{ ELCA } Lutheran Group Addresses Marriage Issue

AP via SFGate ^ | 3/13/8 | RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer

[SmithL]

A task force drafting a statement on sexuality for the nation's largest Lutheran group said Thursday that the church should continue defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

However, the panel did not condemn same-gender relationships. The committee expressed regret that historic Lutheran teachings have been used to hurt gays and lesbians, and acknowledged that some congregations already accept same-sex couples.

The report released by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is part of the denomination's yearslong effort to bridge internal differences over the Bible and homosexuality.

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a separate, smaller group, is theologically conservative, and teaches that same-gender relationships violate Scripture.

Called a "Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality," the report is a wide-ranging study of Christian views on sexual morality, premarital sex, domestic abuse and families.

But the most anticipated part of the document was whether the task force would recommend equal standing for gay and heterosexual couples in the 4.8 million-member church.

Next year, the panel will decide whether to suggest changes in current clergy standards that bar gays and lesbians from being ordained if they are sexually active. After revisions, both proposals will be presented for a vote to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis.

The document released Thursday repeatedly states that sexual intimacy should be reserved for married couples, and condemns sex for personal gratification alone.

"The church recognizes the historic origin of the term `marriage' as a lifelong and committed relationship between a woman and a man, and does not wish to alter this understanding," the report says.

The task force goes on to describe different responses to gays and lesbians in congregations, noting that some churches require celibacy for them, while others urge gay couples to "establish relationships that are chaste, mutual, monogamous and lifelong."

[Purrcival]

Lutheran Pastor Ping for you, Charles. I’m assuming that you are part of the “smaller, more conservative” Missouri Synod?

[SmithL]

They said Scripture should be interpreted in light of scientific knowledge and human experience.

How special is that?

[Secret Agent Man]

No offense, but if your church ever starts ‘task forces’ to ‘study’ the issue of gays, it’s just a wedge in the door to ultimately get it accepted one way or the other. The task forces never go away, they get more and more liberal in their ‘findings’ and ‘recommendations’, and serve as a legitimizing source others can reference when trying to advance changes to your church’s bylaws, teaching statements and doctrinal beliefs. It’s about incrementalism and the agenda of those involved to get homosexuality accepted as ‘God approved’ for any number of personal reasons.

[kittymyrib]

As usual, the E”L”CA (Luther would be damning them to hell) is apologizing for Scripture. It is just so embarrassing to try to be on the cutting edge in “The Church of What’s Happening Now” when the Bible condemns homosexuality and calls it an abomination to God. Why some people convince themselves that such ungodly institutions are “Christian” and still support them with their attendance and offerings is a mystery.
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?...Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:22-23.

[SmithL]

Lutheran (ELCA) Ping!

[Designer]

Thanks for the ping, but I didn't realize it was an "ELCA" ping list.

LCMS is my church.

[elpadre]

and the gay movement will flood your conventions with both clergy and lay delegates and visitors who will be highly organized, quietly in the beginning but rude, arrogant and demanding later. They will demonize all who refuse to support them. They will label and hound conservatives tagging them as homophobic and worse. Give an inch, they'll take a mile or more.

There is a precedence for this MO.

[lightman]

SmithL will be making the pings on stories related to this sexuality study because I have vowed that I will not read the sexuality document nor comment upon it until after the transferred feast of the Annunciation on April 1. This is a sort of Lenten fasting, to abstain from debate and commentary which could easily consume me and divert my attention from what should be our only proclamation in these days: Jesus Christ, Crucified and Risen.

I only make this reply to explain the purple lettering and its history:

The “ELCA” in the ping banner was something that I added about a year ago because some LCMS folk were—quite rightly—distressed by actions taking place within the ELCA. When such pings were simply titled “Lutheran Ping” they believed that they needed to differentiate themselves.

[Secret Agent Man]

Yes. The precedents are what has happened in: the Episcopal Church - USA; Presbyterian Church - USA, ELCA; United Church of Christ; United Methodist Church; Metropolitan Community Church (gay church); and even the Roman Catholic church has groups pushing for acceptance of gays.

[Charles Henrickson]

I’m assuming that you are part of the “smaller, more conservative” Missouri Synod?

You are correct.

[Mr. Lucky]

Don’t worry; our separated bretheren in the ELCA appreciate LCMS folks stopping by to offer the opinion of God’s one true church.

[MEGoody]

. . .and acknowledged that some congregations already accept same-sex couples.

Those congregations have violated biblical teaching. We are not to 'accept' sin or allow the unrepentent to be members in good standing of the church.

Instead, if they refuse to repent after being confronted in a biblical manner, they are to be put out of the church until they do.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

This 5 year long process is just the beginning....the queers that run this organization have just started.

[Terriergal]

hey you aren’t on #prosapologian are you?

[Terriergal]

The committee expressed regret that historic Lutheran teachings have been used to hurt gays and lesbians, and acknowledged that some congregations already accept same-sex couples.

Yeah but theyr'e still 'hurting' them by not allowing them to marry, why don 't they just go all the way? Are they as welcoming to child abusers and puppy kickers too?

AAAARGH! Ichabod. Loooong time ago. I'd have been out of there long before they started welcoming open sin, I would leave long before that, when Jesus was no longer welcome.

[Terriergal]

our separated bretheren in the ELCA appreciate LCMS folks stopping by to offer the opinion of God’s one true church.

What's that supposed to mean?

[Colonel_Flagg]

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a separate, smaller group, is theologically conservative, and teaches that same-gender relationships violate Scripture.

God bless LCMS, but there's precious little to teach here. Anyone who has read Scripture understands that homosexuality is an abomination.

But I suppose those who actually submit to Scripture are somewhat fewer in number nowadays.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“A task force drafting a statement on sexuality for the nation’s largest Lutheran group said Thursday that the church should continue defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. “

It takes a task force to decide that?
Is our culture really that dense?

[Wilhelm Tell]

That is how it works. People with a “liberal” agenda first just want “dialog.” As they infiltrate a church, they want to push for un-Biblical views to be recognized as a “respected minority view.” As they gain power, the un-Biblical view becomes “mainstream” and anyone who disagrees is an “extremist.” Finally, they officially “re-define” the doctrine and remove anyone dissents. They triumphantly praclaim, “the time for dialog is over.”