Lutheran decision splits on gay clergy

Washington Times ^ | 1/14/05 | Julia Duin

[kattracks]

A Lutheran task force handed a victory to homosexual rights groups yesterday by recommending that although the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America should not change its policy against ordaining homosexual clergy, it should not censure churches that break the rule.
    But "those who feel conscience-bound to call people [as pastors] in committed same-sex unions should refrain from making the call a media event either as an act of defiance or with the presumption of being prophetic," the task force warned. The 14-member task force pronounced itself conflicted and unable to agree about how the ELCA should proceed.
    What emerged in their report — released at church headquarters in Chicago — was a compromise in which congregations could hire homosexual clergy without making this the official policy in the 4.9-million-member denomination.
    The compromise came as three recommendations:

    •That Lutherans "learn to live together faithfully," while disagreeing, thus avoiding the splits over homosexuality that have dominated the Episcopal Church, which has shared sacraments, clergy and ministry with the ELCA since 2001.
    •That the ELCA continue to have no official policy on same-sex unions, but "respect" a 1993 ELCA bishops' statement that does not approve such ceremonies as official church acts;
    •That the denomination not discipline churches that hire homosexual clergy, nor the clergy themselves. At least 14 openly homosexual seminarians or clergy serve in ELCA churches, according to the San Francisco-based Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries.

[DBeers]

But "those who feel conscience-bound to call people [as pastors] in committed same-sex unions should refrain from making the call a media event either as an act of defiance or with the presumption of being prophetic,"

Religious don't ask don't tell seems to preclude honest witness.

[Aquinasfan]

A Lutheran task force handed a victory to homosexual rights groups yesterday by recommending that although the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America should not change its policy against ordaining homosexual clergy, it should not censure churches that break the rule.

Contradiction doesn't mean much to "theologians" anymore. Bring back St. Thomas, please!

[redgolum]

It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.

Depressing, but kind of funny also.

[kittymyrib]

The other real Lutheran bodies should demand the E*CA drop the word from their title. This is the typical lib response one would expect from false prophets who have dumped the Bible's teachings, not just on the sin of homosexuality, but on everything but "love thy neighbor". That they should have the audacity to say congregations are free to ordain lesbians and homosexuals but they should do so secretly, without media attention so as not to offend the givers, is the height of satanic hubris. No Christian should belong to such an obviously fallen group.

[Aquinasfan]

Do you really want to belong to an orangization that condems a rather significant part of society?

I can't speak for Lutherans, but as a Catholic I certainly do, inasmuch as sin should be condemned. All forms of sin should be condemned. Should sinners themselves be condemned? No. Reproved? Yes. Disciplined? Yes.

[kittymyrib]

Bravo on the witty piece...but what should depress us is the standing ovation the president of the ELCA received at the LCMS convention last July. Kieschnick wants closer ties with the E*CA. The die is cast, I'm afraid, because it's what Oprah would want us to do, doncha know.

[redgolum]

Do you have any idea of what type of pastors are heading out from the "conservative" sems now? The ELCA is trying to train up the next generation of pastors to be Unitarians, if not Manachii's.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Cowards.

[John D]

I recently did. Try The United Methodist Church. The services are similar, but the church doctrine is much more sensible.

[stayathomemom]

Please do not equate the ELCA with the Lutheran Church. There are large Lutheran bodies who are not in fellowship with the ELCA.

[aberaussie]

Do you really want to belong to an orangization that condems a rather significant part of society? You folks sound like racists... What happened to throwing the first stone?

Since homosexual *behavior* is prohibited in scripture and, consequently, by church tradition for 2000 years, it would be arrogant for a church to condone it in its leadership.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

This is part of something bigger. The ELCA is one of several counter Christian churches under the umbrella of the National Council of Churches. This was put in motion in 1988 and will not stop until the left takes over again and they are recognized as the religious authority.

Archie: You get it. I can't believe how naive some people can be. It is admirable that they want to turn their churches back to what they once were but they don't get the big picture.

But ANY church belonging to the National Council of Churches is being consumed by a tsunami. The only way to reclaim their churches is to get a divorce. They must divorce their synods and any relationship to the NCC and WCC.

[MinuteGal]

The ELCA does not represent the Lutheran denomination as a whole. I belong to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and on the whole, it has remained true to tradition and biblical principles.

This doesn't mean the Devil is not always trying to get his hoof into the LCMS door. Vigilance is necessary, as in all conservative churches.

I went to a social at an ELCA church once. After a maggot-infested musician strummed and sang the Lord's Prayer in calypso while everyone held hands, I made my excuses and left.

Leni

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Do you really want to belong to an orangization that condems a rather significant part of society? You folks sound like racists... What happened to throwing the first stone?

What do you mean condemn? If you refuse to call sin, sin, you're the one condemning them. It's akin to shoving a blind man off a curb into the path of an oncoming bus.

I aledge that the real homophobes are those who claim to defend and promote homosexuality. The truth is homosexuality is highly dangerous behavior leading to death and destruction. It is far more compassionate to warn them of the danger.

[HamiltonJay]

it should not censure churches that break the rule.

In other words the rules are meaningless.... makes me wonder what other "rules" the Lutheran leadership gives lip service too.