FreeRepublic is intended to discuss political and societal issues, not bicker about the various doctrines of the various churches. there are several other web-spots for that (www.cat41.org is where I hang - all Lutheran, all the time).
This decsion by the ELCA affects society/culture because it encourages the queer agenda(benda!). Let us not use the bandwidth for doctrinal arguments.
Right. It's the social impact (both ways) of the ELCA (and ECUSA, PCUSA, UCC) that counts here. Gay-approval advocates are massaging churches, government and public schools toward the same goal. Gay-approval groups like Lutherans Concerned-North America even receive ELCA funding. Not sure where Thrivent Financial is, but I know they're getting some flak for partnering with the ELCA. Thanks for that Lutheran link.