en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/784052 Comments by markpink21 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment55697739 "ELCA Social Statement on Abortion."- You are walking around with blinders on. The Lutheran general hospital performs numerous abortions every year. And guess who supports this hospital? Elca! Look it up. Women arent having abortions to save their lives, or for rape, it is being used as regular birthcontrol. "There are lots of things contributing to the declining membership in the ELCA - Bishop Hansen, the Lutheran Magazine, and the fictitious "left-wing agenda" are not among them." Those are the biggest reasons people are leaving. Sorry, hate to break it to you. Its hard to follow a religion who disregards scriptures from the bible. The elca has no foundation. They choose what they want to hear and then disregard what they find offensive in the bible.(which isnt) God is truth, he is love, and he is also JUSTICE. We will all be judged one day. I believe we should always accept everyone but never condone to sin. Never make excuses for peoples sin. This is not made to be offensive. I left the Lcms at 17 years old. I felt the lutheran church had nothing to offer me as im sure thousands feel this way. Sun, 7 Feb 2010 07:19:22 +0000 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment55697739 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment55695464 I have to say as a former LCMS Lutheran society changes, Gods word doesnt. The elca is losing a lot of members because they water down scripture. Sun, 7 Feb 2010 06:39:08 +0000 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment55695464 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment55695314 "fewer children born." Yep. It is now acceptable to be on birth control or have an abortion and it be socially acceptable in church. God makes it clear in the bible to be fruitful and multiply. Society is dying off. Sun, 7 Feb 2010 06:36:40 +0000 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment55695314 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment55694363 agreed. Couldnt have said it better myself. Sun, 7 Feb 2010 06:19:09 +0000 http://www.jakebouma.com/2008/08/15/a-look-at-the-declining-membership-of-the-elca/#IDComment55694363