DISRESPECTING THE INTEGRITY OF A CONGREGATION AND MISREPRESENTING THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION FOR A RENEWED LUTHERAN CHURCH

First Lutheran Church of Sioux Falls, South Dakota held their first vote to disaffiliate from the ELCA on September 28, 2025.  They will hold their second vote on January 25, 2026.  The results of the first vote exceeded the two-thirds that is constitutionally required for disaffiliation.

Prior to the first vote – on September 21, 2025 – Bishop Hagmaier of the South Dakota Synod came for the required consultation.  But she did not come alone.  She brought along a high-powered “Resource Team” of about twenty persons, some of whom are current or former members of First Lutheran.  The team included a representative from Luther Seminary, the president and senior campus pastor of Augustana University (an ELCA university in Sioux Falls), a Luther scholar, three previous bishops of the South Dakota Synod,  three previous pastors of First Lutheran, the bishop of another synod (who is also a member of the ELCA’s Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church), the vice president of the synod council, the synodical director for evangelical mission, the synodical director for candidacy and mobility, the dean of the local conference, the leader of the ELCA women’s organization for the local conference, and leaders and representatives from Lutheran Social Services, ELCA World Hunger, and Lutheran Planned Generosity.  That is a lot of people, some of whom traveled from considerable distance, especially Bishop Riegel from the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod. 

The format was that four of these resource people would speak, then there would be a time when people could ask questions of the bishop.  Then the various resource people were available for groups and/or individuals.  The reason given was so that people who did not have the courage to ask a question publicly could still have their question(s) answered.

Bishop Hagmaier obviously does not want to lose this congregation.  She put a lot into gathering this resource team.  I have not heard of any other synodical bishop who took the approach of so trying to overwhelm a congregation in a Bishop’s Consultation.

What I found most alarming about the Consultation were two things –

1. The way in which Bishop Hagmaier did not respect the integrity of the congregation.
2. The way in which Bishop Riegel of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, who was also a member of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church, misrepresented the work of the Commission.

Here is a link to a YouTube recording of the Consultation – Bishop Consultation // September 21, 2025.  This link can be found on the congregation’s website under “About FLC-Church Governance Task Force.”  Therefore, it is publicly available.  Anyone who wishes to can watch the seventy-minute consultation and find out for themselves whether what I am saying is true.  Here also is a link to the power point presentation from the Governance Task Force –   Presentation TO CONGREGATION – Master Version.  The Task Force has done excellent work summarizing the issues and expressing their concerns.  Their presentation reflects actions taken by the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

FEAR OR RUMORS VS. CLARITY AND TRUTH

Bishop Hagmaier began her part of the presentation by saying that the gathering would not be about fear or rumors but about clarity and truth.  And yet the president of Augustana University in her remarks told about generous scholarships that would no longer be available to young people from First Lutheran if the congregation were to leave the ELCA.  Also the leader of the conference women’s organization shared how the Women of the ELCA (WELCA) is constituted separately from any congregation.  Funds in a congregation’s WELCA treasury belong to WELCA, not to that congregation.  Therefore, if a congregation were to leave the ELCA, the funds would remain with WELCA, not with the women of that congregation.  One person – during the question-and-answer period – challenged the opening statement that the presentations would not be about fear or rumors given that those kinds of statements were made.  Also, when we come to the section where we tell about how the work of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church was misrepresented, it should be obvious that that part of the presentation was certainly not about clarity and truth.

DISRESPECTING THE INTEGRITY OF A CONGREGATION

I found it shocking that Bishop Hagmaier invited three former pastors of the congregation to be part of the Resource Team (though admittedly none of them were among the initial four presenters).  The ELCA has made it very clear that pastors who no longer serve a congregation are not to be involved in the life of that congregation and doing so would be reason for discipline. 

During the question-and-answer period one of the members asked if it is appropriate for a previous pastor to contact members of the congregation regarding the disaffiliation issue.  The person asking the question then said that these kinds of contacts were being made.  This member asked since ELCA guidelines for discipline prohibit it, will a pastor who does it be disciplined?  Bishop Hagmaier affirmed ELCA policy and said that any pastor who violated the policy would be disciplined by the bishop in whose synod that pastor is rostered.  She said that there was a process for this discipline and that any complaints should be brought to her in writing.  I thought it was astounding that Bishop Hagmaier reaffirmed as a reason for discipline behavior and action that she had invited three previous pastors to be involved in.

Bishop Hagmaier also clearly stated that the South Dakota Synod applies synodical administration (S13.24 in the model constitution for synods) only after a congregation has disbanded.  Only after a congregation has held its final worship service does the synod receive the keys to the property so the synod can make sure that the property is properly cared for.  I wonder how many synods apply synodical administration (S13.24) only under those kinds of circumstances rather than under circumstances such as we have described in other synods (including in the former synod of the current presiding bishop of the ELCA). 

MISREPRESENTING THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION FOR A RENEWED LUTHERAN CHURCH

I also found it shocking how Bishop Riegel of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, who was also a member of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church, misrepresented the work of that Commission.  Bishop Riegel was among the four initial presenters.  During his opening remarks he made the following comments regarding the Commission.

The “primary drive” behind the memorials from ten synods to the Churchwide Assembly that led to the formation of the Commission was “a sense that this church structurally is too big for itself.”

The focus for the original memorials was for “increasing flexibility for congregations and synods,” “loosening things up so that congregations and synods would have more ability to dictate to themselves how polity would be structured, how they would do things, so they could respond more nimbly to their context.”  The goal was “untangling some of the uniformity of the church” and “having greater flexibility.”

He also referred to the commitment to dismantle racism as merely a “proviso on the side.” 

Neither the final report of the Commission to the Church Council, nor the recommendations from the Church Council to the Churchwide Assembly, nor the actions of the Churchwide Assembly support his statements.

Contrary to what Bishop Riegel said, the commitment to dismantle racism was not a “proviso on the side.”  Instead it was a top priority of the process.  The resolution that was passed by the 2022 Churchwide Assembly that called for the creation of the Commission instructed the Commission to be “particularly attentive to our shared commitment to dismantle racism.”  Anything that any group is to be “particularly attentive to” is not a “proviso on the side.”    

Recommendation 1 from the Commission to the Church Council was entitled “Immediate Action on Dismantling Racism.”  It included these statements. 

“To ensure timely action, all constitution and bylaw amendments needed for the development and implementation of these accountability measures and compliance incentives must be developed and advanced in time for consideration by the 2028 Churchwide Assembly.  If by that time such measures and incentives have not been adequately identified or enacted, we recommend the ELCA Church Council call for a special meeting of the Churchwide Assembly to evaluate and enact necessary constitutional revisions that will enable and advance the ELCA’s commitment to anti-racism work.”

B-14 was a summary of memorials from several synods and was approved by the Churchwide Assembly 646-144.  The thrust of this motion was –  

• To acknowledge the importance of accountability in addressing racism within all structures of the ELCA
• To affirm the work of the Strategy Toward Authentic Diversity Advisory Team and request that the Church Council continue to work with the team to clarify the nature of mutual accountability as referenced in Recommendation 1 of the CRLC Report
• To direct the Church Council to add a timeline to its actions taken in response to CRLC Recommendation 1 and to provide progress updates to this church with a final report by Fall 2027, including possible constitutional changes, and
• To recommend that if this work is not accomplished by Fall 2027, the Church Council consider calling a special meeting of the Churchwide Assembly to enact necessary revisions to the governing documents of this church.

When you combine these actions with the development of a DEIA handbook and several pages of DEIA Recommendations for Congregations found in the DEIA audit which the Church Council had done of the ELCA’s governing documents, what you have is greater and enforced compliance and uniformity, not “greater flexibility” and “loosening things up.”

What has happened since then?  An October 9, 2025 news release from the ELCA reports that during the October 2-3 meeting of the Church Council the Council “received updates from its Executive Committee regarding a timeline of the ‘immediate action on dismantling racism’ . . . to develop mutual accountability measures and compliance incentives across all expressions of the ELCA.”  Anything that calls for “immediate action” is not a “proviso on the side.”  “Mutual accountability measures and compliance incentives across all expressions of the ELCA” do not speak of “greater flexibility” and “loosening things up.”  Instead they speak of greater, enforced uniformity. 

And then another way in which Bishop Riegel misrepresented the work of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church was in his incomplete reporting regarding a proposed amendment to the ELCA Churchwide Constitution – 22.11.b.  As I reported in my analysis of the Churchwide Assembly (LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR – AUGUST 2025 – Lutheran Coalition for Renewal (CORE)) that amendment would have provided a way to fast track the approval of amendments that come from the floor.  According to the proposed amendment, they would no longer need to be ratified by a Churchwide Assembly three years later (hopefully after discussion in synods and congregations).  Rather they could be ratified by action of the Church Council within the next twelve months.  Bishop Riegel reported that he opposed that amendment, and he was correct when he said that it did not pass (though just barely).  But he did not say what happened next.  Later during the assembly a voting member proposed new language, which would provide for a provisional ratification of an amendment from the floor by a vote of the church council within twelve months and then a later ratification of the amendment by the next Churchwide Assembly.  After much discussion about whether the new language was appropriate and how it would be executed, the assembly voted 517-247 to refer the motion to the Office of the Secretary for further study.  This action raises the question of how newly elected Secretary Lucille “CeCee” Mills will interpret the constitution. 

I thought it was very interesting that Bishop Riegel did not tell the rest of the story.  Rather he presented the actions of the Churchwide Assembly in a way that would “calm the nerves” of the members of First Lutheran.  I also do not understand if the final report of the Commission was no more than what Bishop Riegel said it was, why he would have dissented to it in full.

I have only limited information from other congregations regarding the consultation that they had with their synodical bishop before they held their first vote on whether to disaffiliate from the ELCA.  But none of them were like this one.  This Consultation certainly says two things –

• ELCA synodical bishops need to respect the integrity of congregations.
• ELCA church leaders need to tell the truth. 

“The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.  And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)  They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves” (Mark 6:30-32).

Our Lord knows all that we need.  Sometimes we so wrap ourselves up into all that is happening that we do not take time to take care of ourselves.  Jesus withdrew the disciples for a time of retreat.  The disciples reported to Him all that had happened.  The needs of the people were constant and continuous.  All things that need doing will never be completed by us during this age because they are continuous.

Lord, help me to see that I can do only what I can do, that there are limits, and time is needful to decompress.  Teach me to come to You and, in prayer, share all that I have done.  You already know, but I need to unload the things that have been going on.  Teach me also that I can never do all that needs doing.  There will always be more to do.  Guide me, Lord, so that I live into the life You have set before me.

Lord Jesus, You have shown me how to live.  There are times to be busy and times to rest.  Every time is time for prayer.  Guide me so that I live a temperate life which does not live on the edge, but in the balance and peace which You provide.  Help me now and always to humbly abide in You as You abide in me.  You alone are the One who can lead me to live according to the Father’s will.  Amen.

“Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.  When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb” (Mark 6:27-29).

Regardless of how we may have felt in the moment, the regrets are overcome by the obligation which pride created.  Pride is strong and it hammers at us all.  We each do what we do, but how often do we think about what we do?  The Lord calls us to constant prayer and communion with Him.  We are to be aware not only of what we are doing, but also of our attitude and motivation.

Lord, I sometimes do things without thinking about them.  I put myself into situations where my own obligations drive me to do even things I do not want to do.  Help me so that I live according to Your word and not according to the things of this world or the pressures that it puts on me.  Teach me to be guarded concerning my promises.  With all things, help me to think through what I am saying and doing.

Lord Jesus, without You, I would not even know the extent of the difficulty I have with pride, let alone have a way out.  My Savior, lead me through these things so that I learn how to live loving You and my neighbor.  Teach me how to properly behave in all circumstances.  Aid me to live a life of praise of You whose work alone endures forever.  Through Your word, Lord, may I be guided into all goodness.  Amen

“Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her” (Mark 6:25-26).

The scheming and plotting of this world is constant.  It never stops.  We fall into the traps of our own making and we are remorseful.  Avoid the remorse and learn how not to fall into the trap.  No matter our position, we too can fall for the traps that are set by the wicked one.  Pride goes before the fall.  If that happens, repent, confess, come before the Lord, and learn the lesson.  Be led by the Lord alone.

Lord, You know what is in store for me.  You know what will happen.  I pray that You will help me learn the lessons You teach me without my falling into the pits of temptation that are around me.  Kill my pride and help me to learn how to humbly live with You as the One who guides me.  Through all things, may I learn from You how to live a life filled with righteousness.

Thank You Lord Jesus for saving me.  Through all the dangers and tribulations that will come in this world, be the One who leads me.  Guide me according to Your goodness and mercy so that I am quick to learn, slow to anger, and living out the love You are giving me.  Guide me into the depth of the faith You have given me so that I may become more like You each day.  Amen.

“And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.”  And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist” (Mark 6:23-24).

Do not make a prideful oath.  It is not that we cannot swear allegiance or pledge the truth, but that we ought not promise when we do not know what the outcome will be.  You know this story.  You know what is going to happen.  Do not make a pledge that will trap you into sinning proudly and harming your ability to do what is right.  Be led by the Lord alone and be on the guard lest pride cause you to act with unrighteousness.

Lord God, You know how many times I have made an oath that led me down the wrong path.  I know that I am saved by grace. But keep me from making the same mistakes over and over again.  Open my eyes to see more clearly so that I may begin to understand the path that is before me. Help me see the pits that are alongside the trail which may tempt me.  Teach me how to be in constant prayer, seeking Your counsel.

Lord Jesus, You were in constant communion with the Father.  You have told me to pray without ceasing.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, so that I too learn how to constantly be in prayer.  You are my Savior and I need to be saved.  Help me this day to follow closely where You lead.  Show me the temptations that come my way so that I do not fall for them.  Through all things, aid me learn what it means to be righteous.  Amen.

“A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you” (Mark 6:21-22).

Never make a bargain with the devil.  In our sinfulness, we may be tempted to be charitable but if it is done with pride, it may well become a devil’s bargain.  Herod placed himself in the position of having to be generous because of all the guests.  Showing off is never a good idea.  Learn from folly, yours and others, and seek to do what is best in every situation.  Be guided by the Holy Spirit and not by your pride, for “pride goes before destruction.”

Lord, there are times when I do things I think are good, and they are not.  There are times when pride rules me.  Be the One who guides me in how I live my life and direct the things I do.  Where there is pride, slay it.  Where there is false generosity, humble me.  Help me to see myself as I am and not fall prey to the plotting and scheming that happens in this world.  Be the One who guides my heart.

Lord Jesus, how many times have You seen this kind of thing play out?  Regardless of the times I do anything like this, help me to follow Your example and seek at all times and in all ways to please the Father.  Be the One who is leading my life.  Guard my mouth and mind so that I may learn humility and hear clearly when Your Holy Spirit speaks.  Guide me, dear Savior, into the way of righteousness.  Amen.

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone! 

Pastor: Happy Epiphany, Sammy!

Sammy: Epiphany? What’s that, Pastor?

Pastor: That’s the time in the church year when we celebrate the Wise Men going to see Jesus. They recognized that Jesus is God.

Sammy: What was so wise about these men?

Pastor: Well, they were astronomers, which means that they studied the stars. The wise men understood that even though they were wealthy, smart men, there was one who was greater than them–that’s Jesus. They also knew not to return to King Herod to tell him about Jesus.

Sammy: I heard that the Wise Men also brought gifts to Jesus. 

Pastor: Boys and girls, what gifts do you think the Wise Men brought to baby Jesus?

Sammy: I know! A wool blanket!

Pastor: That’s a great gift from a sheep to baby Jesus, but that’s not the right answer. What did the Wise Men bring to Jesus?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: The Wise Men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Sammy: Those are expensive gifts, and strange gifts for a baby. What were they thinking? Are you sure they really were Wise Men?

Pastor: I’m sure of it, Sammy. These gifts show everyone that Jesus is a prophet, priest, king, and God. 

Sammy: I still think a wool blanket is a good idea, Pastor. 

Pastor: You know what’s neat, Sammy? Jesus was wrapped in a blanket made for lambs that were supposed to be for sacrifice. Jesus died on the cross, and he is the Lamb of God sacrificed for us all.

Sammy: That’s the best gift ever!

Pastor: Yes it is. Boys and girls, would you please pray with me? Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads. Dear Jesus, thank you for special gifts. We thank you for being the best gift. Help us to love you more and more each day. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

“Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him” (Mark 6:19-20).

If the sin confronting you is spoken of by another, kill the other.  That does not get rid of the sin, but it does keep the reminder away.  Or does it?  Whether small or large, our sinfulness does not like being confronted.  The righteous and holy will remind us that the Lord is calling us to righteousness and holiness.  Some are perplexed by the truth, but others hear the truth and rejoice.

Lord, help me to hear Your word and rejoice in the truth You have spoken.  Guide me in Your goodness to always abide by what You have spoken.  You have given me truth and called me to walk in that truth all the days of my life.  Help all the faithful to live into the life for which You sacrificed Your own.  Lead the church according to Your goodness and mercy.

Lord Jesus, there are those in this world who would silence my voice.  Whether You allow me to speak or have my voice silenced, which is Your judgement, help me to always be faithful.  While it is day, help me to speak the truth You have revealed.  Guide me to seek righteousness and live into the call to become like You.  Help me by Your grace and mercy to be forthright, honest and faithful.  Amen.

“For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.  For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (Mark 6:17-18).

Guilty is guilty.  It does not matter what the world says.  The truth of God’s law pierces the heart, and the sinner works hard to not hear the voice of truth.  We each have that in ourselves.  Let the truth pierce your heart.  It is the truth which sets you free.  We often become hostile to the ones who remind us of the battle which is deep within us.  We want to be rid of those who confront us and we sometimes fear them.

Lord, help me to see that it is You who confronts me in my sin.  You have placed all things on their course, and Your law is inviolable.  Throughout the struggles that confront me in this world, help me to hear clearly Your voice and apply the message You are giving me.  Let me not be carried away by my own reasoning but listen and obey as You direct me in the way of life as You created it to be lived.

Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way You have set before me.  Knowing that other voices will come and the temptation will arise to go another way, help me to understand the truth You speak knowing that You alone have set all things on their course.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You know I need to go and help me to hear Your voice above my own so that I may walk in the way of truth.  Amen.

“But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”  But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!” (Mark 6:15-16)

Speculation, speculation, speculation!  Have things really changed?  We speculate and then proceed as if we know what the truth is.  Come to know the truth.  The truth is not a proposition, a speculation, a feeling, but the reality that Jesus is God in the flesh.  He has come to lead as many as hear His voice into truth.  He is the truth.  Do not live by the speculations of this world, but in the Truth who is Jesus.

Lord, I am often carried away by the thoughts of those around me.  There is constant speculation and then positions are held and there is great hostility.  Help me to live according to Your purpose.  You created me and continue to guide me in the truth You have revealed.  Lead me into all truth.  Lead me according to Your goodness and mercy to see that only in You will I find what is right and true.

Lord Jesus, through all the confusion of this world, lead me to see that in You alone is there hope and a future.  Regardless of the cacophony of noise which surrounds me, help me to hear Your clear, gentle voice, and follow You.  Be the One who is leading me.  Let me hear Your voice clearly, listen, and obey to all that You command.  Help me to walk through the noise of this world and listen to You above all the distractions of this world. Amen.