The Episcopal Church approves blessing same-gender unions

Lutherans Concerned North America ^ | 18 July AD 2009 | Emily Eastwood

[lightman]

The Episcopal Church approves blessing same-gender unions

Lutherans Concerned / North America celebrates the decision of the US Episcopal Church at its triennial General Convention to approve the blessing of some same-gender lifelong, committed relationships. The change in policy was passed yesterday, July 17, 2009, the last day of the 10-day meeting.

The resolution passed also included directions to the church leadership to develop liturgies for the rites of blessing. Characterized in the press as carefully worded, the resolution did not change the stated definition that a marriage is between a man and a woman. The rites called for will be taken up at the next General Convention in 3 years.

In the meantime, the resolution said that bishops, "particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church." Same-gender unions are now legal in six states in the US.

Emily Eastwood said, "On the heels of declaring that all orders of ministry including that of bishop are open to LGBT members of the Episcopal church, Episcopalians have also provided the blessing of unions of faithful, mutually supportive, committed members, and required the development of religious services that honor their commitment to each other. This is both a decisive action worthy of the followers of Christ and a long-awaited recognition that LGBT people are children of God and have always been a part of the wondrous diversity of God's creation. Our prayer is that the Spirit will continue her work in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America so that in our August churchwide assembly similar-spirited result will come to fruition."

[lightman]

Utterly predictable that the pro-gay "full inclusion" lobby would advocate a monkey-see-monkey-do approach. Follow your ecumenical "full communion" partner's lead in this danse macabre

Our prayer is that the Spirit will continue her work in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America so that in our August churchwide assembly similar-spirited result will come to fruition

As Luther said to Zwingli: You have a different spirit.

[lightman]

Lutheran (ELCA) Ping!

Be sure also to read:

Pastoral Guidance Concerning Same-Sex Unions

Delight, Design and Destiny: Toward a Doxological Ethics of Sexuality

Statement by Three Dissenting Members of the ELCA Task Force on Human Sexuality

It’s Not About Homosexuality--Not Really

I think I want a Divorce

“Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust”: A Critique by Carl E. Braaten

When There Are No Biblical or Theological Grounds to Change, Don’t

WordAlone Network responds to ELCA human sexuality proposals

Lutheran CORE leaders urge rejection of ELCA task force recommendations

[lightman]

Ping.

[wagglebee]

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[wagglebee]

Emily Eastwood said, "On the heels of declaring that all orders of ministry including that of bishop are open to LGBT members of the Episcopal church, Episcopalians have also provided the blessing of unions of faithful, mutually supportive, committed members, and required the development of religious services that honor their commitment to each other. This is both a decisive action worthy of the followers of Christ and a long-awaited recognition that LGBT people are children of God and have always been a part of the wondrous diversity of God's creation..."

You CANNOT be faithful if you are committed to living in sin.

Our Lord was very clear when He said, "Go and sin no more."

[TheConservativeParty]

Ezekiel 2:3 “I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against Me. They and their fathers have transgressed against Me, even unto this very day.”

There certainly are a lot of fake churches out there. I found a radio show out of Chicago on 1160am late night, 10 to midnight. The hostess June calls those who follow Christ “authentic Christians”.

[rman04554]

The once great Episcopalian church that our founding fathers belonged to is now a freak show...the decline of civilization continues

[Nathan Zachary]

Another "church" bites the dust and gives up teaching the Lords gospel in exchange for a richer collection plate. Churchy sounding words to make fags feel better about their disgusting sexual perversions pays better I guess.

"This people honors me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless; the doctrines they teach are only human regulations." (Matt.15:8-9).

"Make sure that no one traps you and deprives you of your freedom by some secondhand, empty, rational philosophy based on the principles of this world instead of on Christ." Colossians 2:6-8

Unrepentant sinners can't expect to be pastors and have the power of intercession the lord, bless anything on the lords behalf, baptize anyone. Straight members of that church need to go find a real church, and have any baptisms blessings redone.

"It is not those who say to me 'Lord, Lord', who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven." (Mt.7:21).

"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with the angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behavior." (Mt.16:27).

I wonder what the reward for committing perverted sexual acts is?

"For what is thought highly of by men is loathsome in the sight of God." (Lk.16:15).

""Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear these words behind you, 'This is the way, follow it'." (Is.30:21).

"Remember the maxim: 'Keep to what is written." (1 Cor.4:6).

[Albion Wilde]

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. —Matthew 7:15

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. —Mark 13:22

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. —2 Peter 2:1

[dodger]

Sex does not equal gender ...

Civil union does not equal marriage ...

[xzins]

The Episcopal Club is no Church.

[Wilhelm Tell]

Now that the “Hate Crimes” law has passed, we are a giant goosestep closer to churches being shut down if they refuse to accommodate the gay mafia. Within ten years, there will most likely be an “official,” state-approved and run “church” and an underground church. All it takes is for us to lose one conservative Supreme Court Justice and the First Amendment, especially freedom of religion and freedom of political speech, will be re-defined out of existence.

[gidget7]

So sad. And the Methodist churches, (a lot of them) are not far behind. In-laws went to one for years, and were fine, as they should have been, with homosexuals going to church. (how else are they going to hear the Word and be witnessed to?) but when they allowed a lesbian to become Pastor, that was it. They never went back.

[Redleg Duke]

The slippery slope promotes acceleration on the wide path to hell!

[PhilCollins]

I know an ELCA member who supports gay weddings, in ELCA churches, and ordaining gays. I asked her, “Have you seen a Bible verse that says that God approves of homosexuality?” She said that she hasn’t seen that and that churches shouldn’t discriminate.

[aussiemom]

“You CANNOT be faithful if you are committed to living in sin.

Our Lord was very clear when He said, ‘Go and sin no more.’”

AMEN!

23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. 1 Co 1

Christ CRUCIFIED!

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Ps 51

10For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Co 7

[Lauren BaRecall]

Civil unions are everything except the word “marriage.”

[WKTimpco]

In this article this “church” encourages
clerics to establish rituals, especially
in states that already have “civil unions,”
and legalized “marriage.”

So that “church” uses human laws to guide
their policy.

So much for the Word of God leading Christians
and the Church as the vanguard of living out God’s
Word in our lives.

[WKTimpco]

The “church” in the article hopes to bring
new members in by turning its back on the
Word of God.

If that “church” is successful in their
endeavor, we will very quickly witness
the downfall of that particular “church”
and possibly of mainline Protestantism
in general.

In other words, it will backfire!
Let any Episcopalians know what kind
of fire they are playing with.

[Salvation]

Do you think this is going to bring Episcopalians toward the orthodox parihes, whether they be in the Lutheran or Catholic faith?

I do!