Posted on 10/22/2009 10:51:52 PM PDT by Steelfish
Sweden Church Allows Gay Weddings
Sweden's archbishop is broadly supportive of the move The Lutheran Church of Sweden - the country's largest - is to conduct same-sex marriages from next month.
Around 70% of the church's 250-strong synod, or church board, voted to back the move, making it one of few global churches to allow gay marriage.
Sweden's government introduced a new law in May allowing gay couples the same marriage rights as heterosexuals. Three-quarters of Swedes are members of the Lutheran church, though church attendance is low.
The Lutheran Church says gay couples can now get married by any of its priests from the beginning of November.
Individual priests will not be "forced" to perform same sex ceremonies, though substitutes will have to be found if they refuse. The church - which split from state control in 2000 - backed the government's decision to legalise gay marriage in May.
But some clergy had questioned whether church ceremonies - and the term matrimony - should be reserved for heterosexual unions. Others opposed the move on the grounds it contravened the scriptures. Limited opposition
In response, the Archbishop of Sweden, Anders Wejryd, told reporters: "For my part, the right decision was taken, but I can empathise with the many who believe this has gone too fast."
Sweden's largest gay rights group, the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL), welcomed the move. "[We] congratulate the Church of Sweden for its decision. [The church's] homosexual and bisexual members will finally be able to feel a little more welcome within society," the group said in a statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
There still is a Lutheran Church—it’s the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod plus some others.
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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment
Obama: If they make a mistake, I dont want them punished with a baby.
***More true than perhaps you realize, as retired C of S Bishop, the late Kristen Stendahl, participated in the laying of hands to consecrate the openly gay/parterned TEC “Bishop” Vicki Gene Robinson back in 2003.
The ELCA Office of Secretary had sternly warned ELCA Bishops that while they were permitted to attend that ceremony there were absolutely forbidden to take an active part in the consecration.***
What would consecrate an active part in the consecration of a gay bishop? Does that mean that the ELCA bishops were not allowed to unzip?
***More true than perhaps you realize, as retired C of S Bishop, the late Kristen Stendahl, participated in the laying of hands to consecrate the openly gay/parterned TEC Bishop Vicki Gene Robinson back in 2003.
The ELCA Office of Secretary had sternly warned ELCA Bishops that while they were permitted to attend that ceremony there were absolutely forbidden to take an active part in the consecration.***
What would constitute an active part in the consecration of a gay bishop? Does that mean that the ELCA bishops were not allowed to unzip?
Like Groucho would say, "close but no cigar"
Means ELCA Bishops were allowed to do everything in the ceremony except touch the head...of the one to be Consecrated.
"Look but don't touch". LOL.
***What would constitute an active part in the consecration of a gay bishop? Does that mean that the ELCA bishops were not allowed to unzip?
Like Groucho would say, “close but no cigar”
Means ELCA Bishops were allowed to do everything in the ceremony except touch the head...of the one to be Consecrated.
“Look but don’t touch”. LOL.***
How is this different from a strip joint?
I’m glad my grandparents are going to an LCMS church,which is the one I went to as well before I converted to Judaism.
“Prebyterians with their congregationalist, vote for changing dogma ideas are heading towards the same problem as this “synod” did. Ditto for northern Baptists. The Southern Baptists remain broadly orthodox, but not completely and not totally.”
“However, I don’t see Presbyterianism as an outcome for Sweden. Baptists, with their emphasis on more participation and evangelical movements, perhaps. But the Swedish temperament is more austere — they will be either athiests or will join the Catholic / Orthodox Churches.”
so I’m curious to know when Swedes became that “austere.”
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