[lightman]

Today I had occasion to read two of these letters from Synodical Bishops, one purportedly authored by a self described "baby Bishop" who is a revisionist; the other purportedly authored by an equally inexperienced centrist.

Curiously, the letter contained almost identical verbage.

Applying the modern scholarly form-critical tools it is apparent that both were drawing on an unnamed source which we shall call "Q".

Since "Q" makes an impassioned appeal for unity it may be safe to conclude that Q = Mark S. Hanson.

[lightman]

Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!

* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.

[Mercat]

“Let us strive to live together as the Holy Scripture calls us to live together amid our disagreements.”

Can I have a specific cite? Getting along is not the message I have been getting from scripture. OK, blessed are the peace makers but how about all will hate you because of Me.

[Nosterrex]

It serves no purpose for me to kick someone when they’re down, but my prayer is that the ELCA either repents and returns to biblical Christianity or implodes into oblivion. You can’t serve two masters. A Christian can’t serve Christ and be in a denomination that rejects his Word.

[Redleg Duke]

"I am uncertain of the rightness of this current decision," deFreese wrote, "but I trust that God's Holy Spirit will correct where we are wrong, encourage where we are right and act if we are somewhere in between."

Someone who couldn't take a stand if his life depended on it! I'll bet he has two-tone underwear, too!

[Kolokotronis]

“However you feel about these decisions, you should be proud of the transparency, integrity, care and prayerful nature of the process we used to make them,” wrote the Rev. David H. Brauer-Rieke, bishop of the ELCA Oregon synod. “This in and of itself is an amazing witness.”

A witness to what? Apostasy?

[Kolokotronis]

“”We encourage you to go to God’s Word, deepen your faith, seek to understand the other and listen to what the Spirit is saying to you through these decisions,””

Likely, the Spirit is saying “Leave now for the sake of your soul!”

[ThunderSleeps]

Seems like about time to “shake off even the dust of my feet” from the ELCA... Tolerance is one thing, promoting, rewarding, raising up as leadership people obviously sinning and unrepentant about it? No can do.

[k omalley]

“congregations will not be forced to accept pastors against their wishes”

I wonder how long that will last? And what happens if the congregation is divided over whether to call a non-celibate gay pastor?

[RobinOfKingston]

Most of the 65 synodical bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) want leaders, congregations and pastors to stay in conversation ...

That statement fairly drips of cynicism. There has been no conversation.