Be Not Afraid!
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.
From World Net Daily:
Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly homosexual bishop of his denomination, has angered traditionalist Anglicans by suggesting that Jesus Christ might have been homosexual.
Robinson, who left his wife – and mother of his two daughters – to cohabit with his male lover, Mark, made his inflammatory remarks during an address titled, "Homosexuality and the Body of Christ: Is There a New Way?" at Christ Church of Hamilton and Wenham, Massachusetts. The bishop was asked by a congregant how Christians could both accept homosexuality and the Bible's emphasis on redemption for sins.
"Interestingly enough, in this day of traditional family values," answered Robinson, "this man that we follow was single, as far as we know, traveled with a bunch of men, had a disciple who was known as 'the one whom Jesus loved' and said my family is not my mother and father, my family is those who do the will of God. None of us likes those harsh words. That's who Jesus is, that's who he was at heart, in his earthly life.
"Those who would posit the nuclear family as the be all and end all of God's creation probably don't find that much in the gospels to support it," he concluded.
This is Satanic. Period. End of story. I hope conservative Lutherans take a stand against this train of throught...
Would the last Christian leaving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America please turn out the lights? The folks who now run the place prefer the darkness.
Reminds me of an old Jewish joke:
Two Jewish mothers are comparing notes about their sons.
"So, what does your son do?"
"My son is a physician, a specialist in neurosurgery," said the first mother, proudly, "and your son?"
"Don't ask. He's a practicing homosexual."
"Ah, a practicing homosexual. So where's his office?"
Be Not Afraid!
When? Where? Is it a policy of the Catholic Church?
Not anyway, anyhow, anytime associated with liberal USA Presbyterian--the mainline church.
The only thing they share is the word, Presbyterian.
That's why there is a Missouri synod, Wisconsin synod Lutherans, and PCA Presbyterians....because we want to distance ourselves from the liberal mainline Lutheran, Presbyterian so called churches who grab the headlines all the time!!
Excuse the ignorance but don't they profess the same faith?
Lay ministers who want to attend the ... *kaff* ... seminary.
ping
Are we witnessing the demise of the next Protestant denomination via schism?
While the ELCA has its liberal groups, I see adopting this policy as likely to split many of the synods(church districts) and cause individual churches to give up their ELCA affiliation.
They have. They win either way. Either they take control of the church, or they drive out and shake the faith of the saner members.
Homosexuals would rather destroy every church than to admit same gender sex is a sin.
And of course, we know satan would like nothing better than to render every church ineffective.
No, they mean to aquire the mantle of traditional Protestant Christianity and they already succeeded decades ago with the seizure of the seminaries. The apostates and heretics now in charge are only changing the displays in the store windows. Only sleeping church goers who haven't had the courage to demand accoutability from their leaders are suprised by this.
Totaly not suprised that ELCA would do this,that's why we belong to a Missouri Synod Luthern Church.
Yes they did, but not in the way we might have liked. The ELCA signed a number of binding agreements with the Episcopalians a few years back, despite a fuss from many local congregations who (rightly) objected. It was akin to a hostile corporate takeover with the board as willing participants.
Born and raised LCMS, but it's tough to come by a congregation in New England.
My mother's father and my younger brother were both ordained LCMS. Grandpa passed away years ago. Little 'bro changed career path but still keeps the faith.
No wonder they are on the decline.
Lesson: When you get in a hole, STOP DIGGING!
* http://4churchgrowth.com/chur4240.htm
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