The Decline of the ELCA

There is a magic number in the air. The number is ten percent, which the goal of the ELCA. This is the target number for the ELCA to change its image as not so very much white church. As many are well aware, this lack of minority presence is not merely a problem of the ELCA. All of the mainline churches have issues with minority presence. Nevertheless, out of the largest mainline churches, the ELCA has the worse minority representation particularly if one is to consider the number of membership - some 4.5 million members. These will be a difficult task particularly as the ELCA also face decline membership. The ELCA will not be saved by reaching out to minorities because the root of its decline is not merely lack of reaching out to minorities. What the ELCA needs to do is to address the real issue of their decline; and to do this they must find the issue for their decline.