Does this mean that they are going to continue their discrimination against those in noncommitted relationships?
h8ers!!
They will stampede to the LCMS
The perverted have taken over the governing boards of our churches.
Well, I'm done. The National Council of Churches, to which the ELCA belong, really piss me off, but this is the final straw.
There's Wisconsin Evangelical and Missouri Synod churches near here, so I'll have to check them out.
bookmarked!
This pompous liberal twit was installed as bishop of the ELCA's Greater Milwaukee Synod in 2002. And at my congregation! I should know, having sat through all 3-4 smug, self-congratulatory hours of it. I was only there because my daughter was singing in one of the choirs. Never again!
But Pastor Jay Thorson, 45, of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Hubertus, disagreed with the vote and said homosexuality is a sin.
My brother is a conservative pastor of a very conservative ELCA congregation in Pennsylvania, and would concur with Pastor Jay Thorson. Most of us are just playing the waiting game until the vote at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August. Many lifelong Lutherans do not fully realize the extent to which the liberal ELCA hierarchy (like Paul Stumme-Diers) have hijacked this denomination and turned it into another religion altogether. It makes me sick to see the havoc their ideology is wreaking on once healthy congregations. The morale at ours is terrible and the congregation is hemorrhaging members.
Our kids were all raised in this congregation. Our son had his Eagle Scout ceremony there. It will hurt to leave the people who supported us and prayed for us when he was critically ill with cancer last year. But I know we will be leaving, as will many of those same people. We haven't yet decided where. Mark Hanson and his ilk think they are leading, but will turn around to find nobody left following behind them.
Luther would not belong to the ELCA. Shame on them for using his name. Someone should sue and make them prove that they have anything in common with traditional Lutheran doctrine.
Homosexual Agenda Plus Watch Out For Lutherans Ping.
When a religious body starts supporting "gay" rights to the point of ordaining homosexuals, it is time to run not walk to the nearest exit.
Reminds me - isn't the minister who's complaining about the intolerant atmosphere at the Air Force Academy Lutheran? And did anyone see her picture? I did, and it wasn't a pretty sight.
Let me know if you want on/off this pinglist.
Note to Grampa Dave - I wonder what you can find if you look up her name...
I wonder what Martin Luther would think of the Lutheran Church today? (Excepting the Missouri Synod)
The 1991 Churchwide Assembly (CWA) – the highest legislative body of the ELCA – affirmed "... that gay and lesbian people, as individuals created by God, are welcome to participate fully in the life of the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America." This policy was reaffirmed by the 1995 CWA, and the 1999 CWA further encouraged discerning conversation about homosexuality and the inclusion of gay and lesbian persons in our common life and mission. As a result of CWA action in 2001, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson addressed ELCA membership in August 2003, noting that the "...assembly’s actions mandated that this church engage in a study on homosexuality and a study on sexuality. The first study is to deal with the blessing of same-gender unions and the rostering of persons in committed gay or lesbian relationships. The second study is to lead to the development of a social statement on sexuality."
Same-sex unions
The ELCA has no policy on the blessing of same-sex unions. In 1993 the Conference of Bishops (65 synodical bishops elected by congregations on their territories) stated that there was no basis in Scripture or tradition for an official ceremony by this church for the blessing of same-sex unions, but that "Nevertheless, we express trust in and will continue dialogue with those pastors and congregations who are in ministry with gay and lesbian persons, and affirm their desire to explore the best ways to provide pastoral care for all to whom they minister." The Conference of Bishops provides advice and counsel but is not an ELCA legislative body.
Homosexual rostered people
The current policy of the ELCA regarding homosexual rostered people is stated in its "Definition and Guidelines for Discipline" (revised 1993) and "Vision and Expectations...," (1990). It is the policy of the ELCA that all single rostered people, including those who are homosexual in their self-understanding, are expected to abstain from sexual relationships."
Well, I think she believes that it's open to intrepretation, and I think she's a quack.
Any church leader that says homosexuality isn't a sin shouldn't be leading it.
Well, I think she believes that it's open to intrepretation, and I think she's a quack.
Any church leader that says homosexuality isn't a sin shouldn't be leading it.
I'm quite sure Christ would not agree with the 'opinion' that it is okay to ordain homosexuals.
Well guess what happened yesterday? I got a letter from the church telling me that the elders are demanding that Pastor Steve step down! He's the reason I left in the first place, because he jealously got rid of our Junior Pastor who was AWESOME, and then put us $600,000 in the hole building a school and remodeling the church, against the wishes of many that were happy we had no debt and money in the bank for once in our long history.
MIL & I are contemplating our next moves now. Maybe we CAN go back to our church once the cause of our frustration is gone. Time will tell. And trust me, I'll keep a sharp eye on this gay marriage/ordination business. If I hear one INKLING of them leaning that way (WI Synod, so they might) I'll be outta there for good and all.
The Great Apostasy continues...
I am Catholic, but frequently went to Wisconsin Synod (WELS) services, because my mother was raised as a WELS Lutheran. Dare I say, the WELS Lutherans at my mother's church were/are far more "Catholic" than the Catholics. They even use their communion rail, which I've never even seen in a Catholic church. They're also just as anti-abortion, if not more so.
"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."
Is she reading the same inspired Word of God that I am?
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
I had second thoughts about this church when I juxtaposed the recent placement of The Da Vinci Code in the church's library with the pastor's earlier, harsh criticism of The Passion of the Christ. I am now attending a LCMS church.