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Homosexual clergy approved by ELCA church
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Posted on 08/21/2007 6:56:19 AM PDT by Gopher Broke

Gay clergy OK'd by Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

August 11, 2007

BY SUSAN HOGAN/ALBACH Religion Reporter

For the first time, clergy in same-sex committed relationships can serve the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America without threat of discipline to them, their congregations or their bishops.

The historic decision, made today at a national assembly at Navy Pier, was spearheaded by Bishop Paul Landahl of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod.

A day earlier, attendees voted down a measure that would have ended a ban on non-celibate gay clergy. But Saturday’s vote calls on church leaders to “refrain from or demonstrate restraint” in disciplining those who violate the policy.

“It’s a huge victory,” said Jeremy Posadas, 26, a voting church member from Decatur, Ga. “The gospel of inclusion has won and we’re going to keep winning.” But the Rev. Mark Chavez, leader of Lutheran CORE, a group that says non-celibate gays shouldn’t serve as pastors, called the decision “tragic.”

“This decision will be an excuse for bishops to disobey ELCA policy,” he said. “This decision does not reflect the will of the people, but of bishops and clergy who disregard God’s word.”

With 4.8-million members, the ELCA, headquartered in Chicago, is the nation largest Lutheran denomination. Since being formed 20 years ago by a merger of church groups, it has slowly shifted toward more acceptance of non-celibate gay clergy.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: antibible; antichristian; elca; homosexualagenda; homosexualclergy; homosexuals; indoctrination; leftwingreligion; liberal; religiousleft

1 posted on 08/21/2007 6:56:20 AM PDT by Gopher Broke
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To: Gopher Broke

If you are interested in the ELCA, I ran across this and posted it the other day.

“The problem of the ELCA, and of all mainline Protestant denominations, is the problem of any large, wealthy, traditional organization that has lost track of its mission. The ELCA is like Phillip Morris, which now calls itself Altria. It was built on a product of which it is now heartily ashamed.

For Altria, of course, the product was tobacco. For the ELCA, it’s the Cross of Christ.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1883237/posts


2 posted on 08/21/2007 7:04:58 AM PDT by dynachrome (Henry Bowman is right.)
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To: Gopher Broke
“This decision does not reflect the will of the people, but of bishops and clergy who disregard God’s word.”

Couldn't have said it better myself.

3 posted on 08/21/2007 7:06:42 AM PDT by A. Patriot (CZ 52's ROCK)
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To: Gopher Broke

That sect of Christianity is on it’s last legs. They will not survive this.


4 posted on 08/21/2007 7:06:53 AM PDT by Scotsman will be Free (11C - Indirect fire, infantry - High angle hell - We will bring you, FIRE)
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To: Gopher Broke

I predict there will be breakoffs from the this kind of Lutheran Church. Tolerance can go too far and become tyranny.


5 posted on 08/21/2007 7:07:32 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heros have always been cowboys--Reagan and Bush)
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To: dynachrome

it was the door of the catherdral that ML pounded on to display his 95 theses.

he didnt pound on anything else......


6 posted on 08/21/2007 7:08:39 AM PDT by Vaquero (" an armed society is a polite society" Heinlein "MOLON LABE!" Leonidas of Sparta)
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To: Gopher Broke

“The gospel of inclusion has won and we’re going to keep winning.”
______________________________________

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

The homosexuals that they could help, they instead betray, by not providing the gospel.


7 posted on 08/21/2007 7:10:51 AM PDT by Greg F (Duncan Hunter is the conservative in the race.)
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To: Gopher Broke

The money quote...

“does not reflect the will of the people, but of bishops and clergy who disregard God’s word.”


8 posted on 08/21/2007 7:11:29 AM PDT by dynachrome (Henry Bowman is right.)
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To: Greg F

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.


9 posted on 08/21/2007 7:16:44 AM PDT by freedom9
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To: dynachrome

A big disconnect between the leaders and the people on the spiritual journey...


10 posted on 08/21/2007 7:19:49 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heros have always been cowboys--Reagan and Bush)
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To: freedom9

“bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
Far be it from me to dis-agree with Matthew, but the rot from within will cause that tree to fall into the fire, IMHO.


11 posted on 08/21/2007 7:24:25 AM PDT by dynachrome (Henry Bowman is right.)
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To: Greg F

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mar 11:21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.


12 posted on 08/21/2007 7:24:41 AM PDT by freedom9 (Hear the parable of the fig tree)
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To: Gopher Broke

God help us...


13 posted on 08/21/2007 8:02:29 AM PDT by the anti-mahdi
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To: Gopher Broke

There is a difference IMHO, in loving the sinner, and knowing that God will forgive a repentent sinner, and actively supporting sinful conduct. It is more difficult to show no support for sinful conduct, but choose to be passive as it continues.

Does this policy promote the sin, or simply permit it, and does that distinction really matter when those whom it affects are all of us?

This is, in my opinion, a big mistake for the ELCA. What other sins are now so socially acceptable in our society that they can now be ignored? Since when is something other than the Bible the source of God’s laws?


14 posted on 08/21/2007 8:21:22 AM PDT by LachlanMinnesota
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To: Gopher Broke
Some signs to let you know if your church excepts gays in their clergy.

1. “It’s raining men” becomes the new introductory song.

2. The alter candles come a new cented shapes.

3. The pastor's robe have rainbows printed on them.

4. The picture of Jesus has been replaced by a photo of Judy Garland.

15 posted on 08/21/2007 8:22:02 AM PDT by dragonblustar (Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions - G. K. Chesterton)
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To: yldstrk

“Tolerance can go too far and become tyranny.”

It does, doesn’t it.


16 posted on 08/21/2007 11:17:53 AM PDT by Niuhuru (businesslinkshere.com)
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To: Gopher Broke

Heresy is as Heresy does... by the time a church gets to this point, its turned its back on the faith long long ago.


17 posted on 08/21/2007 11:19:02 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: yldstrk

Its not “tolerance” its Heresy... and for a church to get to this point means its embraced Heresy long long ago. You don’t wind up at this point without having embraced Heresy long before.


18 posted on 08/21/2007 11:20:14 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: LachlanMinnesota

I’ve been Lutheran all of my life, probably because my dad’s a pastor. I’ve been a member of ELCA churches since the ELCA was formed in 1989.

Last week, I e-mailed both of my pastors (a married couple) and my church’s president, and I asked them whether they think that the ELCA should allow gays to become pastors. The lady pastor and the president responded. Both of them said that we should let gays be pastors, because they think that homosexuality isn’t a sin. The pastor said that it’s okay, if the pastors promise to be celibate. I want to debate her, so I used google to look for Bible verses which state that homosexuality is a sin. I found several verses which state that homosexual behavior is a sin. Which verses state that being a homosexual is a sin?


19 posted on 09/05/2007 10:53:56 AM PDT by PhilCollins
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