Edina Community Lutheran Church in St. Edina, Minnesota, has drawn criticism after a clip of the reverend and congregation reciting what they call the “Sparkle Creed” went viral.
Reverand Rachael Small Stokes had the congregants repeat after her as she led them in the creed, which states:
I believe in the non-binary God whose pronouns are plural.
I believe in Jesus Christ, their child, who wore a fabulous tunic and had two dads and saw everyone as a sibling-child of God.
I believe in the rainbow Spirit, who shatters our image of one white light and refracts it into a rainbow of gorgeous diversity.
I believe in the church of everyday saints as numerous, creative, and resilient as patches on the AIDS quilt, whose feet are grounded in mud and whose eyes gaze at the stars in wonder.
I believe in the calling to each of us that love is love is love, so beloved, let us love.
I believe, glorious God. Help my unbelief. Amen.
The live-streamed service can be viewed here.
The Sparkle Creed was invented by Stokes in 2021, according to a Twitter post Stoke made that year.
Alpha News provides more context to who Stokes is and her affiliations:
The “sparkle creed” was created by a woman named Rachel Small-Stokes, a pastor from Louisville. Small-Stokes explained in a 2021 Facebook post that the idea was born after her phone translated the Apostle’s Creed to the “sparkle creed.” Small-Stokes recently shared a a video of a “drag revival” from a group called Drag Daddy Productions on her Facebook page.
Helgen is one of two pastors at Edina Community Lutheran Church (ECLC), which says it is “currently on a long term journey to become an anti-racist congregation.”
The Lutheran church also endorses “ecofaith” and abortion, and holds monthly “anti-racism vigils.”
According to church documents, the monthly events are a response to the racism of religious institutions. “Vigils regularly remind us that it has often been religious institutions that have been the perpetrators of discrimination and racism and so religious institutions not only need to confess their past, but decide to change,” the document reads.
The church began holding the vigils during the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
ECLC is also connected to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a controversial bail fund group that ECLC describes as a mission partner. According to the church’s website, “The ECLC Cash Bail Team works to reform the cash bail system in Minnesota with the goal of systemic equity.”
The church’s website says its integration of social justice issues goes back as far as the 1980s, when it led classes on protesting. In 1992, the church held a seminar on anti-racist children’s literature.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Revelation 13:6 – written in a totally different context, but for instruction in righteousness purposes it fits here
The Protestant forefathers and reformers of old would be rolling in their graves if they knew what their movement has become. I am not a Protestant; and while the Protestants have had their issues since their inception, never in a million years or in this universe could one imagine these are the things being preached in a “church;” with a congregation full of elderly, who you’d would have a modicum of discernment, but they are as dead as all the rest.
The Protestants are some of the most vile and repugnant people around these days. Words cannot describe their abominations and blasphemies. These are the same loathsome satatnists prancing around saying “awomen.”
Some things never change (again, for instruction in righteousness of course):
[9] And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. [10] So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. [11] And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. [12] Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. [13] He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. [14] Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. [15] Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. [16] And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. [17] Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. [18] Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. Ezekiel 8:9-18
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Of all the Protestant apostate churches in this country and probably throughout Europe, it is the Lutheran Church that wins the kewpie doll for most “woke” and disgustingly stupid of the bunch. I noticed this for quite a few years that they seem to bear the worst fruit of the whole bunch.
I couldn’t agree more Liz, all the Lutheran cult is is Catholic Zero (like Coca Cola Zero) but also, I’m adding to the table, as I am an EX-Pentecostal, pentecostal/charismatic are arguably the WORST!
These denominations are the daughters of the Vatican!
Yeah, I don’t think this is exactly what Luther had in mind when he split from Rome, lol.
But seriously, it’s no laughing matter. This is just downright disgusting.
Psalms 55:15
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
Absolutely disgusting, boy I’m glad The Holy Spirit lead me out of the Lutherolic chruch WELS. Dear God please send a STRONG thunder storm to remind this church of who is in control, Amen
Amen, David! I’m thankful the Holy Spirit led me out of the Pentecatholic (pentecostal) cult!
That charismatic garbage was NOT the Holy Spirit, it was kundalini, a devil that blasphemously tries to emulate the Holy Spirit.
I bet the devil wouldn’t even dare to pray that, by fear of being kicked out early…
yup that seems to be their new slogan saw those same words a few towns over about a few weeks ago.
why do they always force themselves on everyone and why dont they make up their own damn beliefs like the rest of the world.
its like they always have to be an offence to others or they cant live.
they couldnt even write their own book on their beliefs because even they all cant agree on terms and definitions.