FAQs (or Frequently Asked Questions) about the ELCA Continued
This month, I am continuing my presentation of and comments five FAQs about our church—the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—that are posted at the very bottom of the homepage of our church: https://www.elca.org/ Welcome to the ELCA
Each of the FAQs are listed in response to the question posed by someone seeking to understand the beliefs and practices of our Lutheran Church—someone who might ask this question: “I’m new here. I have questions about God, church and faith.”
Here is the fourth FAQ on our church’s webpage:
Who attends church in the ELCA? Can anyone join?
All types of people and families are welcome! You are welcome as you are! The ELCA teaches that it doesn’t matter what your experience with religion has been or what kind of doubts or questions you might have about faith. We strive to be a church that celebrates diversity and welcomes all people as they are to worship, learn, serve and grow in faith with others.
I’m going to break this paragraph down by looking at its sentences.
All types of people and families are welcome! You are welcome as you are!
Our church could not be clearer in announcing that you don’t have to have been born a Lutheran to become one or be one. It’s an open door.
Question: How do most people who aren’t Lutheran and have never walked into a Lutheran church come to do so? Answer: they are invited by a Lutheran who attends a church to go to that church with them.
The ELCA teaches that it doesn’t matter what your experience with religion has been or what kind of doubts or questions you might have about faith.
There is more than one way to understand this sentence—but I think the following is a good one: You don’t have to have had any kind of previous experience with God to attend our church. Lutherans teach that, in the Word preached and the Sacraments administered, faith may be given to you through the Holy Spirit.
May one attend a Lutheran church if one has doubts about their own faith? The answer, “Yes.” With their doubts, they would be in good company with the disciples of Jesus when Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection (Luke 24:41; Matthew 28:17).
Of course, there is more to the story. Through God’s word, we pray that all will be granted faith in God. Therefore.
We strive to be a church that celebrates diversity and welcomes all people as they are to worship, learn, serve and grow in faith with others.
I think the key words in this sentence are final ones: “with others.” Through our relationships “with others” in the church, we may come to faith, grow in faith, truly worship God, learn more about God and serve others inside and outside of the church,
And there’s more to the story. Next month, I will look at the fifth and final FAQ from our church that addresses this question:
What should I know about the ELCA faith tradition?
Peace be with you.
Pastor Leonard Hummel
