Minneapolis tornado rips Lutheran conference on gays in the church (Pics)

WordPress ^ | August 20, 2009 | james mary evans

[NYer]

Here’s the church… Where’s the steeple?

The inverted Cross atop Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis dangled from the steeple on Wednesday following a rare downtown twister as the ELCA Churchwide Assembly was in legislative session across the street at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Things that make you go, hmmm…

Countless spiritual souls over the ages have commented on seeing God in all things. So, how about manifestations of physical evils found within nature, or, as the American justice system calls them: Acts of God… Perhaps a lesson from the fig tree — re-reading Mark 13: 5-6, 28-29 — occured Wednesday on 3rd street in downtown Minneapolis, Mn.

First, this from the Catholic News Agency yesterday:

THE NORTH PLAZA HAD BEEN SET AS "THE CARILLON CAFE" WITH SEATING FOR 200 AND SERVING STATIONS UNDER TWO LARGE TENTS.

Minneapolis, Minn., Aug 18, 2009 / 11:38 pm (CNA).- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is considering a proposal that would allow members in homosexual relationships to serve as clergy. It has denied a motion to require a higher proportion of votes for the proposal to pass.

On Monday delegates gathered at the Minneapolis Convention Center rejected a proposal to require approval from a two-thirds supermajority instead of a simple majority when the measure comes to a final vote, expected on Friday.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson cautioned earlier in the day that the outcome of the majority versus supermajority vote shouldn’t be seen as strongly indicating how the debate will be decided.

EQUIPMENT AND PARTS OF THE MASSIVE TENT THAT WAS "PUB CENTRAL" WAS BLOWN INTO THIRD AVENUE.

Supporters of the high threshold for passage said it was necessary to signal wide support for a major change in the church’s approach to homosexuality. About 43 percent of the 1,045 voting delegates supported the higher standard, the Associated Press says.

Other topics of consideration include a broader statement on sexuality, a 34-page document that reportedly would establish a theological framework for differing views of homosexuality. Critics say it would liberalize the ELCA.

The ELCA claims about 4.7 million members and 10,000 congregations in the United States.

Coincidence, or, co-incidents?

Consideration of the proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality document was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 19, at 2:oo p.m.

According to the website of the Central Lutheran Church located across the street from the conference center, where the assembly was in session, the tornado passed through downtown Minneapolis near CLC at, you guessed it, approximately 2:00 p.m…

[Republic]

Wow-thanks for the link to John Piper’s comments. He really put this tornado into sharp perspective.

[aliquando]

I know I will be changing. My “safest” ( translate most comfortable) choice would be a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod). I have had many Catholic and Baptists friends invite me to visit. I will have to go where G_d leads me.

[Unam Sanctam]

How sad. I’m not Lutheran but went to Lutheran summer camp as a child, and was always impressed by the Christian faith of the counselors and campers, even though it was the Kumbaya era.

[magslinger]

LOL!

[magslinger]

Do you know which Lutheran Church? There are several brands, and probably were more when you went to camp, depending on how long ago it was.

From your description I'd guess LCMS.

[SaraJohnson]

“HINT, HINT!!!! Anybody left in their right mind down there? Did you think I was kiddin’?”

[right way right]

If it weren't for the righteous that were there to fight this abomination, God probably would have destroyed them all.

Too me, God is saying this church will not stand upright in my kingdom.

[fortunecookie]

Just a coincidence .... right? ;-)

Um, yeah.

Or a subtle hint...

[Palladin]

God to Luthies:

Can you hear Me now?

[Unam Sanctam]

Actually it was ELCA, but it was 30 years ago.

[right way right]

To back up my post at #27

20 Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. [e] 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare [f] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge [g] of all the earth do right?”

26 The LORD said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”

29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”

30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”

32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”

[aberaussie]

Actually it was ELCA, but it was 30 years ago.

Then it wasn't ELCA, but one of it's predecessor bodies. ELCA was formed from the LCA, ALC and AELC in 1987.

[TASMANIANRED]

It is a bit strange.

[kaehurowing]

If I were you, I’d avoid Minneapolis tomorrow.

[xone]

bttt

[this_ol_patriot]

“Shivers”

[bboop]

hahaha, great lyrics.

[utahagen]

Sincere question: why would any orthodox Christian who is Lutheran belong to the ELCA rather than the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod?

[NYer]

Sincere question: why would any orthodox Christian who is Lutheran belong to the ELCA rather than the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod?

Here is a sincere question for you. Up until only recently, I was not aware of any divisions in the Lutheran Church. How can two churches both call themselves Lutheran?

[Jacob Kell]

Actually, there’s always the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, or the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Not all Lutheran churches are pro-homo, you know.