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.

[secret garden]

The stench lives on, courtesy of the ECUSA.

[ScottM1968]

Add the Lutheran church to the lost.

The Bible does not support condoning openly sinful relationships between heterosexual or homosexual people. It also states that those who are in leadership positions are held to an even higher level of accountability.

There can be no legitimate argument on this issue in favor of active adulterous heterosexual clergy or homosexual clergy.

This is sad.

[Charles Henrickson]

E.L.C.A.
Tune: “Y.M.C.A.”

“Luth’ran” doesn’t mean quite the same
As what you’ve been taught to know by that name.
We’re removin’ all the scandal and shame
Of a church that stands for something.

Luth’ran, no, you’re not misinformed,
Yes, it’s true now, we commune the Reformed.
No forced union made us bow or conform,
Just a warm and fuzzy feeling.

It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
We have women in black,
Now there’s no turning back
To the hang ups of dead white guys.

It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
You can set yourself free
From dead orthodoxy,
You can do whatever you please.

Luth’ran, won’t you please come along
To the Elca, where’s there’s no right or wrong.
In the Elca, heretics can belong,
They can teach at seminary.

“Luth’ran,” but our fingers were crossed,
All our doctrine has been totally lost.
All that’s Luth’ran is what we have embossed
On our cards and stationery.

It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
We have women in black,
Now there’s no turning back
To the hang ups of dead white guys.

It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
You can set yourself free
From dead orthodoxy,
You can do whatever you please.

Elca, where it’s very uncouth
And unwelcome to say you have the truth
And where seldom is a word ever heard
To discourage sin or error.

Elca, where it’s all shades of gray,
I said, Elca, where it’s hip to be gay.
Our umbrella is as big as a tent,
There’s no need for you to repent.

It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
We have women in black,
Now there’s no turning back
To the hang ups of dead white guys.

It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
It’s fun to be in the E.L.C.A.
You can set yourself free
From dead orthodoxy,
You can do whatever you please.

Charlie Henrickson

[Charles Henrickson]

Add the Lutheran church to the lost.

Not all who claim to be Lutheran really are. The ELCA does not represent authentic, confessional Lutheranism very well.

[claudiustg]

---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 ---

Do the righteous hide their public deeds from public view?

[Nowhere Man]

Soubds like a bunch of gutless wonders to me. Either do the Biblical and right thing and withhold sactions for homosexual marriages and clergy or doing the wrong thing and support them. Of course I prefer the former but I wish they make a decision so we know where they stand although we do have strong suspicions where they stand. It is important to just make a decision and live with it. Still, I say, heck with the bishops debating this back and forth for years, if I had the power, I'd make the decision and it would be for the natural, right and Bibically based decision not to saction homosexual marriages and clergy and it would stay that way. Looks like I'll be checking out the Missouri Synod. I don't think the Lutheran Church is lost but this section, ELCA, seems to be and I would say it is.

[hocndoc]

Women priests and pastors ("Women in black") are not equivalent to sexual immorality.

[Charles Henrickson]

They both reflect disregard for the Word of God as the only rule for doctrine and practice, faith and life.

[SoDak]

I knew this is how they would handle it. Incrementalism, basically. I need to find a new church.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I say this as a Lutheran:

It was only a matter of time

*sigh* Ugh.

[Dan Middleton]

Bravo! A work of genius! I'm saving that one.

[Waco]

Another "Church" just blinked itself out.

[bubbleb]

Give Lutheran Church Missouri Synod a try.

[adamj]

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?

[claudiustg]

First they were making a study of the problem and so couldn't comment. Now it's their policy not to comment and that includes about the study evidently. As Jimi would say, "The jelly fish has been floating so long, he doesn't have a bone in his jelly back."

http://www.lcms.org/

[hocndoc]

Regardless of my first birth and my physical state, spiritually I am born again, a new creation and have been circumcised by Jesus Christ, not with hands... a son of God. I am fully reconciled to God, by God. I am covered by Jesus Christ, and have His Spirit next to mine.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Say again?

[SoDak]

The killer thing, for me anyway, has been that my pastor has been informally recruiting me to go to seminary, and I warned him long ago that this was coming and he said there was no way it would happen. This is basically a "don't ask/don't tell/don't make waves" proclamation by the church. They will let this lie out there for 5 or 10 years and let everyone get used to the stink. Then, they'll have another study, where the next step will take place. Frog in boiling water alert.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

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.