norms news july 7th

understand that the second largest ELCA church in the Grand Canyon Synod has now passed their first vote to leave the ELCA by over 80%. The church, La Casa de Cristo, has over 3500 members and worships over 1700 each week-end. With their departure and the departure of Community of Joy, the ELCA has "lost" over 10,000 members.
I note from the ELCA website that the ELCA and Grand Canyon Synod still list Victory Lutheran of Mesa as a member church--though Victory's two votes to leave the ELCA passed with strong support (over 80%). Interestingly, the ELCA's church entry for Victory now has no pastors listed--like it's vacant! Victory's newsletter, The Messenger, however, indicates their 3 pastors and visitation pastor are all still serving the church and are now actively involved in amending their constitution to document their LCMC membership and delete ELCA references--a la Calvary Lutheran of Golden Valley. The Synod must think they can maintain a connection which the people and pastors (now apparently defrocked by the ELCA?) don't want. Are they keeping Victory "on the books" in an effort to minimize "statistical" losses? I think the "hard-ball" tactics of synods against congregations voting to leave are backfiring--and only intensifying support for their decisions. I suspect there will be a great movement to LCMC churches from surrounding ELCA churches in the Phoenix area. Victory has a growing satellite congregation, too. Great things are happening there!
I agree with Skip Sundberg that the ELCA's national and synodical strength are functionally disappearing. As people become aware that the consequence of ELCA actions has resulted in spiritually impotent churches, fewer people will be committed to serve in them. That's what will leave the denomination high and dry. Bishops will be sitting in their offices unable to mobilize the remaining luke-warm members.
What a tragic end for a once faithful church. But, the pastors and lay people who worked in the ELCA's predecessor church bodies did much great work and many came to know Christ as Savior. So all was NOT wasted.
Guess the number of LCMC congregations is now nearing 470! Soon it will be 500. Even churches in Pennsylvania are now leaving the ELCA and joining LCMC! Amazing!
Blessings to you in your work, Norm.