Sexuality policy need not tear church apart

northjersey.com ^ | August 21, 2007 | CHARLES AUSTIN

[Coleus]

HAVE WATCHED my church – the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – debate sexuality for 20 years. A key concern has been the role of gays and lesbians in the pastoral ministry. We allow gays and lesbians in our pulpits, but have expected them to abstain from sexual relationships, even if in a committed relationship comparable to marriage. Earlier this month, by a vote of 538 to 431, the highest decision-making body of our denomination urged bishops to exercise "restraint" in disciplining clergy who violate that policy. The action by our churchwide assembly did not change the policy, but clearly means that some of our pulpits will be open to gays and lesbians who are in committed relationships.

There are those predicting this action will split our church. I disagree. The decision is new; the practice is not. In what has been a "don't ask, don't tell" practice, homosexual pastors have served Lutheran churches for a long time. Last week more than 80 pastors, including several from New Jersey with distinguished careers, officially announced that they were gay, some of them in long-term partnerships. Behind the vote lay years of Bible study and doctrinal conversations. We have discussed the experiences of gay and lesbian Lutherans and considered psychological and medical research on sexual orientation.

A 'middle way'

Church leaders such as Bishop Roy Riley of New Jersey see the decision as a "middle way," allowing congregations who – with the approval of their bishop – want to call a pastor in a same-sex relationship to do so. A difficult hearing in Atlanta this year defrocked a gay pastor against the wishes of his congregation, and churches have been ousted from the church because they ordained a gay or lesbian pastor who was not celibate. We don't all agree, but we have studied, debated and prayed. At our meeting, discussion halted every 20 minutes for a minute of silent and hopefully unifying prayer.

The suggestion that we not discipline all gay clergy has angered some in our 4.8 million member church who contend that homosexual acts are proscribed by the Bible. But discussions at the Chicago meeting stressed the need for us to stay together in the church even if we hold differing views on sexuality. It is clear that some individuals and congregations may leave the church because of the decision. Congregations have withdrawn for other reasons, such as the declaration of "full fellowship" with Episcopalians, an agreement that allows pastors to serve either Lutheran or Episcopal churches.

It is also clear that acceptance of gay and lesbian clergy is growing in the church. (Another denomination, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, firmly rejects gay clergy.) While some of our regional units asked that the policy not be changed, 21 synods scattered across the country petitioned for a more complete acceptance of gays and lesbians in the pastorate. The central doctrine of Lutheranism is not biblical literalism, but the teaching that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. That teaching, rather than a particular interpretation of the Bible, is called the "doctrine on which the church stands or falls."

The Chicago example

Some say our church will split or collapse into warring factions. But in Chicago, I saw people who disagreed holding hands and praying together each day and before each critical vote. I assume these people will go back to their local churches and do the same. And we seem to love our church. The more than 1,000 people in Chicago voiced strong enthusiasm for the work of the church, reelected Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson by a large majority, approved a sweeping statement on the church's role in education, endorsed a new initiative for Bible study and opposed expansion of the war in Iraq. We want to increase our program combating world hunger from $20 million annually to $25 million each year.

As a pastor and journalist, I've watched dozens of Lutheran conventions deal with difficult subjects over the past 40 years. We have had serious disagreements before. But up to now we have usually been able to pray, sing, preach the gospel and serve the world together in spite of them. I think we can keep doing that. Charles Austin is a Lutheran pastor and a former newspaper reporter. He is currently interim pastor at the Lutheran Church of the Savior, Paramus.

[dangus]

What I meant was that it was hard to fathom that he could be surprised. A lot of antinomialists at least THOUGHT that they were following doing what he insisted they do by being antinomialists.

[patriciaruth]

Thanks for your information. I, too, had Catechism under the American Lutheran Church before all the name changes began to float by.

However, I don’t think I’ll look into changing as long as Mom is alive.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Please, please, reconsider. By remaining you're putting your stamp of approval on their apostasy.

My mom is still alive, too. I couldn't be happier that I have left.

[CholeraJoe]

Are you kidding? You had it easy. In Wisconsin Synod, we not only had to memorize the Bible, we had to write it out longhand, in ink.

[MinuteGal]

My pre-confirmation was one hour, three days a week during the school year.....for two years!

I didn't even mention Luther's Catechism which we not only had to read in English, German and Swahili, but we had to set it to music, also.

Those were the days, my friend.

Leni

[patriciaruth]

which we not only had to read in English, German and Swahili, but we had to set it to music, also.

LOL! The only thing I had to write out longhand in ink was my regurgitated memorization of Luther's Catechism. We had long ago memorized the Bible in Sunday school. ;-) We met Saturday mornings for a couple hours or so for a year, as I recall. Our pastor would greet the Confirmation class with "Are you saved?" And we would chant back, "Yes! By the grace of God through faith." He made sure we all came away with at least that bit of information.

[patriciaruth]

By remaining you're putting your stamp of approval on their apostasy.

Perhaps, but then I wouldn't have the fun of shaking the visiting pastor's hand and telling him mischieviously that we're Republicans.

Mom may not be long for this world. I truly believe going to church with her is what God wants me to do right now.

[Smokin' Joe]

It is sad to see Satan's minions herding and corrupting Christians. Corrupting those who buy into the idea that, in any form the act of homosexuality is 'OK". God spoke quite clearly on that. It is sad to think that the thought of a sin, one committed in the heart, which is the same as having done the act for the purpose of being a sin, is somehow considered 'OK', as this too is a corrupting influence.

It is even sadder that in order to escape such tacit approval of sins God considered an abomination, Christians are being herded from sect to sect, church to church, by the minions of evil themselves.

While I hate no person, this is evil in action.

Can't the members of the church exert more influence on church policy, or is it out of your hands?