This study will include the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Readers will learn the mission, values, and beliefs of each denomination through exploration of their websites. Christians from one or two generations ago probably never imagined that their beliefs would be on the internet for everyone to see.
The purpose for the Episcopal Church website is to educate the public about what the Episcopal Church does and believes. It appears that the website is geared toward those who are not familiar with the Episcopal Church. Areas covered include the basic tenants of the faith, missions they support, how the church hierarchy is organized, information on how to contact various branches of the organization, and information on services for each age or cultural group. No mention is made of converting people to Christianity or to the Episcopal faith.
Some sections of the website make more sense than other areas. I did learn that the Bible is very important to Episcopalians and each worship service contains several readings from the Bible. The Episcopal Church believes in the five sacraments of confirmation, reconciliation, matrimony, orders, and unction. The denomination provides sermons to the pastors to use. Episcopalians are very open to having women participate in leadership. In fact, the presiding bishop of the entire denomination is a female named The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori (http://www.episcopalchurch.org). The Episcopal Church reaches out to Native or Indigenous People, prisoners, the elderly, the disabled, and youth.
The Episcopal Church encourages their members to become politically and socially active through the Church’s Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN). The EPPN has a separate website (http://www.episcopal.grassroots.com). For example, on the Episcopal Grassroots website, church members are encouraged to support a Congressional Bill that will commit the United States to assist with sustainable peace and development in Sudan. The Episcopal Church appears to be quite outspoken about current events through its EPPN.
The Episcopal Church provides too many services to count. Examples include adult Bible Studies, Episcopal Relief and Development to people in forty countries, education at seminaries or colleges, children’s ministries, Latino/Hispanic Ministries, statistical information on various denominations and communities, church services on video on demand, and Episcopal web radio. Services that are available directly online are of course the online web radio and social media on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Additional services directly online include lesson plans for both children and adult Bible studies. The EPPN offers an online automated letter to Senators or Congressmen about current social issues or legislation. This service allows users to fill in their personal information while the website formulates the body of the letter with the Episcopal Church’s position on the matter and the action the church wants taken.
The Episcopal Church states that its mission is the same as the mission of Christ. The mission statement reads:
~ To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
~ To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
~ To respond to human need by loving service
~ To seek to transform unjust structures of society
~ To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth (episcopalchurch.org)
The mission statement means that it will tell others about Jesus Christ (the Good News), will help new believers understand the Bible, offer help to those in need, and to become involved in social and political issues.
The Episcopal Church appears to be liberal as they approve of women working in the church and they are very socially and politically active. Yes, there are current posts on political topics on the website. One example of this is a video from Earth Day, 2012, that discusses poverty in America. Another example includes the link to the EPPN website. Everything on the EPPN website relates to political topics and the information is up to date. One example of being up to date on the EPPN website is a letter to Congress regarding migration and refugee assistance for the 2013 fiscal year.
The website for the Episcopal Church is extremely well organized and filled with useful information. This denomination is very modern in its beliefs and use of social media. The Episcopal Church’s use of the internet and social media will ensure that it appeals to the younger generations for decades to come.
Switching over to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), it appears that their website is in place to educate the public or current church members about their beliefs, services, and how people can become involved. The website offers links to find an ELCA church in a local community as well as links to volunteering in a local community. The purpose of the website appears to be educating and engaging readers.
I learned that the ELCA really encourages members to volunteer in a local community, nationally, or throughout the world. The ELCA often has early childhood and elementary schools in place in local communities. I learned that the ELCA has their own advocacy network and is very concerned with current social and political issues.
Commentaries on current events include a call to members to be careful when using natural resources. Commentary is provided on the federal budget and how it affects Americans. Church members are encouraged to contact members of Congress to ask them to maintain funding for the needy. The website comments that as Christians, members of the ELCA have a responsibility to reach out in love to those who are affected by natural disasters, war, and hunger. The ELCA is committed to fighting AIDS throughout the U.S. and the world. Church members are encouraged to get involved in the fight against AIDS and other issues. Links are provided to guide members to find a way to contribute to the fight.
The ELCA offers online resources to read and study the Bible, read daily prayers, and make prayer requests. Other online resources provide information on the church’s stance on social issues such as abortion, the death penalty, sexuality, AIDS, end of life decisions, and homelessness (http://www.elca.org). Services offered within the congregation include women’s, men’s, and youth ministries. The church also sponsors seminaries and colleges throughout the United States.
The mission of the ELCA is “Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world” (http://www.elca.org). This means that members of the ELCA believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, making members marked by the cross of Christ forever. Members of the ELCA who believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sins are claimed by Christ forever. Church members are gathered together as a group of believers called Christians. Church members are sent into the world to preach the gospel to bring everyone to Christ which saves people from their sins.
The ELCA appears to be moderate in its beliefs. It still believes in the ninety-five theses posted by Martin Luther back in 1517. The ELCA still believes in and recites the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds which both date back to the Third Century. Holding fast to these traditions make the ELCA appear conservative. One item that shows the ELCA is liberal in its beliefs is that women are allowed to be pastors. Some conservative denominations today such as the Southern Baptists still largely prevent women from being pastors. The fact that the ELCA has stepped out to support AIDS victims and work to prevent AIDS qualifies the ELCA as liberal according to traditional church standards. Considering that the ELCA has its own advocacy network and encourages its members to speak up to members of Congress shows some forward thinking which qualifies the ELCA as liberal. Balancing the traditional beliefs with some modern beliefs makes the ELCA appear to be a moderate organization.
Yes, the ELCA has current posts on political issues. One example is dated May 30, 2012 and discusses how the Minnesota Family Investment Program should not deny help to single mothers even if they test positive for drugs, especially if they are seeking help for their addiction. This program offers food and housing assistance. The information on current political issues is found under the justice tab.
The advocacy option under the justice tab takes website users to up to date information on current legislation, elections on a national or state level, links to finding elected officials at all levels of government, a congressional directory, and an agency search. Having this information available on the ELCA website makes it easy for users to engage with the government. Many Christians believe that all Christians are called to make their voice heard in government and the ELCA appears to support that belief by having these resources available to church members.
Both the ELCA and the Evangelical Church have websites with a massive amount of information. How many church members actually take the time to look at these resources? How many church members even know about these websites? How many church members are aware of all the opportunities to become involved in their denomination or in their government? Each individual congregation needs to spread the word about these resources so that positive changes happen in the U.S. and the world.
References
The Domestic and Foreign Mission Society. (2012). The episcopal church. Retrieved from
http://www.episcopalchurch.org.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. (n.d.). Evangelical Lutheran church in America.
Retrieved from http://www.elca.org.
