 153-64. In response, Rev. Scott Mann resigns and announces his intention to help disaffected members to start a new congregation, possibly with the LCMC.

January 31 – Thanksgiving Lutheran Church (Bellevue, Nebraska) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 283-32 vote.

January 31 – Pondera Valley Lutheran Church (Conrad, Montana) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes.

January 31 – Golden West Lutheran Church (Conrad, Montana) hold its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes.

January 31 – Hopeful Lutheran Church (Florence, Kentucky) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes.

January 31 – Chinese Life Lutheran Church (Alhambra, California) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. It joins the LCMC.

January 31 – St. Paul Lutheran (New Braunfels, Texas) hold its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 86.2% majority. An additional vote to join LCMC also passes.

January 31 – Christ Lutheran (Santa Clarita, California) votes to suspend benevolence funding to the ELCA. An additional vote to join LCMC also passes.

January 31 – St. Luke Lutheran Church (Cottage Grove, Minnesota) votes to reduce benevolence funding the ELCA by half ($15,000).

January ?? – St. John Lutheran Church (Edgar, Wisconsin) splits. Approximately 120 congregants leave to incorporate Hope Lutheran Church, leaving a weekly attendance of about 30 at St. John Lutheran.

January ?? – Disaffected ELCA members in Easley, South Carolina form Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

January ?? – Peace Lutheran Church (Hazen, North Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes.

January ?? – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Boardman, Oregon) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with in a 29-0 vote.

January ?? – Calvary Lutheran Church (Rockford, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

January ?? – Calvary Lutheran Church (Minong, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails by ten votes. Approximately 60% of the congregation leaves to incorporate New Hope Lutheran Church

January ?? – Disaffected ELCA members in Eau Claire, Wisconsin begin the formation of a new congregation.

January ?? – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Waukee, Iowa) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

January ?? – Eagle Grove Evangelical Lutheran Church (Eagle Grove, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It gains 59.75% of the vote, but fails to reach the 2/3 majority needed to pass.

February 7 – The Omaha World Herald reports that 220 congregations have taken first votes on leaving the ELCA. Of these, sixty-four have failed.

February 7 – Wingard Memorial Lutheran Church (Clyo, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 13-0 vote.

February 7 – Christ Lutheran Church (Reese, Michigan) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 85.4% majority.

February 7 – First American Lutheran Church (Tripp, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 53-26 vote.

February 7 – Central Lutheran Church (Elk River, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 546-85 vote. It previously voted on January 31 to join the LCMC.

February 8 – Christus Lutheran Church (Clintonville, Wisconsin) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 162-28 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

February 10 – Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran Church and School (Jacksonville, Florida) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 89% majority.

February 14 – American Lutheran Church (Castlewood, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 52-23 vote.

February 14 – Grace Lutheran Church (Oconto Falls, Wisconsin) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 138-25 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

February 14 – St. Nicodemus Lutheran Church (East Aurora, New York) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 53-1 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

February 14 – Zion Lutheran Church (Manawa, Wisconsin) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 71-8 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC. Zion’s pastor will continue to serve the congregation for a short time while seeking another call to an ELCA congregation.

February 14 – First Lutheran Church (Ogdensburg, Wisconsin) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 32-2 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC. First Lutheran’s pastor will continue to serve the congregation for a short time while seeking another call to an ELCA congregation.

February 14 – Abiding Savior Community Church (Tempe, Arizona) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. The congregation subsequently joins LCMC.

February 14 – Bethel Lutheran Church (Holdrege, Nebraska) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority by 7 votes (136-78).

February 18 – Lutheran CORE releases “A Vision and Plan” for the formation of the new denomination North American Lutheran Church (NALC).

February 21 – Faith Lutheran Church (Hutchinson, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 178-23 vote.

February 18 – Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Lodi, California) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 162-32 vote.

February 21 – St. Luke Lutheran Church (Colorado Springs, Colorado) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 96% majority.

February 21 – Redeemer Lutheran Church (Damascus, Maryland) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

February 21 – Christ Lutheran Church (Odessa, Washington) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 67-11 vote (2 abstentions).

February 21 – Joyful Harvest Church (Johnsburg, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 77-29 vote.

February 28 – Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (Hermiston, Oregon) hold its third attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in 45-1 vote. [Previously, an August vote failed to pass by 7 votes. A November vote failed to pass by 4 or 5 votes. ]

February 28 – Faith Lutheran Church (Lakeland, Florida) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 54-23 vote.

February 28 – Richland Lutheran Church (Richland, Washington) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 236-18 vote. An additional vote to join LCMC passes in a 238-13 vote.

February 28 – Christ our Shepherd Lutheran Church (Peachtree City, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority.

February 28 – The synod council of the Florida-Bahamas Synod rejects the request of St. Peter Lutheran Church (Fort Pierce, Florida) to leave the ELCA. The congregation, which unanimously voted twice to leave the ELCA, was formerly a member of Lutheran Church in America (LCA) before the denomination joined ELCA. Former LCA congregations require permission of their synod in addition to two 2/3 majority votes in order to leave the ELCA. It is believed that this is the first vote to leave the ELCA which has been refused by the denomination.

February ?? – Geneva Lutheran Church (Geneva, Illinois) holds its [first?] vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails. Disaffected members leave to organize New Hope Lutheran Church, which holds their opening worship service March 15.

March 7 – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Sterling, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority by 4 votes.

March 7 – Geneva Lutheran Church (Geneva, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 109-80 vote. The vote follows a November vote to affiliate with the LCMC which passed.

March 7 – Lands Lutheran Church (Hudson, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 67-6 vote.

March 7 – Wangen Prairie Lutheran Church (Rural Cannon Falls, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

March 13 – The Chicagoist reports that since the August vote, 62 congregations have officially severed ties with the ELCA while nearly 200 others have passed first votes to leave the denomination.

March 14 – St. Paul Lutheran Church (West Manchester Township, Pennsylvania) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 177-35 vote.

March 14 – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Sarver, Pennsylvania) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 97-6 vote.

March 14 – Martin Luther Lutheran Church (Giddings, Texas) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA and joining the LCMC. It passes in a 193-36-8 vote.

March 15 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Platte, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a56-0 vote.

March 21 – St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Stendal, Indiana) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 62-2 vote.

March 21 – Christ the King Lutheran Church (Evans, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes.

March 21 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Hixson, Tennessee) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails.

March 21 – St. Timothy Lutheran Church (Charleston, West Virgina) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

March 21 – St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Gillet, Wisconsin) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 90-36 vote. The pastor will continue to serve the congregation for a short time while seeking a call to an ELCA congregation.

March 23 – St. Peter’s Lutheran Church (Big Falls, Wisconsin) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 72-7 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

March 23 – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (DuPont, Wisconsin) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 28-5 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

March 28 – Christ Lutheran Church (Dallastown, Pennsylvania) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 112-5 vote.

March 28 – Hope Lutheran Church (Delmont, South Dakota) holds its second attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 18-5 vote (3 abstentions).

March 28 – East Lake Andes Lutheran Church (Lake Andes, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 50-8 vote. A subsequent motion to join the LCMC also passes.

March 28 – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Story City, Iowa) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes.

March 28 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Hudson, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 27-0 vote (1 vote invalid).

March 28 – St. Mark’s Chinese Lutheran Church (Hacienda Heights, California) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. It joins the LCMC.

March 28 – Living Word Lutheran Church (Grapevine, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 261-115 vote.

April 4 – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) releases a statement condemning recent actions in the ELCA and European Lutheran churches as abnormal and non-conforming to the received and affirmed position and teachings of the church over the centuries in the whole Church of God.” It further states, “In its relations with other organizations such as LWF, WCC, LMC and others, ELCT will not endorse any efforts of campaigning or eventual infiltration of people from same-sex marriage camp, or supporters of same-sex marriages, or other forms of homosexual practices.” [The ELCT has approximately 5.3 million members, according to its own records.]

April 11 – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Inwood, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 32-5 vote.

April 11 –  Faith Lutheran Church (Seward, Nebraska) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 84-38 vote.

April 11 – Bethel Lutheran Church (St. Clair Shores, Michigan) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to pass.

April 11 – Faith Lutheran Church (Castlerock, Colorado) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The motion garners 64.8% of the vote, just short of the 2/3 majority required.

April 11 – Hope Lutheran Church (Smithfield, Nebraska) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 86% majority.

April 15 – Ladner Evangelical Lutheran Church (Ladner, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA and joining LCMC. It passes unanimously (40-0).

April 18 – Ullensvang Lutheran Church (Thor, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 49-12 vote.

April 18 – Hope Lutheran Church (Floodwood, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in an 84-24 vote.

April 18 – Little Missouri Lutheran Church (Capitol, Montanna) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 12-0 vote.

April 18 – Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (Galt, California) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 49-12 vote. In response, Pastor Mary Sanders resigns to remain with the ELCA.

April 18 – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Hanover, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 125-56 vote.

April 18 – St. John Lutheran Church (Thrall, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

April 18 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Watertown, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails in a 132-124 vote.

April 18 – Eagle Grove Evangelical Lutheran Church (Eagle Grove, Iowa) holds  a first vote on leaving the ELCA for the second time. It passes with a 68% majority.

April 18 – Immanuel and Prince of Peace Lutheran Parish (Taylor, Texas) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes, and they join the LCMC.

April 18 – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Rockton, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority.

April 18 – Peace Lutheran Church (Palm Bay, Florida) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA and joining the LCMC. It passes in a 182-70 vote.

April 18 – Victory Lutheran Church (Mesa, Arizona) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 115-13 vote (1 absention). The congregation subsequently joins LCMC. Their mission church Christ the Victor Lutheran Church (Queen Creek, Arizona) also leaves the ELCA for LCMC.

April 18 – Christ the King Lutheran Church (Fallbrook, California) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 95% majority. Christ the King Lutheran was one of the largest congregations in the Pacifica Synod.

April 25 – First Lutheran Church (Blair, Nebraska) holds a special vote to not recognize the actions taken at the 2009 assembly which allow the ordination of practising homosexual ministers. The measure passes in a 152-76 vote. The congregation will continue to recognize the 1990 Visions and Expectations document.

April 25 – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Peirora, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. The vote garners 56% support, falling short of the 2/3 majority required. Two weeks later, Living Waters Lutheran (LCMC) opens, drawing disaffected members from St. Paul Lutheran, Faith, Salem, St Peter’s, St John, First English and other congregations.

April 25 – La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church (Scottsdale, Arizona) holds its first vote on leaving the ECLA. It passes in a 369-64 vote.

April 25 – St. John’s Lutheran Church (Loogootee, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to pass in a 32-52 vote.

April 25 – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Lebanon, Oregon) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 130-77 vote.

April 25 – First Lutheran Church (Harvey, North Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 130-100 vote. Disaffected members leave to start Faith Lutheran and associate with the LCMC. The pastor also resigns to join the LCMC.

April 25 – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Maumee, Ohio) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 250-43 vote.

April ?? – Lund Lutheran Church (Detroit Lakes, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 71% majority.

May 2 – Holy Cross Lutheran Church (Maple Lake, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 95-6 vote (1 ballot not turned in).

May 2 – St. Mark Lutheran Church (Lindenhurst, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 97.3% majority. A subsequent vote to join the LCMC also passes.

May 2 – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Torrance, California) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

May 2 – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Evansdale, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 66-1 vote.

May 2 – Zion Lutheran Church (Clear Lake, Iowa) holds a reaffirmation of its first vote on leaving the ELCA (the first vote in December 2009 was challenged by the synod bishop). It passes in a 376-124 vote.

May 2 – St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (Auburn, Indiana) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 97-54 vote.

May 2 – Moe Lutheran Church (Roseau, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority.

May 2 – Christ the King Lutheran Church (Onalaska, Wisconsin) holds a special vote to affirm 7 faith statements in response to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly’s actions.  It passes in a 56-55 vote. It also commits to working with CORE.

May 6 – First Lutheran Church (Kirkland, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

May 9 – First Lutheran Church (Washburn, North Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 80% majority

May 9 – First American Lutheran Church (Tripp, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 59-9 vote (1 abstention).

May 12 – Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Pierpont, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in 12-0 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

May 16 – Our Saviour Lutheran Church (Three Rivers, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 98.5% majority.

May 16 – Central Lutheran Church (Morton, Washington) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

May 16 – Luther Memorial Church (Quincy, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails in a 67-78 vote. A week later, Hope Lutheran Church (an LCMC mission church) holds its first service.

May 16 – Hawley Lutheran Church (Hawley, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 158-114 vote.

May 16 – Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (Afton, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 251-9 vote (3 spoilt).

May 16 – Hosanna! Lutheran Church (Lakeville, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 710-30 vote.

May 16 – American Lutheran Church (Castlewood, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 69-21 vote.

May 16 – Holy Cross Lutheran Church (Yoacum, Texas) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

May 16 – Zoar Lutheran Church (Tofte, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority. Congregation members petitioned the outcome and forced a new first vote in June.

May 16 – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Oregon, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 87% majority. The congregation affiliates with LCMC and CORE.

May 16 – Calvary Lutheran Church (Rockford, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

May 16 – Christ the King Lutheran Church (Onalaska, Wisconsin): Pastor Tim Duesenburg resigns his position. At council meeting a few days earlier, half of the Church Council resigns. These, along with many members of the congregation, establish Gift of Grace Lutheran Church which joins LCMC.

May 23 – First Evangelical Lutheran Church (Idaho Falls, Idaho) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 193-87 vote (2 abstentions).

May 23 – New Jerusalem Lutheran Church (Hickory, North Carolina) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 117-8 vote (2 abstentions).

May 23 – Holy Ghost Lutheran Church (Fredericksburg, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 388-84 vote.

May 23 – Grace Lutheran Church (Erskine, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 93-10 vote.

May 23 – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Crosby, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 213-69 vote.

May 23 – Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (Iron Mountain, Michigan) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority.

May 23 – Faith Lutheran Church (Erskine, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority.

May 23 – Bethel Lutheran Church (Holdrege, Nebraska) holds a second attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 164-72 vote.

May 23 – Grace Lutheran Church (Ridgecrest, California) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 77% majority. A subsequent vote to join LCMC passes with a 83% majority.

May 23 – Faith Lutheran Church (Castlerock, Colorado) holds its second attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 77% majority.

May 23 – Sychar Lutheran Church (Silver Bay, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 70% majority.

May 23 – American Lutheran Church (Long Prairie, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 92% majority. It subsequently joins the LCMC.

May 23 – Faith Lutheran Church (Hutchinson, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

May 23 – Christ the King Lutheran Church (Hutchinson, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes with exactly 2/3 majority. Bishop Jon V. Anderson questions the results of the vote, noting that one ballot was declared spoiled and not counted in the final vote.  Later reports from the church stated that the council reviewed all the votes, and declared the spoiled ballot’s intention to vote in favour of separating from the ELCA.

May 30 – First Lutheran Church (Philip, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 44-2 vote.

May 30 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Midland, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 29-0 vote.

May 30 – Our Saviour Lutheran Church (Midland, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 15-0 vote.

May 30 – Deep Creek Lutheran Church (Midland/Hayes, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 12-0 vote.

May ?? – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Oregon, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 87% majority.

June 2 – Zion Lutheran Church (Hudson, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes unanimously. A second vote to join the LCMC also passes.

June 3 – INFORUM reports that, as of this day, 419 congregations of ELCA have taken first votes to leave. Of these, 283 passed. Just over 160 congregations have held second votes, with over 140 of these passing.

June 6 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Anniston, Alabama) holds a meeting and affirms that the majority of members are unhappy with the ELCA’s new social statements. A subsequent council meeting decides to spend a year in dialogue with the ELCA before decidingwhether to sever ties with the ELCA.

June 6 – Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (Abington, Pennsylvania) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 143-45 vote. An additional vote to join the NALC also passes.

June 6 – Peace Lutheran Church (Rosenberg, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 48-16 vote.

June 6 – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Strawberry Point, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 92-28 vote.

June 6 – Calvary Lutheran Church (Lee, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 91% majority. A subsequent vote to join LCMC also passes.

June 6 – Faith Lutheran Church (Lakeland, Florida) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 50-11 vote. A subsequent vote to join the LCMC also passes.

June 6 – Christ Lutheran Church (Reese, Michigan) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 89.47% majority.

June 6 – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Taylor, Texas) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 80% majority. A previous vote to join LCMC now takes effect.

June 11-12 – The South Dakota Synod of the ELCA voted on June 11 to reject the ELCA’s new Social Statements. The next day, however, the synod rejected two votes calling to rescind the acceptance of non-celibate homosexual pastors.

June 13 – Zoar Lutheran Church (Tofte, Minnesota) holds its first vote in its second voting process to leave the ELCA. It passes with 90% majority. A previous first vote in November had passed, but a second vote in May failed. Congregation members petitioned a new voting process, resulting in the June vote.

June 13 – Upper Arlington Lutheran Church (Columbus, Ohio) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 538-48 vote.

June 13 – Our Saviour Lutheran Church (Stanwood, Washington) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 189-45 vote.

June 13 – Trefoldighed Lutheran Church (Battle Lake, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

June 13 – St. Paul Lutheran Church (West Manchester Township, Pennsylvania) holds its second vote to leave the ELCA. It passes in a 148-11 vote.

June 13 – Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (Hermiston, Oregon) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA and joining the LCMC. It passes unanimously in a 70-0 vote.

June 13 – Zion Lutheran Church (Mission Valley, Texas) holds its second vote on leaving the ECLA, which passes “overwhelmingly.” The congregation subsequently votes to join the LCMS.

June 20 – Riverside Lutheran Church (Wannaska, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 52-13 vote.

June 20 – Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Ramsey, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 310-255 vote.

June 20 – Redeemer Lutheran Church (Damascus, Maryland) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 248-2 vote.

June 20 – Salem Lutheran Church (Osakis, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

June 20 – Sauk Valley Lutheran Church (Osakis, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

June 23 – Evangelical Lutheran Church (Cokato, Minnesota) will hold its first vote on leaving the ELCA.

June 27 – Rushford Lutheran Church (Rushford, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 71% majority.

June 27 – Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (Lead, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 47-14 vote (2 abstentions).

June 27 – St. John’s Lutheran Church (Arroyo Grande, California) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

June 27 – Christ Lutheran Church (Warren, Michigan) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 160-9 vote.

June 27 – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Brookston, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority.

June 27 – Faith Lutheran Church (Culver, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority by 1 vote.

June 27 – American Evangelical Lutheran Church (Milbank, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 194-100 vote.

July 4 – St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (Auburn, Indiana) holds its second attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 161-25 vote.

July 11 – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Whitewood, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes in a 40-0 vote (2 abstentions). A subsequent vote to join the NALC passes unanimously.

July 11 – Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (Iron Mountain, Michigan) holds its second attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

July 11 – Mount Calvary Faith Lutheran Church (West Covina, California) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. It joins LCMC.

July 11, 2010 – Faith Lutheran Church (Seward, Nebraska) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority by one vote (80-41). In response, “nearly half of Faith Lutheran’s members — including its longtime minister and most of the church council — broke away to start a new church.” The new church is given the name Living Word Lutheran Church, and subsequently joins the LCMC.

July 11 – Hope Lutheran Church (Delmont, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 20-0 vote.

July 13 – Delegates to the 2010 LCMS convention adopt two resolutions in response to the ELCA August 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The first commends for “study and reference” two statements (one from an LCMS taskforce, the other from the International Lutheran Council) which criticize the ELCA’s decision and supports the historic understanding of human sexuality. The second resolution affirms the need to support confessional Lutherans, especially among breakaway churches from the ELCA. At the same time, the resolution calls upon LCMS members to pray that the ELCA would “reconsider – even now – its actions.”

July 14 – Ladner Evangelical Lutheran Church (Ladner, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 37-0 vote.

July 18 – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Monona, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 113-35 vote (1 ballot spoiled).

July 18 – St. Timothy Lutheran Church (Charleston, West Virginia) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 160-14 vote. The vote takes effect September 1, 2010.

July 24 – International Lutheran Council (ILC) Chairman and outgoing LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick addresses the Lutheran World Federation’s (LWF) 11th Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany. He laments recent actions taken by the ELCA and other LWF member churches on sexuality, saying, “Many of the sacred scriptural truths which precipitated the Reformation are in danger of being lost.” He expresses further concern that among certain LWF churches, challenges to Christianity have “first been tolerated, then accepted, and now affirmed.”

July 25 – Zion Lutheran Church (Baker, West Virginia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 32-22 vote.

July 25 – Little Missouri Lutheran Church (Capitol, Montanna) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 19-0 vote.

July 26 – Mollie Ziegler Hemmingway, noted religion reporter, writes that the fallout in the ELCA is “ongoing and deserves more coverage in the future.” In a critique of an Associated Press story about the reinstatement of seven homosexual ministers to the roster of the ELCA, she highlights a statement which says “A small number of congregations have voted to leave the ELCA in response to the August vote,” suggesting that reporters would do better to just report the actual numbers. In an article printed the same day, the New York Times reports 185 congregations have successfully taken the two votes required to leave the ELCA.

August 1 – Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church (Welcome, Texas) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 106-9 vote.

August 1 – First Lutheran Church (Lyons, New York) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes unanimously. A subsequent vote to join the LCI (Lutheran Church-International) also passes. [Note: Lutheran Church-International is the new name of the ILF (International Lutheran Fellowship)]

August 1 – Hope Lutheran Church (Floodwood, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 78-22 vote.

August 8 – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Williams, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 44-5 vote.

August 8 – American Evangelical Lutheran Church (Milbank, South Dakota) holds its second attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority in a 209-147 vote.

August 15 – Ullensvang Lutheran Church (Thor, Iowa) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 55-9 vote.

August 15 – Inforum reports that 504 congregations have held first votes on leaving the ELCA since last year’s assembly action, with “about 200 church [having] passed a second vote.” By contrast, more than 270 congregations have joined LCMC in the same time.

August 22 – Bethel Lutheran Church (Holdrege, Nebraska) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 199-69 vote.

August 22 – Our Saviour Lutheran Church (Three Rivers, Texas) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes unanimously. A second vote to join the NALC also passes unanimously.

August 22 – Grace Lutheran Church (Erskine, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 93-10 vote. It subsequently joins the NALC.

August 22 – Zion Lutheran Church (Clear Lake, Iowa) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority by 2 votes in a 317-161 vote.

August 26-27 – Lutheran CORE holds its second annual convocation, at which time the NALC is officially launched.

August 29 – Salem Lutheran Church (Roland, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 66-12 vote.

August 29 – Lake Wylie Lutheran Church (Fort Mill, South Carolina) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in an 86-25 vote.

August 29 – Living Word Lutheran Church (Grapevine, Texas) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in 295-39 vote. It subsequently joins the LCMC.

August 29 – St. Peter Lutheran Church (Emden, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 128-14 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

August 29 – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Rockton, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 145-9 vote. It subsequently joins the LCMC.

August 29 – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Roy, Utah) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 142-45 vote (2 abstentions).

August 29 – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Evansdale, Iowa) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

August 29 – First Lutheran Church (Philip, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 48-2 vote (1 abstention).

August 29 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Midland, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 28-0 vote.

August 29 – Our Saviour Lutheran Church (Midland, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 22-0 vote.

August 29 – Rock Creek Lutheran Church (Osage, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails.

June 6 – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Strawberry Point, Iowa) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails.

September 5 – Deep Creek Lutheran Church (Midland/Hayes, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 9-0 vote.

September 7 – First Lutheran Church (Kirkland, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

September 12 – United Lutheran Church (Gonvick,  Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 34-5 vote.

September 12 – St. John Lutheran Church (Plainfield, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 78-0 vote.

September 12 – Elim Lutheran Church (Randall, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 117-15 vote.

September 12 –  Zion Lutheran Church (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 92% majority.

September 12 – Samhold Lutheran Church (Gonvick, Minnesota)  holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority by 2 votes.

September 12 – Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (Abington, Pennsylvania) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 85.9% majority. It subsequently joins the NALC.

September 12 – New Jerusalem Lutheran Church (Hickory, North Carolina) will hold its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It has already committed to becoming a charter member of the NALC.

September 19 – Christ the King Lutheran Church (Newcastle, Wyoming) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 67-3 vote (1 abstention).

September 19 – Hawley Lutheran Church (Hawley, Minnesota) will hold its second attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA.

September 19 – Zoar Lutheran Church (Tofte, Minnesota) will hold its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

September 19 – Faith Lutheran Church (Castlerock, Colorado) will hold its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

September 21 – Lund Lutheran Church (Detroit Lakes, Minnesota) will hold its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

September 26 – Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church (Waterville, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 109-3 vote.

September 26 – Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church (Waukon, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 72-8 vote.

September 26 – St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church (Salisbury, North Carolina) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. It subsequently affiliates with the NALC and the LCMC.

September 26 – Christiana Lutheran Church (Salisbury, North Carolina) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. It subsequently affiliates with the NALC.

September 26 – Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (Lead, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 59-8 vote.

September 26 – West Immanuel Lutheran Church (Osceola, Wisconsin) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA.

September ?? – Dallas Lutheran Church (Dallas, Wisconsin) will hold its first vote on leaving the ELCA. Pastor Bob Friese has announced he has no intention of leaving the ELCA whatever the vote.

September ?? – Messiah  Lutheran Church (Joliet, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. It subsequently joins the LCMC.

October 3 – Looney Valley Lutheran Church (Looney Valley, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 58-29 vote.

October 3 – Bethel Lutheran Church (Story City, Iowa) holds its first vote. It passes in a 25-3 vote.

October 3 – Christ Lutheran Church (Warren, Michigan) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 97% majority. The congregation unanimously ratifies its earlier decision to join the LCMC.

October 10 – Organ Zion Lutheran Church (Salisbury, North Carolina) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with a 69% majority.

October 10 – Faith Lutheran Church (Culver, Minnesota) holds its second attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails, as the first vote failed, by one vote in a 19-11 vote.

October 10– Bethel  Lutheran Church (Parkersburg, Iowa) holds its first vote, which fails.

October 10 – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Whitewood, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 48-2 vote. The congregation had previously voted in July to join the NALC.

October 10 – St. John’s Lutheran Church (Winters, Texas) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 77-1 vote. A subsequent motion to join the LCMC also passes.

October 10 – Holy Ghost Lutheran Church (Fredericksburg, Texas) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 88% majority. A subsequent motion to join the NALC also passes.

October 10 – Rushford Lutheran Church (Rushford, Minnesota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 212-99 vote. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

October 10 – St. Peter Lutheran Church (Armour, South Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 61-11 vote.

October 10 – St. Olaf Lutheran Church (Belmond, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails.

October 17 – St. Martin’s Lutheran Church (Annapolis, Maryland) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA.  It passes in a 219-106 vote (1 abstention).

October 17 – Fertile Lutheran Church (Fertile, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 37-8 vote.

October 17 – St. John’s Lutheran Church (Boyertown, Pennsylvania) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails in a 139-207 vote.

October 24 – First Lutheran Church (Northwood, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails in a 62-119 vote.

October 31 – Peace Lutheran Church (Rockdale, Texas) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes by an 85% majority. The congregation subsequently joins the NALC.

October 31 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Ellsworth, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 66-6 vote.

October 31 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Letcher, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails in a 11-27 vote.

October 31 – Upper Arlington Lutheran Church (Columbus, Ohio) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 558-28 vote. The congregation subsequently affiliates with the LCMC and the NALC.

October ?? – American Lutheran Church (Rantoul, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

October ?? – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Flatville, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

October ?? – St. John’s Lutheran Church (Royal, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

October ?? – Our Saviour Lutheran Church (Dannebrog, Nebraska) holds its vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails to pass. Disaffected members along with the pastor leave to start a congregation with the NALC.

October ?? – Trinity Lutheran Church (DeKalb, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. It subsequently affiliates with the LCMC.

October ?? – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Franklin Grove, Illinois) holds its vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. It subsequently joins the LCMC.

November 6-7 – La Casa de Christo Lutheran Church (Scottsdale, Arizona) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 739-140 vote.

November 7 – New Hope Lutheran Church (Hayti, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 59-5 vote. The congregation subsequently votes to affiliate with the NALC.

November 7 – Hayti Lutheran Church (Hayti, South Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 77-7 vote. The congregation subsequently votes to affiliate with the NALC.

November 7 – St. Peter Lutheran Church (Mesa, Arizona) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 121-21 vote (three ballots spoiled).

November 7 – Anselm Trinity Lutheran Church (Sheldon, North Dakota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 25-4 vote.

November 7 – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Williams, Iowa) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 40-9 vote.

November 7 – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Monona, Iowa) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails.

November 14 – Christ Lutheran Church (Santa Clarita, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 180-11 vote. The congregation had previously affiliated with the LCMC.

November 14 – St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church (Readlyn, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 79-2 vote.

November 14 – Zion Lutheran Church (Readlyn, Iowa) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 83-5 vote.

November 14 – Zion Lutheran Church (Clear Lake, Iowa) holds its latest second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 350-49 vote. Bishop Ullestad rejects the results.

November 21 – Samhold Lutheran Church (Gonvick, Minnesota) holds its second attempt at a first vote on leaving the ELCA. It surpasses the  needed 2/3 majority by 2 votes.

November ?? – Greenford Lutheran Church holds is ___ vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. It subsequently joins the LCMC.

December 19 – Christ the King Lutheran Church (Newcastle, Wyoming) will hold its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

?? – St. Luke Lutheran Church (Colorado Springs, Colorado) will hold its first vote on leaving the ELCA.

?? – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Lebanon, Oregon) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Bethel Lutheran Church (Springfield, Georgia) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (Joppa, Maryland) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. Trinity is the largest ELCA congregation in the Delaware-Maryland synod.

?? – Laurel Hill Lutheran Church (Clyo, Georgia) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Faith Lutheran Church (Moline, Illinois) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes in a 195-51 vote.

?? – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Springfield, Georgia) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Sterling, Illinois) holds a first vote on leaving the ELCA for the second time. It fails to reach 2/3 majority.

?? – Christ the King Lutheran Church (Fallbrook, California) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Middleburgh, New York) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Evangelical Lutheran Church (Gallupville, New York) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes unanimously.

?? – Faith Lutheran Church (Hartwell, Georgia) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Zion Lutheran Church (Cobleskill, New York) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It fails to reach 2/3 majority by 8 votes.

?? – Peerless Lutheran Church (Peerless, Montana) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Scobey Lutheran Church (Scobey, Montana) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes. It subsequently joins the LCMC.

?? – St. John Lutheran Church (Greenville, Ohio) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Greenville, Ohio) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – American Lutheran Church (Rantoul, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 94% majority.

?? – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Roy, Utah) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Immanuel Lutheran Church (Flatville, Illinois)  holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 94% majority.

?? – St. John’s Lutheran Church (Royal, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with 97.6% majority.

?? – St. Peter Lutheran Church (Emden, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Peace Lutheran Church (Hazen, North Dakota) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA. It passes with an 85% majority. It subsequently joins LCMC.

?? – Wingard Memorial Lutheran Church (Clyo, Georgia) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – First Lutheran Church (Dongola, Illinois) holds first and second votes to leave the ELCA, both of which pass. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

?? – St. John Lutheran Church (Dongola, Illinois) holds first and second votes to leave the ELCA, both of which pass. The congregation subsequently joins the LCMC.

?? – Zion Lutheran Church (Philo, Illinois)  holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (St. Joseph, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – First Lutheran Church (Paxton, Illinois) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which fails.

?? – Christ the King Lutheran Church (Evans, Georgia) holds its second vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – First English Lutheran Church (Menahga, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – First Lutheran Church (Roseau, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Folden Lutheran Church (Vining, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Faith Lutheran Church (Mentor, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

?? – Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church (Badger, Minnesota) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

2011

January 23 – St. Martin’s Lutheran Church (Annapolis, Maryland) will hold its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

January ?? – Zion Lutheran Church (Philo, Illinois) will hold its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

January ?? – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (St. Joseph, Illinois) will hold its second vote on leaving the ELCA.

—————–

If you know of more information regarding fallout in the ELCA since the August vote, mention it in the comments. Any circumstance I can verify, I’ll add to the main article.

This article obviously does not attempt to count the number of congregations that are holding meetings to consider their future involvement with the ELCA. It is primarily a record of congregations that have chosen to vote on leaving the ELCA, and other significant Lutheran responses to the August vote.

December 6 – Bethel Lutheran Church (Springfield, Georgia) holds its first vote on leaving the ELCA, which passes.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s recent actions are forcing many Biblical Lutherans in the denomination to reconsider where their allegiances lie. Already, congregations are making plans to leave ELCA. While some will undoubtedly look to other established churches like LCMS (Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod)  and, to a lesser extent, WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod), others are suggesting a new North American Lutheran church might be in the works. Are Bible-believing ELCA Lutherans about to follow the new Anglican Church of North America’s example? Read the following article written by an ELCA pastor who was a voting member at the recent convention for his thoughts on the subject. The original article appears at Texanglican’s blog.

Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison. Kyrie Eleison.

Minneapolis…there’s something about this city that leads church bodies into temptation, and to abandoning the faith of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.

As a “voting member” to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), I’ve witnessed firsthand the agony of a faithful, orthodox, minority crying out like a voice in the wilderness. In the same room where the General Convention of TEC voted to part ways with the rest of the Christian church and affirm +VGR, this week the ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted to “find ways for congregations that choose to do so to recognize lifelong, monogamous [sic], same-sex relationships”, and to ordain and “roster” (i.e. license) such persons as members of the clergy. It was no freak of weather that a tornado hit the convention center during deliberations, and broke the cross off the steeple of the church next door.

My overall feeling, after despair and righteous anger, was that this decision exposes an eschatological flaw in the structure of our “denomination”. The Scriptures, Ecumenical Creeds, writings of the Fathers, Magisterial works of the Reformers, and our Luthearn [sic] Confessions and catechisms in the Book of Concord all bear witness to the Truth, Jesus Christ, at work at present in his Holy Word and Sacraments in the power of the Holy Spirit within the life of the Church. Supposedly this Tradition is the norm of our proclamation, teaching, faith and life. In fact, the “social statement on sexuality” that also passed in Minneapolis, (by 66.6%!) frankly recognized that any vision of sexual relations outside of celibacy in singleness and chastity within marriage would be “in contradiction” and a departure from this lode of teaching and Tradition. The “bound consciences” of congregations, synods, and bishops to disagree with the ministry policy changes, and to retain traditionalist oversight over their own clergy and pastoral practices is enshrined within these changes, but as we know from Richard John Neuhaus, where orthodoxy becomes optional, it will eventually be proscribed.

Unfortunately, as in the case of TEC, this week’s small, supposedly representative deliberative body, became captive to the political designs of postmodernists dedicated to accomodating [sic] culture, appeasing sexual minorities, advocating for a gospel of “inclusiveness”, rejecting classical understandings of Scripture and tradition, and in general played into the wiles of the devil.

These decisions, quite frankly, do not represent the heart of American Lutheranism, which is made up of many different faithful streams, the vast majority of which are Scripture-centered, mere-Christian creedal, sacramental, Eucharist-centered, evangelical/missional, with a unique piety shaped by a classical Western liturgy, strong hymnody, catechisms, devotional Bible study, confession & forgiveness, daily remembrance of Baptism, and a larger social-ministry apparatus than any other U.S. Church.

My guess is about 10% of ELCA congregations, mainly urban, elite, and “progressive” will embrace these changes. The remaining 90% of congregations either see themselves too congregationally to care about this bizarre statement that has no authority under Scripture, or will be outraged at the rejection of the authority of Scripture, and the breaking of communion with our thriving orthodox Lutheran churches in the Global South developing world, our immigrant/migrant ethnic congregations (up until now the fastest growing within the ELCA), and grieve our creating a stumbling block for all Scriptural, Gospel-centered Christians: Protestant, Evangelicals, Anglican, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic alike.

Those who opposed these votes vehemently came from 2 particular streams, in ways that I think compare intriguingly to the faithful orthodox who have emerged from TEC into ACNA: the Scripture-centered Evangelical pietist Lutherans, and the evangelical catholic Lutherans; perhaps roughly comparable to the Evangelical and Anglo-Catholic parties who now comprise the ACNA.

Scandinavian Pietism, responsible for the vast number of Luthearn [sic] churches through the U.S. East and Midwest, focused on Scripture, discipleship, and holiness of life. The evangelical catholic movement within Lutheranism, particularly as represented by clergy in the Society of the Holy Trinity (STS, similar to SSC), see the Lutheran church more as a reform movement within the Western Church, destined for a relationship with Rome, liturgically maintaining the Western Rite with Gospel-centered proclamation of Jesus Christ, crucified.

Lutherans understand God’s Word as always at work in both law and gospel, together. The law kills, exposes sin, convicts of guilt, and declares God’s righteous judgment. The gospel comes as promise, as forgiveness for Christ’s sake, by grace alone without any merit on our part, and as a word that accomplishes in the hearer a new creation in Christ.

Perhaps this Churchwide Assembly and the ELCA as a whole now experiences the “law”, and rightly so. But for those who are faithful at the foot of Christ’s Cross, something new will emerge on the 3rd day.

A gathering of congregations in Indianapolis in September under the oversight of 6 or more retired bishops, seeks a new biblical, confessional, orthodox, missional Lutheran body in North America. Dozens of very large congregations, large swaths of evangelical catholic congregations, scores of rural pietist congregations, long-alienated Canadian congregations, and many African and Asian immigrant congregations will be represented. Do not expect an immediate “leaving” of the ELCA, or individual Synods (Dioceses) to withdraw, but the gradual emergence of a robust and faithful ecclesial substance. There have already been overtures to this group from streams of Christendom that have surprised me. In Christ, the future is bright.

Pray for us, dear readers. Know that under the “accidents” of this week’s actions, the “form” of Christ’s true church will yet be found within the Lutheran witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, within the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. Ora pro nobis.

Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison. Kyrie Eleison.

The Rev. Ryan Mills, STS

Pastor

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Grand Prairie, TXS

The vote is cast. ELCA has voted to approve the ordination of non-celibate homosexual people.

My eyes fail, looking for your promise;
       I say, “When will you comfort me?”

 Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
       for your law is not obeyed.

My harp is tuned to mourning,
and my flute to the sound of wailing.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.