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Lakeville's Hosanna! to leave the ELCA
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Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Mega-church to split with denomination over differences in the gay clergy debate
by Jeff Achen
Thisweek Newspapers
Over the past few months, Hosanna! Lutheran Church in Lakeville has
agonized over whether or not to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America.
On Nov. 10, the church made its choice. It’s leaving.
The decision comes after a controversial ELCA vote this summer to allow
gays in committed, monogamous relationships to serve as leaders in the
church. Until the vote, gay and lesbian clergy had been allowed to
serve if they remained celibate.
In an Oct. 12 television interview, the Rev. Bill Bohline, Hosanna!’s
lead pastor, said he didn’t want to do anything with a “knee-jerk
reaction” and that he wanted to be prayerful and careful about what the
church decided to do.
In a Nov. 10 e-mail, Bohline indicated the church had made its decision.
“What has become clear to me is that we have been preparing to leave
the ELCA for some time. Our worship style, focus on prayer, openness to
the Spirit, kingdom-mindedness, and polity (how we do church) have put
us on divergent paths for quite some time,” Bohline wrote.
It’s also been clear that the congregation of Hosanna! is fairly united on the issue.
In a survey, 97 percent of the 837 people who filled out the
questionnaire agreed with the church’s teaching statement that marriage
is between one man and one woman. Also, 96 percent said being
affiliated with the ELCA is somewhat or not at all important, and 91
percent felt that Hosanna! should separate from the ELCA.
Bohline said he doesn’t want Hosanna! to condemn the ELCA, but rather
to “recognize what God has done at Hosanna! and what He still wants to
do in and through us.”
Hosanna! has not announced plans to join any other denomination.
Bohline wrote in his Nov. 10 e-mail that he believes the future is
“post-denominational.”
The elders of Hosanna! are scheduled to meet Nov. 17 to determine a
timeline and exit strategy that complies with Hosanna!’s constitution
and bylaws. Hosanna!’s Vision Board will meet Dec. 15 to consider a
resolution to officially sever Hosanna!’s relationship with the ELCA.
In accordance with the church’s constitution, they will establish a
90-day notification process and will likely set up a number of
information meetings before bringing their resolution and
recommendation to the entire congregation for a vote.
Bohline said he’s not sure what the future will hold, but now knows what must be done.
“While the way forward is not perfectly clear, the time of parting is at hand,” he said.
Jeff Achen is at
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 03 December 2009 )
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