[SmithL]

PING!

[hinckley buzzard]

The revised proposal passed on a 607-323 vote and does not explicitly give a green light to blessing ceremonies.

This a shaky interpretation. There was an additional amendment stating explicitly that "pastoral care" does NOT include homosexual marriage, which was defeated. What we really have here, in practice, then, will be a "local option" in which pastors will do whatever they please with homosexual marriages. The end result will be to degrade whatever legitimacy the central church has left, as it has essentially punted on the issue.

We can expect further disintegration as individual ELCA pastors perform these "marriages" as if they were sanctioned and blessed--and as traditional, scriptural Lutherans disassociate themselves in disgust.

This is the way the church will end...not with a bang but a whimper.

[Arnold Zephel]

Shortly after the delegates began debating the ordination proposal, the assembly was thrown into chaos for about half-hour as about 100 gay and lesbian advocates marched to the front of the ballroom and stood in front of the podium defying the assembly's rules.

I am glad to see that the "Queer Mafia" demonstrated what they mean by "tolerance". I guess throwing a "hissy fit" when you lose a democratic vote is the epitome of "tolerance".

[wallcrawlr]

From the article:

Hanson opened this morning's solemn, edgy session in a packed resort ballroom, telling his flock, "We have done this work well. We have listened to each other, learned from each other and prayed with each other."

Referring to the intense scrutiny that has been trained on the ELCA and other Protestant denominations that have become ensnared in the culture war over homosexuality, Hanson added: "Seemingly, the whole world is paying attention to religious communities who are engaged in discussions about sexuality."

The Rev. Paul Harris of Eagan's Easter Lutheran Church obliquely referred to lingering fears that the bruising debate over sexuality could splinter the church, causing members and congregations to leave the ELCA.

"Many will find themselves conscience-bound by their understanding of the Holy Spirit to leave this community," he said. "We would do well to wish these people well and bless them even though they are not able to be part of this church."

Regardless what the assembly delegates decide, the ELCA still has a long slog ahead of it on the issue of sexuality.

It has yet to develop a formal social statement on homosexuality, a document it has produced on several other issues such as abortion and the death penalty.

That statement is to be unveiled at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis.

I think this qualifies...as Laura Ingraham states it..the "Lie of the Day"

"We have done this work well. We have listened to each other, learned from each other and prayed with each other."

No one is listening to the other, no one wants to learn from the other and only one side is actually praying to the true God...and its not with each other...the one side is praying that the other side is convicted on their sin.

I sure hope there is an exodus of believers from the ELCA. There is no hope unless the leadership is changed. Thats the only way to insure the Word of God is once again spoken in Truth. What a disgrace to think of all the immature Christians out there trusting the pastors to speak truth and are simply being led down that wide path.

[polymuser]

Not very heartening. A razor-thin (50.7 percent) majority was against ordaining gays, and blessing gays is now effectively the predicted 'local option' for pastors (leaving a congregation and its council to battle a leftist pastor in a conservative congregation). As long as Hanson's running the show, there'll be no return to orthodoxy.

I'm left wondering, what ended up being this CWA's recommendation for wording of the social statement for CWA 2007? Or will that be Sexuality Task Force II's job?