|
CORE Voice Newsletter, Issue 1,
January 2026
| | |
In This Issue
- Evangelistic Outreach
- The history of "bound conscience"
- Preaching the Gospel
- How to talk to your friends about faith
- Registration for the NALC's Continental Youth Gathering
- March for Life and Y4Life
Scroll Down for More
| | "What We Can All Learn from the ELCA's Dramatic Decline" | | |
by Pr. Don Brandt, Congregations in Transition and Congregational Lay-Led Initiative (CLI)
Ever since I became a Lutheran pastor I have been fascinated with denominational statistical trends. I have especially been interested—and concerned—with trends among Lutheran denominations in general and, starting in 1987, the statistical trends for the ELCA in particular.
The ELCA currently stands out as the Lutheran denomination dealing with the most dramatic rate of institutional decline. [...]
However, as an NALC pastor, I don’t want to only speak to what’s happening in the ELCA. I also want to address what the NALC—and the LCMC—can learn from the astonishing rate at which the ELCA is losing members. [...]
The primary reason why the ELCA decline is so dramatic, while both the LCMC and NALC appear to be relatively stable, is because there continues to be an exodus of ELCA congregations through disaffiliation. And virtually all of these churches leaving the ELCA end up joining either (or both) the LCMC and NALC. And it’s also important to recognize that movement from the ELCA to the NALC and LCMC does not [...]
| |
The Past, Present, and Future of "Bound Conscience" | |
by Bob Benne, NALC Theologian
Director's Note: Many thanks to Bob Benne, esteemed NALC theologian and friend of Lutheran CORE, for his review of the history of the whole issue of “Bound Conscience.”
The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly passed two resolutions that called for reconsideration of the 2009 social statement, “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.” [...]
Most Lutherans know of Martin Luther’s famous appeal to “bound conscience” at the Diet of Worms in 1521. He insisted: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason... my conscience is captive to the Word of God.” His appeal to "bound conscience" meant that his theological and inner moral compass were not free but held captive by the authority of Scripture and clear reason. For Luther, this wasn't about subjective feeling but about obedience to God's revealed truth [...]
There are no doubt many uses of the phrase in the history of Lutheranism since the 16th century, but the use we want to examine is its use in the midst of a controversy in the ELCA over the nature of marriage and its attendant sexual ethics. While we will focus on the ELCA since 1989, it is important to note that [...]
| | |
by Pr. David Charlton, former president of the board of Lutheran CORE and NALC pastor in Florida
My congregation voted successfully to leave the ELCA in 2023. Reflecting on the past three years, here are three things I would encourage you to keep in mind if you choose to follow suit.
First of all, remember that, whether you stay in the ELCA or not, the priority is Christ. He is the center. The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel of forgiveness of sins, life and salvation in Jesus Christ. We voted to leave the ELCA because we came to believe that preaching the Gospel was no longer the priority. Instead, we believed that another gospel, or other gospels, had taken the place of the true Gospel in the mission and ministry of the ELCA.
One of the dangers of remaining in the ELCA [...]
| | |
by Pr. Megan Ann Shaffer, NALC Pastor in Pennsylvania
“I don’t want to offend anyone or lose my friends.” That was the reason one of my church council members gave as to why she holds back from talking to her close friends about faith.
Her response came from a discussion we were having about the importance of building intentional relationships with friends and neighbors with whom we can talk about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It’s reasonable to understand her hesitancy. Yet, simultaneously, sadly, this is an excuse many believers fall back on because they don’t know how. Admittedly [...]
| | NALC Continental Youth Gathering: Forming Young Disciples Across America | | |
by Pr. Teresa Peters, Director of Youth & Family Ministry, Winnipeg,
MB, Canada
Every two years, youth and their leaders from across the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) will gather for four days of worship, teaching, and service at the Continental Youth Gathering (CYG). What began as a hopeful experiment in 2024 has already grown into a vital tradition where young people encounter Christ, deepen their faith, and discover what it means to live as His disciples in the world.
The first CYG – WE BELONG, was held in Boerne, Texas, in 2024 and brought together youth, adult leaders, and volunteers from across the United States and Canada. The next CYG – REJOICE, will take place July 7–10, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Virginia, where organizers are planning for approximately 400 youth, leaders and volunteers. While the event is hosted by the NALC, its reach and impact extends well beyond. [...]
| | NALC March for Life and Y4Life Conference in January! | |
by Dennis Di Mauro, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church (NALC ) in Warrenton, VA.
The NALC Life Ministries team is once again preparing for the March for Life in Washington D.C. this January, but our plan is a little different. Instead of holding a life conference, NALC Life has decided to team up with Lutherans for Life (LFL) and participate in their events at the march! Their youth conference, Y4Life, will be held at the Hilton Arlington Landing Hotel (2399 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202) from Thursday, January 22rd, 2026 through Saturday, January 24th, 2026 and it has over 400 kids already registered - register at https://y4life.org/events/
We encourage all our NALC youth to participate in this free conference.
On Friday, January 23rd we will be once again participating in the March for Life under the NALC banner [...]
| |
-
Nicaea Pro Ecclesia: The Status and Potential of Our Nicene Heritage in Christian Catechesis and Ecumenical Dialogue — Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, AL. January 12-14, 2026. Click here.
-
NALC Continental Youth Gathering 2026, Roanoke, VA, July 7-10, 2026. Registration is open! Click here.
-
LCMC 26th Annual Gathering & Convention. Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des Moines, IA, October 4-7, 2026. Click here.
| | If you prefer reading the print version (PDF format), please click the button below. |
| |
© 2024 Lutheran Coalition for Renewal
Email Editor (Kim Smith)
PO Box 1741 Wausau, WI 54402-1741
1-888-810-4180
www.lutherancore.org
Lutheran CORE's mission:
- A Network for Confessing Lutherans
- A Voice for Biblical Truth
Our purpose can be summed up in two words– Network and Voice. As Network for confessing Lutherans, we support and connect Lutheran individuals and congregations who seek to live in accord with Biblical and confessional teachings and practices. As a Prophetic Voice, we advocate for Biblical authority and confessional fidelity among churches of the Lutheran community.
We communicate Biblical truth through our newsletter, mailings, and various forms of social media.
| | | | |
