A letter written by the vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is being distributed to the church body’s 4.6 million members in response to the growing dissatisfaction over divisive decisions made this past summer by the denomination's chief legislative authority. Since ELCA's Churchwide Assembly adopted a social statement on human sexuality and made it possible non-celibate homosexuals to serve as rostered leaders, a number of congregations have considered parting ways with denomination, which they say has been parting ways with the Word of God.

"We are experiencing a 30-year trend in decreased membership and giving to support the work of the ELCA beyond its local congregations,” Hanson had reported this past Friday – the second day of the LWF Council’s six-day meeting in Geneva.“Furthermore, we do not know the budgetary implications of our recent decision on human sexuality," he told council members.

While the Churchwide Asssembly’s controversial decisions are expected to take its toll on the denomination, ELCA VP Peña said he believes the assembly’s actions will be “a catalyst to further strengthen our church and our relationships with each other."

"I feel as though I have experienced a resurrection," stated Peña, who was elected to a second six-year term during the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. “Good things are coming to light out of the chaos and darkness of what seemed like a hopeless situation.”

“And I pray for my fellow Lutherans that they may have the strength to commit and weather the storm," Peña concluded.