Posted on 09/08/2016 8:19:49 AM PDT by Gamecock
The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church America) finally did it. Applauded by many ELCA leaders, an action that cements their defiance of the Great “I Am,” the God of the Universe, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has written official marriage tools for gay weddings in the ELCA. The resource even claims that "God joins this celebration." More on that later. The ELCA posted the resources a few days ago calling it “Supplemental Resources for use within the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Service of Marriage.” (see here)
The ELCA News Service made the announcement saying, "The liturgical resources were developed based on action by the ELCA Church Council to implement recommendations from the 'Ministry to and with Same-gender Couples and Their Families' working group." ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton comments, "This is work that the church asked us to do. These are faithful and sensitive supplemental resources which can be used by all couples." (see here) Rev. Kevin L. Strickland, the ELCA director for worship formation and liturgical resources, is quoted in the same ELCA news announcement saying,
“These supplemental resources have been created to offer more inclusivity in language, pastoral care, and openness for all persons who seek to be married within this church,”
And,
“It has been said that marriage is a gift of God, intended for the joy and strength of those who enter it and for the well-being of the whole human family…It is my hope that these supplemental resources help point us as a church, in offering this gift for the whole human family.” Notice how the ELCA goes to great pains to minimize the fact that this is for same-sex marriages: "For all persons" and "can be used by all couples." Even in the content of the materials you can not find words like homosexual, same-sex and gay, but it was written in response to "the church" wanting a resource for gay weddings.
Here are some specific quotes from the resource that signify its real purpose:
“If the couple made previous commitments before legal marriage For name and name, that the love of Christ continue to deepen the commitment binding their lives together.” Page 10
“If conflict among families or friends has accompanied the occasion For those who could not attend this wedding, that the love of Christ move us into ever-deeper expressions of community and forgiveness.
For those who are married, those who long for marriage, those who struggle in marriage, and those who could not marry in the church, that the love of Christ give them peace, healing, hope, and compassion.” Page 11
“Spouse or life partner are other terms that may be used to signify both persons. Context, gender identity/expression, or common practice are among the factors that may suggest approaches to the language to be used.” Page 17
“I, name, take you, name, to be my wife/husband/spouse/life partner,” Page 8
What is even more distressing is how the ELCA "speaks" for God in this same gender wedding resource. It says God celebrates gay marriages, how their marriage is a gift that points to Him and how they are married in God's sight. See below:
“God intends the gift of their marriage to be a source of comfort and joy for them, and a blessing to all whom they encounter. Their promises bear witness to God’s faithfulness. Their love and care for one another, though human, finite, and flawed, reflect God’s enduring mercy and steadfast love. They love because God first loved them.” Page 2.
“Your marriage brings you joy and serves the community by witnessing to Christ, as you daily die to self-centeredness and rise to self-giving love. God joins this celebration, pouring out the Holy Spirit to bless your marriage with forgiveness, courage, and compassion. The community joins God in rejoicing with you and in promising to surround your marriage with joy and loving support.” Page 3
“The uniting of these two persons in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy, for the help and comfort they give one another in prosperity and adversity, and that their love may be a blessing to all whom they encounter.” Page 3
“Acclamation A The presiding minister addresses the assembly. Name and name, by their promises before this assembly, have joined themselves to one another and are married in the sight of God. Those whom God has joined together let no one separate.” Page 8
And to no one's surprise, the ELCA can not help themselves but call God "mother."
“Blessed are you, O God, mother of life.” Page 8 (see here)
The Bible makes it clear that God does not celebrate homosexual activities; He calls it sin. By saying that God approves of same-sex marriages, the ELCA has shown themselves to be a false teaching cult. Warn as many people as you can and get out quickly.
Gag me with a spoon.
Jude had these false teachers pegged 2000 years ago - “turning grace into lasciviousness”
As an ELCA Lutheran, it is a sad day in our church. It’s one of the main reasons my church and many others have nothing to do with the Synod. We do no more than we have to and ask them for nothing. Sevreal church’s have left the Synod all together and formed their own synod so to speak.
You beat me to it. If I were a convicted Lutheran that’s where I’d be looking. or maybe the Wisconsin Synod. They look pretty (small ‘o’) orthodox.
This is merely mocking God. And yet, God will have the last word, and it won’t be pretty (or short.)
Exactly. None of this "stay as salt and light to a dying denomination" garbage. We are admonished to "expel" evildoers, or to separate from them.
What relationship does your church have with the Synod, then? Do funds flow either way? If not, what is the benefit?
Leave.
Isn’t this special?
The good news is churches are leaving the ELCA due to sh*t just like this.
Amen to that.
"ELCA" speaks volumes. It says everything I need to know about a church. "Birds of a feather" you know.
A voluntary association with a group means an agreement with its precepts and mission. How can any God-loving, Bible-honoring church have anything to do with a satanist organization’s values?
Oh dear. This won’t end well for anyone.
We really don’t have much of anything to do with the Synod. As far as funds go we have the money and they want it, but we don’t give them much. I’ve been ELCA my whole life. Misssouri synod is too catholic or old thinking to me in the ways of women in positions of power or communion that bug me. My in laws are Missouri synod
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