Posted on 06/06/2005 1:06:41 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Bishop: We're united amid differences
MILWAUKEE, WI (AP) - The Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has passed a resolution recommending the Churchwide Assembly permit gays and lesbians in committed relationships to be ordained.
Bishop Paul Stumme-Diers said it was important to maintain unity within the church.
"We are committed to remaining united even amid our differences, recognizing our center is not on our opinions but rather it is in Christ," he said.
The recommendation was passed at its annual meeting Saturday.
It is one of up to 65 that are expected to be delivered to the Churchwide Assembly, which in August will consider whether to bless same-sex unions and whether to allow homosexuals to serve as pastors, associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers.
(In Madison, a representative of the South Central Synod of Wisconsin said that the group did not take up the issue during its annual meeting last month.)
The issue of homosexual unions and pastors has been discussed by the Greater Milwaukee Synod since the late 1990s. Homosexual issues have also been intensely debated by other denominations and were controversial in the recent presidential election.
Nearly 20 synods held regional meetings this weekend, and it was unclear how many other synods have passed similar resolutions, said John Brooks, a national spokesman for the ELCA, whose headquarters are in Chicago.
The resolution components that will be recommended to the Churchwide Assembly are:
That individual congregations be allowed to disagree about whether to accept homosexual members and pastors.
That homosexuals in committed relationships be allowed to serve as leaders.
That individual congregations be allowed to decide whether to bless committed same-sex unions.
Pastor Jennifer Thomas, 32, of Lake Park Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, said she was pleased with the results.
"I believe the Gospel of Christ calls us to fully include everyone in the church. Homosexuality is not a sin," Thomas said.
But Pastor Jay Thorson, 45, of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Hubertus, disagreed with the vote and said homosexuality is a sin.
"I see the entire Bible as the inspired word of God. (Ordination of homosexuals) violates our understanding of the use of Scripture," he said.
For the Churchwide Assembly to revise national ELCA policies, two-thirds of the 1,100 voting delegates would have to approve a change.
The ELCA has 96,000 baptized members and 141 congregations in the Greater Milwaukee Synod, making it one of the largest Christian denominations in the area, second to the Catholic Church.
Nationwide and in the Caribbean, the ELCA has 5 million baptized members and 11,000 congregations.
How does Jennifer explain what happened to Sodom and Gommarah(sp?)
Does this mean Lutherans are converting to Episcopalianism?
As a former Lutheran I can say, give it some serious thought. I was born and raised a Lutheran and stayed that way until I was 36 and converted to RC. I'm glad I did. Do a little research into it with an open mind and I think you will be glad you did. (I'll get off my soapbox now) :o)
This is the generic answer from these individuals.
Once you get started
with this Haiku posting form,
it's darned hard to stop!
Please try it, you won't be sorry.
If you wouldn't mind, FReepmail me after you go and give me your thoughts.
Regards,
tractorman
I guess changing the sin of Sodom to 'lack of hospitality' isn't any more or less ridiculous.
"It was fun being Christian but we've decided to move on(.org)."
Yes, but gays are invaluable for organizations such as churches which gain so much of their income through bequeathing. Gays typically have a lot of money, no children or spouses, and they die quickly.
Stick to WI Synod you be aww'ite
That liberal Milwaukee Synod try to run ole Navy-Marine Tet 68
Chaplin Stuebe out years ago...for bein' too Lutheran like.
IIRC
Indeed.
Did you know that Ahab's sin was having Naboth cruelly stoned instead of just peacefully starving him to death?
When I was a lot younger, I was ELCA, the Missouri Synod looked too conservative to me. Now, the ELCA looks to liberal for me. I danced with the RC's for a while. I liked their prayers better.
"I'm undecided now", more of a religious 'none'.
Of course. There is nothing more peaceful and really euphoric than being starve and dehydrated to death.
Does this mean that they are going to continue their discrimination against those in noncommitted relationships?
h8ers!!
Our family left an ELCA congregation and went to another church that was a LCMS (Missouri) and never looked back. I still remember the straw that broke the camels back too, It was my mom's turn to clean the church, and after she was done the Pastor told her where he lived and it was expected of the cleaners to also clean the Pastors house. Problem was he was married with 3 kids and a stay at home wife. I will never forget the tongue lashing she gave him, all I remember was something about his wife scrubbing out her own d#$& toilets. There were other problems before that too, but it was kind of fun for a little kid to watch.
Martin Luther would be one of the last to claim the Church as "his." Christians abide in Christ. Christ warned that false prophets would come along preaching in His name. "You shall know them by their fruits," He says. What kind of fruits come from ordaining gays into the ministry? Not a difficult question to answer for those who abide in the Vine.
I think it would be pretty much the same reaction John Calvin and John Knox would have if they were around to see what is happening in the United Presbyterian Church USA and the same reaction Charles and John Wesley and John Whitfield would have if they were around to see what is happening in the United Methodist Church...they would all be sickened, disgusted and outraged at what is happening.
I don't think I could ever go Catholic neither. I don't have anything at all against Catholics, but I'm definitely a Protestant. I've thought Baptist, too, but likely will give the LCMS a try before I'd make that move. It isn't so much that my local church is that bad, as it is me picturing my money ending up in the hands of NCC'ers and other terrible groups the ELCA is involved with. I'm an older single guy too, so church's are uncomfortable to start with, being family-oriented, so comfort is of a lot of concern, and staying Lutheran in some form would be preferrable.
They will stampede to the LCMS
I'm thinking that will be my move. Luckily, we've never had pastors like your mom did.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.