ELCA has highest loss of members since 1987
The Layman Online, August 14, 2003
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), now embroiled in a controversial study about whether to ordain practicing homosexuals, has reported that it lost 61,871 members in 2002 – its largest decline since 1987.
The 1.21 percent loss cut membership to 5,038,006, according to a report released just prior to the denomination’s Churchwide Assembly, which began a seven-day meeting in Milwaukee on August 11. The 2001 biennial assembly authorized the sexuality study, and delegates to the Churchwide Assembly attended a hearing on the study on August 12.
The ELCA’s ordination standards are roughly comparable to those in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Celibate homosexuals may be ordained, but not those who are in same-gender relationships. Unlike the PCUSA, however, the ELCA does not permit pastors to conduct ceremonies to bless same-gender couples.
An ELCA news release about membership decline sought to cushion the loss by using the membership losses in the PCUSA as a comparison. Since 1987, Lutherans have lost 250,042 members – 4.73 percent of their membership. The PCUSA’s losses during the same time have totaled 524,968, 17.63 percent.
Lutherans have retained members better than any of their major mainline allies – the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, the American Baptist Church and the PCUSA. The ELCA’s revenue has remained strong – above budget projections for 2001 and 2002 – according to the treasurer’s report to the Churchwide Assembly. Revenues in the Presbyterian Church (USA) have declined dramatically.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, addressed briefly the Episcopal Church’s election of a homosexual bishop and Episcopal approval of blessing same-gender couples.
Decisions of the recent General Convention of the Episcopal Church must be kept in their proper context, Hansen said. Legislative actions of full communion partners “ultimately do not determine” how the ELCA proceeds on similar issues, he added.