Leaving the LCMS

[PA650]

The LCMS is becoming more and more liberal every day. Some congregations are very conservative while others go to the opposite end. The problem with the LCMS is the leadership that has been elected. There are great conservative minds within it being overshadowed by the church growth movement. Has the LCMS not learned the church growth movement will destroy the synod. My own little parish does have its own issues. Though they are somewhat trivial compaired to synod problems. We are aways from becoming as bad as the ELCA though. Women ordanation and gay marriage and all.

Well, thank you for clarifying the LCMS current situation. Although some good news is, no matter what certain Catholics in the Church feel on any particular issue, the Church’s teachings will not, nor ever change.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Workingman,

You are on the journey of a life time! Continue to learn all you can - I think you will find this list is truly a blesing.

God bless

God seems to be working in mysterious ways. Good luck and God speed in your travel:thumbsup:

 

[workingman]

Hi, Workingman,

You are on the journey of a life time! Continue to learn all you can - I think you will find this list is truly a blesing.

God bless

Thank you we are just now siting down and talking with a priest in our area. He did refer us to one a little closer. Let the journy begin And thank you.

 

[ac_claire]

Thank you we are just now siting down and talking with a priest in our area. He did refer us to one a little closer. Let the journy begin And thank you.

Workingman, I’m so happy to hear this! Still praying for you…

(Also, off-topic but every time I reply to this thread I hear Rush’s “Working Man” in my head. I couldn’t shake it all day yesterday lol. )

 

[JonNC]

The LCMS does not share communion with ELCA or WELS ether.
Maybe confession would be used more often if there was a set time besides having to call the pastor to set up a time for private confession.

That’s what my pastor did. But my issue is an apparrant unwillingness of the synod to encourage it more. Ablaze seems to be more important.

Like you, this is a big issue for me, as well as the issue of the piety and reverence for the blessed Eucharist that is sometimes lacking.

Jon

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

My older brother is leaving the LCMS for the Catholic church at the same time I am leaving the Anglican faith for the same. Oddly enough, we never spoke to each other about this and were both stunned when we realized what was happening.

Paul

Welcome to Catholicism, Paul. We’re sure glad to have you! I was in the Anglican Church about 7 years ago as well taking a detour in my spiritual life. God bless you!
Scott

 

[DJgang]

My older brother is leaving the LCMS for the Catholic church at the same time I am leaving the Anglican faith for the same. Oddly enough, we never spoke to each other about this and were both stunned when we realized what was happening.

Paul

Now, THAT is cool!

Welcome Home … to you both! :extrahappy:

 

[workingman]

Workingman, I’m so happy to hear this! Still praying for you…

(Also, off-topic but every time I reply to this thread I hear Rush’s “Working Man” in my head. I couldn’t shake it all day yesterday lol. )

Thank you for the prayers
I forgot all about that song by rush. I may have to see if I can get a intro song for it with out getting sued.

 

[benedictus2]

I am a former Lutheran who converted to Catholicism. I can asure you there is a deep and profound respect for the Eucharist and that the Sacrament of Confession has been one of the most precious gifts God has given us and is always available.

Have you been able to find a parish to attend or a priest to talk with and ask questions about the Catholic Church. My experience is that they were very approachable, friendly and knowledgeable.

My own personal journey into the Catholic Church was more from encountering the depth of the Catholic faith and teaching through reading the works of the saints like St. Ignatius both of Antioch and Loyola, St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa of Avila and wondering why the Lutheran Church had no writters that could speak from such intimacy and depth of relationship. Entering the Catholic Church has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. My wife and I have been overwhelmed with the endless treasure that is the Catholic faith. As you may be able to tell from know we are very happy and all the personal sacrifices we made upon announcing I intention to convert and some stresses that put on some family relationships and friends were worth it. Now alot of those strains are now easing so even that is becoming a blessing.

I will relate one of the things that kind of sealed the deal for me in my desire to convert since it relates to one of your reasons. The short version is I ran the Alpha course at our lutheran church and we were on the weekend retreat and happened to book it at a Catholic retreat house. After we had settled into our rooms me and a friend were looking around the facilities as it was very bueatiful and we wanted to see what all was there. We eventually came to these two doors and we opened them and just as soon as we had opened them we were overwhelmed by the presence of God. I mean I was going to my knees it was so overwhelming. We had no idea what we had walked into but I saw people on both knees praying before the altar very reverently so deep in prayer they didnt even turn to us as we came in. My eyes were also drawn to the altar as God seemed to be there but I didnt know how. I saw what I know now is called Monstrance but just thought it was a pretty decoration at the time. We left so as not to be rude but as we closed the door behind us I asked my friend if she felt that. She said how overwhelming it all was and we wondered what we had walked in on. It turns out it was what is known as Eucharistic adoration. That experience of God in the Eucharist never left me and I eventually found where there was an adoration chapel in my city and started praying there in our Lords presence every week a practice I maintain till this day and by Gods grace til the day I die.

I hope you will continue to look for Him in the Eucharist. He is there waiting for us.

I do not know what to say about this post. I am in tears, in awe, moved beyond what I don’t know, transported to that time when you were in that room in His Presence.

Thank you so very, very, much for sharing that with us.

 

[15thClub]

Let me answer in two parts. PART 1. I left the LCMS is 1981. I left because I was fed up and tired of the divisive infighting that began to brew in 1969 and came to full boil in 1973 when the late J.A.O. Preus, President of the LCMS, and a minority of his allies, “purged” Concordia Theological Seminary resulting in the formation of the Seminary in Exile also known as “Seminex.” This spanned 12 years of my life from junior high school to my first years as a military officer. So as their are cradle Catholics, I was a cradle Lutheran, LCMS specifically. In all of the fracas up to the time I left, I never knew who was right and who was wrong. What I did know at the time was that all through the 12 years, people took sides and they fought like the devil for what they thought was a heavenly cause. For ten years I was on and off in the Episcopal Church. I was fairly happy in the Episcopal Church until Episcopal Bishop John Spong writes a paper that the resurrection never happened. Christ died and that was it. It took less than a second to leave that church after reading Spong’s trash. Add women priests, women bishops and gay bishops and it’s rather plain to see that the Episcopal Church prides itself in both heresy and constantly outdoing itself in climbing to higher and higher levels of flakiness. I began going to the Catholic Church over 18 years ago. My wife is a cradle Catholic and we decided to raise our daughter Catholic. Me, I decided to take it slow and give myself as much time as I needed. I attended Mass, I read, I listened, I researched and I did not give myself a time limit. This time, if i was going to make one last commitment to the Catholic Church, I was going to be certain. in 18 years I acquired a lot of information about the Catholic Church. While I was impressed at how the Church arrived at its teachings, I couldn’t “put it together.” About five weeks ago, I was fortunate to buy the last copy of Father Barron’s masterpiece, “Catholicism.” After watching the ten part series twice, it all fell into place. RCIA for this year had already started but I went over to the church we attend and explained to Father what was going on. He listened and gave his OK. One difficult journey about to end, what the next journey will be, I’ll just have to wait and see. End of Part 1.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Boscoe,

Welcome to CAF - and that was an excellent First Post!

Yours is a truly inspiring story - eveone’s journey to the Catholic Faith is unique and has a dynamic flow as you start to appreciate the history of the Chruch and why it is the one founded by Christ on Peter. But, there are also some common elements. And for those who lurk (just reading posts, do not respond in print) I think your experience can hep some tohers foks may the transition.

Thanks for sharing your story with us.

God bless

Tom

I am a former Lutheran who converted to Catholicism. I can asure you there is a deep and profound respect for the Eucharist and that the Sacrament of Confession has been one of the most precious gifts God has given us and is always available.

Have you been able to find a parish to attend or a priest to talk with and ask questions about the Catholic Church. My experience is that they were very approachable, friendly and knowledgeable.

My own personal journey into the Catholic Church was more from encountering the depth of the Catholic faith and teaching through reading the works of the saints like St. Ignatius both of Antioch and Loyola, St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa of Avila and wondering why the Lutheran Church had no writters that could speak from such intimacy and depth of relationship. Entering the Catholic Church has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. My wife and I have been overwhelmed with the endless treasure that is the Catholic faith. As you may be able to tell from know we are very happy and all the personal sacrifices we made upon announcing I intention to convert and some stresses that put on some family relationships and friends were worth it. Now alot of those strains are now easing so even that is becoming a blessing.

I will relate one of the things that kind of sealed the deal for me in my desire to convert since it relates to one of your reasons. The short version is I ran the Alpha course at our lutheran church and we were on the weekend retreat and happened to book it at a Catholic retreat house. After we had settled into our rooms me and a friend were looking around the facilities as it was very bueatiful and we wanted to see what all was there. We eventually came to these two doors and we opened them and just as soon as we had opened them we were overwhelmed by the presence of God. I mean I was going to my knees it was so overwhelming. We had no idea what we had walked into but I saw people on both knees praying before the altar very reverently so deep in prayer they didnt even turn to us as we came in. My eyes were also drawn to the altar as God seemed to be there but I didnt know how. I saw what I know now is called Monstrance but just thought it was a pretty decoration at the time. We left so as not to be rude but as we closed the door behind us I asked my friend if she felt that. She said how overwhelming it all was and we wondered what we had walked in on. It turns out it was what is known as Eucharistic adoration. That experience of God in the Eucharist never left me and I eventually found where there was an adoration chapel in my city and started praying there in our Lords presence every week a practice I maintain till this day and by Gods grace til the day I die.

I hope you will continue to look for Him in the Eucharist. He is there waiting for us.

 

[hn160]

I am currently a LCMS member. I have started to have some real problems with how the LCMS is taking a turn down for the worst. I was wondering if there are any other LCMS members looking at leaving for one reason or another.

some of my reasoning is:

• Lack of reverence for the Lord’s Supper
• No want/use of confession
  -Ablaze movement/church growth movement

How can you be a LC-MS member and be a Roman Catholic?

You said lack of reverence for the Lord’s Supper, If you were LC-MS, in my Lc-MS church there is reverence for the elements in Holy Communion and receiving Holy Communion.

How can you say that there is no want or use of confession, every Sunday at the beginning of the Divine Service there is corporate confession and Absolution by the pastor, Private confession is also offered.

I agree that the Ablaze program should have never happened, but hopefully with President Harrison that will be extinguished, but that is no difference than a Clown Mass that is used to draw people in.

 

[hn160]

Let me answer in two parts. PART 1. I left the LCMS is 1981. I left because I was fed up and tired of the divisive infighting that began to brew in 1969 and came to full boil in 1973 when the late J.A.O. Preus, President of the LCMS, and a minority of his allies, “purged” Concordia Theological Seminary resulting in the formation of the Seminary in Exile also known as “Seminex.” This spanned 12 years of my life from junior high school to my first years as a military officer. So as their are cradle Catholics, I was a cradle Lutheran, LCMS specifically. In all of the fracas up to the time I left, I never knew who was right and who was wrong. What I did know at the time was that all through the 12 years, people took sides and they fought like the devil for what they thought was a heavenly cause. For ten years I was on and off in the Episcopal Church. I was fairly happy in the Episcopal Church until Episcopal Bishop John Spong writes a paper that the resurrection never happened. Christ died and that was it. It took less than a second to leave that church after reading Spong’s trash. Add women priests, women bishops and gay bishops and it’s rather plain to see that the Episcopal Church prides itself in both heresy and constantly outdoing itself in climbing to higher and higher levels of flakiness. I began going to the Catholic Church over 18 years ago. My wife is a cradle Catholic and we decided to raise our daughter Catholic. Me, I decided to take it slow and give myself as much time as I needed. I attended Mass, I read, I listened, I researched and I did not give myself a time limit. This time, if i was going to make one last commitment to the Catholic Church, I was going to be certain. in 18 years I acquired a lot of information about the Catholic Church. While I was impressed at how the Church arrived at its teachings, I couldn’t “put it together.” About five weeks ago, I was fortunate to buy the last copy of Father Barron’s masterpiece, “Catholicism.” After watching the ten part series twice, it all fell into place. RCIA for this year had already started but I went over to the church we attend and explained to Father what was going on. He listened and gave his OK. One difficult journey about to end, what the next journey will be, I’ll just have to wait and see. End of Part 1.

The ones that left the LC-MS in the 70’s eventually joined the ELCA and screwed it up, they were the liberals. This began the slippery slope of women ordination, then homosexual ordination, and historical criticism of the Bible.

 

[Conor7]

claire,
There is a tremendous difference . ELCA, recevies practicing homosexuals to Holy Communion. They ordain some and also ordain women.
I’m not sure of abortion, but I think they allow this also.

In a word, ‘Very Liberal’

jean8

I am truly not trying to beat up on you, but please do your research before posting something so damning.

Simple speculation has an untoward way of becoming “fact” once you write it down for the world to read.

 

[grandfather]

We eventually came to these two doors and we opened them and just as soon as we had opened them we were overwhelmed by the presence of God. I mean I was going to my knees it was so overwhelming. We had no idea what we had walked into but I saw people on both knees praying before the altar very reverently so deep in prayer they didnt even turn to us as we came in. My eyes were also drawn to the altar as God seemed to be there but I didnt know how. I saw what I know now is called Monstrance but just thought it was a pretty decoration at the time. We left so as not to be rude but as we closed the door behind us I asked my friend if she felt that. She said how overwhelming it all was and we wondered what we had walked in on. It turns out it was what is known as Eucharistic adoration. That experience of God in the Eucharist never left me and I eventually found where there was an adoration chapel in my city and started praying there in our Lords presence every week a practice I maintain till this day and by Gods grace til the day I die.

I hope you will continue to look for Him in the Eucharist. He is there waiting for us.

This is a similar Protestant encounters the Eucharist story that happened to me although I am a cradle Catholic. A local parish has had an adoration chapel for many years. From the beginning I took the hours of 1AM to 3AM on Saturday mornings. One night at about 1:30 a young woman entered, knelt on the kneeler directly in front of the monstrance. She began to cry and it continued for some time. I figured she did not come there to see me so I would mind my business, but she seemed very distressed. Nevertheless it became impossible to concentrate on prayer and after 45 minutes of tears I had enough so I asked her if there was anything I could do. I thought something really bad happened, like maybe a relative just died. Turned out she was a very nice girl having a problem with a boyfriend. She quieted down.

Then there was a lot of noise coming from the back room. Someone opened the door behind us and stood in the doorway and closed the door again. This happened twice and there was a lot of bumping around back there so I thought I should investigate. There was another girl in the back and she was drunk. She thought she was in a frat house. Some frat boys thought it would be funny to put the drunk girl in a chapel. She had passed out and finally woke up and had no idea where she was.

I told her I would take her home and asked the first girl if she would mind staying while I took the other one home. She agreed.

When I came back all was calm. Before I left to go home I said she did the wise thing for a Catholic girl coming to the right palce with her tears. She said, “Oh, I am not Catholic”. I was stunned. She came in and knelt down and prayed fervently in front of Jesus. I tried to process this and asked her why she would come to this place if she was not Catholic. She looked at me as if I were an idiot to ask such a dumb question. She said, “Where else would I go if I want to pray. This is the most peaceful place in town to pray”.

I could relate other more extraordinary things that happened there over the years, but they are personal.

 

[grandfather]

I am truly not trying to beat up on you, but please do your research before posting something so damning.

Simple speculation has an untoward way of becoming “fact” once you write it down for the world to read.

On these moral issues what is the difference between ECLA and Episcopalians?

They have a woman bishop Schorie (spell?) as their president in this country and a practiciing homosexual bishop in Vermont, Gene Robinson, and are all quite proud of it.

 

[mlz]

I am a former Lutheran who converted to Catholicism. I can asure you there is a deep and profound respect for the Eucharist and that the Sacrament of Confession has been one of the most precious gifts God has given us and is always available.

Have you been able to find a parish to attend or a priest to talk with and ask questions about the Catholic Church. My experience is that they were very approachable, friendly and knowledgeable.

My own personal journey into the Catholic Church was more from encountering the depth of the Catholic faith and teaching through reading the works of the saints like St. Ignatius both of Antioch and Loyola, St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa of Avila and wondering why the Lutheran Church had no writters that could speak from such intimacy and depth of relationship. Entering the Catholic Church has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. My wife and I have been overwhelmed with the endless treasure that is the Catholic faith. As you may be able to tell from know we are very happy and all the personal sacrifices we made upon announcing I intention to convert and some stresses that put on some family relationships and friends were worth it. Now alot of those strains are now easing so even that is becoming a blessing.

I will relate one of the things that kind of sealed the deal for me in my desire to convert since it relates to one of your reasons. The short version is I ran the Alpha course at our lutheran church and we were on the weekend retreat and happened to book it at a Catholic retreat house. After we had settled into our rooms me and a friend were looking around the facilities as it was very bueatiful and we wanted to see what all was there. We eventually came to these two doors and we opened them and just as soon as we had opened them we were overwhelmed by the presence of God. I mean I was going to my knees it was so overwhelming. We had no idea what we had walked into but I saw people on both knees praying before the altar very reverently so deep in prayer they didnt even turn to us as we came in. My eyes were also drawn to the altar as God seemed to be there but I didnt know how. I saw what I know now is called Monstrance but just thought it was a pretty decoration at the time. We left so as not to be rude but as we closed the door behind us I asked my friend if she felt that. She said how overwhelming it all was and we wondered what we had walked in on. It turns out it was what is known as Eucharistic adoration. That experience of God in the Eucharist never left me and I eventually found where there was an adoration chapel in my city and started praying there in our Lords presence every week a practice I maintain till this day and by Gods grace til the day I die.

I am soon to come into the catholic church fr a Lutheran background. I too had an in elieva l encounter with adoration

MlzQUOTE]

 

[Conor7]

On these moral issues what is the difference between ECLA and Episcopalians?

They have a woman bishop Schorie (spell?) as their president in this country and a practiciing homosexual bishop in Vermont, Gene Robinson, and are all quite proud of it.

I don’t know. I don’t know anything about the ELCA - which was my point. I couldn’t tell you how they compare to Episcopalians.

And, as far all Episcopalians being “proud of it,” I would say that that is untrue as evidenced by our little problem currently developing in this corner of the Anglican Communion.

 

[BernadetteM]

My older brother is leaving the LCMS for the Catholic church at the same time I am leaving the Anglican faith for the same. Oddly enough, we never spoke to each other about this and were both stunned when we realized what was happening.

Paul

Have you considered joining the Ordinariate for former Anglicans? It will be erected on January 1, 2012. There are groups and parishes springing up in many states.

Welcome home, I am a former member of TEC.

God Bless

Bernadette

 

[GaryTaylor]

Boscoe;4944930:

I am a former Lutheran who converted to Catholicism. I can asure you there is a deep and profound respect for the Eucharist and that the Sacrament of Confession has been one of the most precious gifts God has given us and is always available.

Have you been able to find a parish to attend or a priest to talk with and ask questions about the Catholic Church. My experience is that they were very approachable, friendly and knowledgeable.

My own personal journey into the Catholic Church was more from encountering the depth of the Catholic faith and teaching through reading the works of the saints like St. Ignatius both of Antioch and Loyola, St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa of Avila and wondering why the Lutheran Church had no writters that could speak from such intimacy and depth of relationship. Entering the Catholic Church has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. My wife and I have been overwhelmed with the endless treasure that is the Catholic faith. As you may be able to tell from know we are very happy and all the personal sacrifices we made upon announcing I intention to convert and some stresses that put on some family relationships and friends were worth it. Now alot of those strains are now easing so even that is becoming a blessing.

I will relate one of the things that kind of sealed the deal for me in my desire to convert since it relates to one of your reasons. The short version is I ran the Alpha course at our lutheran church and we were on the weekend retreat and happened to book it at a Catholic retreat house. After we had settled into our rooms me and a friend were looking around the facilities as it was very bueatiful and we wanted to see what all was there. We eventually came to these two doors and we opened them and just as soon as we had opened them we were overwhelmed by the presence of God. I mean I was going to my knees it was so overwhelming. We had no idea what we had walked into but I saw people on both knees praying before the altar very reverently so deep in prayer they didnt even turn to us as we came in. My eyes were also drawn to the altar as God seemed to be there but I didnt know how. I saw what I know now is called Monstrance but just thought it was a pretty decoration at the time. We left so as not to be rude but as we closed the door behind us I asked my friend if she felt that. She said how overwhelming it all was and we wondered what we had walked in on. It turns out it was what is known as Eucharistic adoration. That experience of God in the Eucharist never left me and I eventually found where there was an adoration chapel in my city and started praying there in our Lords presence every week a practice I maintain till this day and by Gods grace til the day I die.

I am soon to come into the catholic church fr a Lutheran background. I too had an in elieva l encounter with adoration

MlzQUOTE]

Interesting testimony and observation, most find this true that invest themselves as you are.

Peace