Posted on 04/13/2005 5:50:35 AM PDT by NYer
Washington DC, Apr. 12, 2005 (CNA) - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may become the first U.S.-based Lutheran denomination to approve the ordination of active homosexuals as clergy and lay ministers, reported the Christian Post.
The Church Council released a statement Monday with three resolutions that ask whether the church should bless same-sex unions and ordain non-celibate homosexuals, provided they remain faithful to their partner.
The statement has been forwarded to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which is scheduled to meet Aug. 8-14 in Florida. Delegates will then decide to accept, reject or amend the three resolutions.
Current ELCA policy allows the ordination of celibate homosexuals but not active homosexuals.
Should the Churchwide Assembly adopt the new policy, the ELCA will likely become the only Lutheran denomination in the United States with official guidelines for such ordinations.
God's honest truth, there is at least a biblical argument for polygamy. It's not a GOOD biblical argument, but one can point to Abraham and Solomon and the like. The Christians tightened the rule, but at least polygamy didn't have fire thrown at it by God.
There biblical argument about homosexuality ends with a pillar of salt.
People that marry horses should be next.
You mean Catherine the Great could have been the first Russian ELCA minister?
God's honest truth, there is at least a biblical argument for polygamy
Liberals say the New Testament means anything goes, contrary to the Old Testament, but they why did Jesus say Christians should tighten up on rules for divorce?
Reminds me of another Jewish joke.
Two men are in the synagogue, praying in obvious anguish.
The first says to the second: "Oy! My only son! I raised him to be a good Jew, and now he's run off to marry a Christian girl and he's become a Christian! Where did I go wrong?"
The second says back to the first: "My only son also ran off with a shiksa and now he's become a Christian too. Why God? Where did I go wrong."
And then the booming voice comes from heaven "Oy! You think YOU'VE got problems with YOUR sons!..."
LOL. Hmm, a Vicomte. Now *that* would make a Jewish mother proud ;-)
Did I bother? Yes, I bothered. I went 22 pages deep and ran out of time. What I was initially looking for was the original German translation instead of spouses or husband and wife and his and their, but I didn't find it. I did find that the catechisms were different even in LCMS churches, which surprised me. I'm packing so I can't look at what I was taught in the 50's (and I thought I'd never forget!).
Here is where you can get the German. http://www.selk.de/, the independent Lutheran church in Germany, which is in fellowship with the LCMS. If you click to view it in English, it goes to a page that tells about the church, which right away has a link to the Small Catechism... in German.
Sure is. Last week at our Sunday night Bible study, our teacher read part of an article that stated the following, -
10,000 clergy were asked via mail survey if they believed that "the Scriptures are the inspired and inerrant Word of God in faith, history, and secular matters?"
Out of the 7.5k+ that were returned, the results were as follows -
95% of Episcopalians, 87% of Methodists, 82% of Presbyterians, 77% of American Lutherans, and 67% of American Baptists said "No."
And that was back in 1987.
The Lutheran - Sexuality Stories
Here are major stories about sexuality published since 1996:
http://www.thelutheran.org/sexuality.html
What kind of secular matters? They needed to be more specific.
What kind of secular matters? Maybe antinomianism.
"All you need is love’...Does Antinomian Controversy ride again?"
by Gary R. Jepsen
http://www.wordalone.org/archives/articles_by_author/jepsen.htm
I was about to say... they already ordain homosexuals in ELCA... FWIW, how does ELCA enforce the celibacy of homosexual pastors? I mean, wouldn't that get into the right to privacy?
And ELCA youth are right there, too. Form 2003 ELCA LYO convention:
RESOLUTION #13: “Advocating Blessing of Same-Sex Unions and Ordination of Non-Celibate Individuals in Committed Relationships of All Sexual Orientations”
WHEREAS, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ordains people of all sexual orientations, and
WHEREAS, who a pastor loves does not affect the ministry of the church, and
WHEREAS, a five year study, now in its second year, will inform the church’s stand on the blessing of homosexual unions and ordinations of practicing homosexuals, and
WHEREAS, seeking God’s will in the Holy Bible, the church has interpreted passages in ways that are life-giving (for example, allowing divorce and disobeying food laws that are considered no longer needed for the well-being of people); therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Lutheran Youth Organization supports the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of non-celibate individuals in committed relationships of all sexual orientations, and be if further
RESOLVED, that the Board requests the Division for Congregational Ministries to forward this resolution to the Presiding Bishop, Divisions of the ELCA and Church Council for submission to the Sexuality Study.
Submitted by Cierra Musick, Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod
DCM BOARD ACTION: TO FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION TO THE SEXUALITY STUDY TASK FORCE TO BE RECEIVED AS INFORMATION.
http://www.elca.org/lyo//PDF/Resolutions_Passed_by_2003_LYO_Convention.pdf
"LOL. Hmm, a Vicomte. Now *that* would make a Jewish mother proud ;-)"
Until she found out that the throne that granted it was vacant for 130 years and there was, therefore, nothin' to the title but a name.
You've heard "All hat and no cattle"?
Well, how about all haughty and no castle!
To quite this one paster I heard several years ago. Actually I think it was Bob Larson on the Radio. "There are some things that YOU DON'T NEED TO PRAY ABOUT". This was about wife swapping within some church.
Don't all Christians profess belief in the teachings of Jesus and in the writings contained in the Old and New Testament?
If so, then isn't Christian....er...Christian?
Yes.....and No.
Some portions of Christianity differ from others based upon how they govern themselves. I'm Presbyterian. My denomination makes decisions quite differently from the Roman Catholics or the Baptists).
Other portions of Christianity differ based upon theuir understandig of what Jesus meant when He said certain things. For instance, there are at least two different interpretations of what Jesus meant when He said to Peter, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church".
So it's not too hard to understand that even among people who subscribe to the writings and interpretations of Martin Luther there would be differences.
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