Christian Marxist Antisemitism
Most people would call me a “conservative” Lutheran, although I would prefer to be called orthodox or traditional. Nevertheless, I will accept the label. Therefore, as a conservative Lutheran, it…
Ghosting Faith?
Ghosting Faith?
Ever been ghosted? Ever have someone with whom you were connected not call you back? Ever have someone stand you up? Most of us have been ghosted some time. Cutting…
A Different Approach to Pro-life Ministry
A Different Approach to Pro-life Ministry
As a pastor, I sometimes have the opportunity to take on unexpected ministries outside of the church. Such was the case when I was invited to become the Executive Director…
City Mission: A Catalyst for Becoming a Missionary Disciple
City Mission: A Catalyst for Becoming a Missionary Disciple
“… if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the…
How DEIA, Anti-Racism and CRT Are Becoming the New Gospel in the ELCA
How DEIA, Anti-Racism and CRT Are Becoming the New Gospel in the ELCA
How DEIA, Anti-Racism and CRT Are Becoming the New Gospel in the ELCA Any meaningful discussion of these modern-day heresies absolutely must begin and end with scripture. DEIA (Diversity, Equity,…
The ELCA Shows Its Values Through Whom It Features
The ELCA Shows Its Values Through Whom It Features
There is an old adage that says, “You show your values through what and whom you feature.” That certainly is true of the ELCA. Again this past June, in observance…
Video Ministries-July 2024
Video Ministries-July 2024
Be sure to check out the two new videos on our You Tube channel. A link to our You Tube channel can be found here. Both of these videos are…
Orthodox Reading Is Pastoral Reading
Orthodox Reading Is Pastoral Reading
“What’s all this ‘Father’ stuff about in the Lord’s Prayer? Why should we call God ‘Father,’ anyway?” she intoned petulantly, fixing me with a stare that clearly thought no reasonable…
“Journey to Forgiveness: 21 Milestones to Freedom”
“Journey to Forgiveness: 21 Milestones to Freedom”
Many thanks to David Peterson, pastor of Apostles Lutheran Church in Chesapeake, Virginia (LCMC), for giving us a video review of his first book, “Journey to Forgiveness: 21 Milestones to…
The Ministry Challenges We Face in 2024
The Ministry Challenges We Face in 2024
Consider the contrasting good news and not-so-good news ministry challenges that are confronting many of our congregations in 2024: Good News: Many local churches have now been blessed by the…
Words Fail Me: Questioning the Newspeak of My “Progressive” Education
Words Fail Me: Questioning the Newspeak of My “Progressive” Education
In my office hangs my ordination certificate. Across it is emblazoned the name of the ordaining body, the body whose confessional commitments I pledged to uphold on the day I…
Bringing Children to Jesus
Bringing Children to Jesus
In Matthew 19: 14 Jesus told His disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom…
Racism, Power, and Prejudice
Racism, Power, and Prejudice
Almost 30 years ago, I had my first introduction to the tactics of postmodern argumentation. A professor at Texas Lutheran made the statement that he could not be racist because…
Book Review: “Tenderness” by Eve Tushnet
Book Review: “Tenderness” by Eve Tushnet
Note from Executive Director Dennis D. Nelson: Many thanks to a friend of Lutheran CORE for giving us a review of Eve Tushnet’s book, “Tenderness: A Gay Christian’s Guide to…
An Incoming DEIA Disaster
An Incoming DEIA Disaster
Recently, the ELCA posted the results of a DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) Audit1 which was authorized by the Churchwide Assembly. The audit laid out its findings and made…
Operation Reconquista: Responses to Critical Questions
Operation Reconquista: Responses to Critical Questions
Editor’s Note: Pr. Haug wrote a positive article on this topic in January (click here). Last newsletter I hinted that I would write a follow up article about OperationReconquista and…
When Does Life Begin?
When Does Life Begin?
Editor's Note: by M. Roy Schwarz, M.D. The American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd College Edition defines "life" as "the property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from the dead or inanimate…
Contented Faith
Contented Faith
When I was dating my wife Debra, I was so excited about being with her. I was eager to talk with her, be with her, and go off on adventures…
… and Now Many of Them Are Just Lost
… and Now Many of Them Are Just Lost
Just over a year ago Christine and I found ourselves in Florence, South Carolina. Nice place just off I-95, we found a fixer-upper on the little lake in town. Pro…
Hope for De-churched Lutherans
Hope for De-churched Lutherans
In my previous two articles, I talked about the dilemma facing De-churched Lutherans. Some cannot find an orthodox Lutheran parish in their area. Some have been made to feel unwelcome…
Reflections on Mission
Reflections on Mission
Editor’s Note: Jacob Moorman is a member of River’s Edge Ministries, which regularly hosts and leads mission work locally in Maryland, through City Mission, and annually in other states through…
A Warning of What is Coming
A Warning of What is Coming
Many thanks to Kevin Haug for his very insightful article about the DEIA audit which the ELCA recently commissioned a law firm to do of its governing documents. I hate…
Thankful for the Opportunity to Share
Thankful for the Opportunity to Share
I am very grateful for the recent invitation to have a zoom conversation with the director and associate director of the ELCA’s Reconsiderations process. This is the task force that…
Video Ministry – January 2024
Video Ministry – January 2024
“PASTORAL HELMANSHIP: A PASTOR’S GUIDE TO CHURCH ADMINISTRATION” Many thanks to Aaron Heilman for this review. Aaron is Worship Leader for Pointe of Hope Church in Blue Springs, Missouri (LCMS). …
Considering the Challenge of Transitioning from Clergy-Led to Lay-Led Congregational Ministries
Considering the Challenge of Transitioning from Clergy-Led to Lay-Led Congregational Ministries
This article is written especially for smaller congregations that are either 1) already experiencing a pastoral vacancy, or 2) know that their solo pastor will be retiring within the next…
March for Life and Y4Life Conference in January!
March for Life and Y4Life Conference in January!
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,…
Book Review: Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?
Book Review: Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?
Editor's Note: Full title of the book is Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage: 21Conversations from a Historically Christian View. Also, Spencer Wentland is a former ELCA missionary. Introduction and…
Operation Reconquista: An Affirmative Response
Operation Reconquista: An Affirmative Response
Can mainline denominations be reconquered from theological liberalism? A group named Operation Reconquista has emerged to attempt such a thing, and they are offering tactics on just how to proceed.…
CRLC and Critical Theory
CRLC and Critical Theory
In the September and November editions of CORE Voice, Dennis Nelson analyzed the activist constituency of the members of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC). The fact that…
Is This What You Want?
Is This What You Want?
We all remember with horror the ways in which traditional views on such matters as human sexuality were rejected and belittled at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering. Here is a…
Resentful Faith
Resentful Faith
While visiting another Lutheran church in the area as the gathered worshipped the LORD through the prayers and praised God through the songs, across the pews I saw a man,…
REST, INC., Part 2
REST, INC., Part 2
Finding Rest in (and for) a Restless World Dear Friends— When did so many of the mainline denominations begin to go adrift and lose their way? Why? How? What happened?…
Aging and End-of-Life Decisions
Aging and End-of-Life Decisions
“Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and will bear, I will carry and will save.” Isaiah 46:4…
Mission Under Accompaniment
Mission Under Accompaniment
Director's Note: Spencer Wentland is uniquely qualified to write this article analyzing the ELCA’s concept of global mission as accompaniment rather than evangelism – as responding to requests for help…
Should We Put a Loved One Out of Her Misery?
Should We Put a Loved One Out of Her Misery?
Imagine a scenario where a loved one is suffering from an incurable condition and unimaginable pain. And yet, antiquated laws have prevented her from finding peace once and for all.…
Rest, Inc.
Rest, Inc.
Part 1: A Gift of Restoration, Resilience, and Prophetic Perspective Dear Friends— We were in the middle of our first vacation ‘Out West’, somewhere between Colorado Springs, CO, and Yellowstone…
