30 years ago: Three liberal U.S. Lutheran churches agree to merge

On September 8, 1982, the Lutheran Church in America, American Lutheran Church, and Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches voted to merge to form a new church, which would become the third-largest Protestant denomination in the United States. The merger, which created the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, didn't come into effect until January 1, 1988. A more accurate name for the organization would be the Apostate Lutheran Poliical and Social Advocacy Organization in America.