Would you like to hear from a former Lutheran? I renounced the Lutheran faith as heresy and became Eastern Orthodox 4 years ago. For the past 20 years, I had noticed that the LCMS became more interested in right wing politics than in helping their members develop a relationship with God. Members of the LCMS were more interested in "proving" 6 day creationism than caring for their neighbors. If the LCMS continues to worry more about right wing politics than people with real needs, it will continue to decrease in size. Turn yourselves around, and remember that God is not political.