Posted on 08/08/2007 7:14:18 AM PDT by frogjerk
The Rev. Robert Kriesat, 68, never hid his relationship with his male partner from his congregants, even though his denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, mandates celibacy for gay ministers.
The bishops in New Jersey have never punished him; in fact, he said, they have been supportive. Still, he said he has lived with the anxiety someone would mount a case to remove him from the ministry.
"You kind of live with this like a cloud that's over you, and you don't know whether it's going to rain or not," said Kriesat, of Convent Station, yesterday. "I've had some concerns with people in the congregation, but most of the time we talk about it and it tends either to go away or it doesn't become hostile. So I've been really blessed."
Kriesat is one of 82 gay, bisexual or transgender Lutheran clergy across the country who yesterday publicly opposed the celibacy requirement, in a move meant to spur the denomination to change the rule. For many of them, it was the first time they publicly acknowledged their same-sex relationships.
The celibacy rule is expected to be voted on tomorrow or Friday at the 4.9 million-member denomination's Churchwide Assembly in Chicago. The Evangelical Lutherans also will vote on whether to authorize blessings for same-sex unions.
The Word Alone Network, a conservative Lutheran group, opposes the proposals on the belief that gay sex, and all sex outside of marriage, is sinful, according to a spokesman.
Debate over the status of gay people has roiled other mainline Protestant denominations in recent years. In 2003, the Episcopal Church's decision to ordain a noncelibate gay man as bishop nearly caused a split in that church and has led to division within its worldwide body, the Anglican Communion.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Any rules are just crap: everything is permitted. Of course, if there are no rules for living, there’s not much point in going to church.
There's the list, now fire the perverts! Is this a Christian church? Do they get to observe only those parts of the bible they feel like observing?
this and the abortion issue where the ELCA pays for abortions for its female clergy was the reason why I went back to my Roman Catholic roots. I know the pastor at the church I grew up in is disappointed but I have to go where the holy spirit really is.
ELCA is toast if they don't toss the perverts out on the one thing they worship.
WWJS?
Lutherans are protestants I believe.
Go forth and SIN NO MORE.
If I had to guess, something regarding the jaw bone of an ass comes to mind.
Please do not associate this branch with Missouri Synod Lutherans.
Hmm... seems I’ve seen something about this very thing in a Bible before. Let me see.... One or two of my bibles mentions it. I wonder if the Lutherans have Leviticus in their bible?
Lev 18:22
(ASV) Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
(BBE) You may not have sex relations with men, as you do with women: it is a disgusting thing.
(Bishops) Thou shalt not lye with mankynde as with womankynde, for it is abhomination.
(CEV) It is disgusting for a man to have sex with another man.
(Darby) And thou shalt not lie with mankind as one lieth with a woman: it is an abomination.
(DRB) Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: because it is an abomination.
(ESV) You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
(Geneva) Thou shalt not lie with ye male as one lieth with a woman: for it is abomination.
(GNB) No man is to have sexual relations with another man; God hates that.
(GW) Never have sexual intercourse with a man as with a woman. It is disgusting.
(JPS) Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.
(KJV) Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
(KJV-1611) Thou shalt not lie with mankinde, as with womankinde: it is abomination.
(KJVA) Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
(KJVR) Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
(LITV) And you shall not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is a perversion.
(MKJV) You shall not lie with mankind as with womankind. It is abomination to God.
(RV) Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
(Webster) Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
(YLT) `And with a male thou dost not lie as one lieth with a woman; abomination it is .
I would rather have a guy out in the open about his sin as opposed to some of the catholic closet predators.
Moral relativism has spread it’s despicable roots to every corner of our society
Oh, OK, I thought this was about real Lutherans.
True enough.
Congrats! It only took you 13 posts to turn this around on the Catholic Church!
I am no longer a member of the Lutheran church and am happily a member of a Fellowship Church. I know if I desired to get back to my Lutheran roots I would seek the Missouri Synod Church. They still follow biblical truths and teachings.....
It turns out the problem is worse in the public schools. The queer chickenhawk priests are being forced out in more and more diocese. I’m waiting for the lawsuits against school districts.
Everytime I see “Lutheran” and “Gay” I think, “please God don’t let it be Missouri Synod”!
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