IIRC, Finney preached that man could overcome sin through his own will, and that Adam's sin was not man's sin per se. I don't see this as the ELCA's approach here. They're saying the sin of homosexuality isn't a sin at all since homosexuals can become ordained servants of God and take the Sacraments.
I'm not that knowledgeable about Finney, but I suspect he'd still consider homosexuality a sin (i.e. moral depravity), but man has the ability to live a Godly life and can overcome sin on his own; at least that's my take of him.
The E*?A needs to come to understand - once again - God's will regarding Christ's death (absolution) and the role it plays in our salvation.
I don't see that happening. I don't see Hanson taking a step back. He has too much invested, and too many have his ear to backtrack now. The ELCA has made its bed. What hopefully will happen is that those against this heresy will break from the heretical Church and build God's house apart from the ELCA; whether through transfer into strong doctrinal bodies or the creation of their own.
by “confessionalize” Finneyism I meant that they adopted the works righteousness of Finney’s proseltyzing (go and SAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVVVE the heathens) and then tried to mask it with Lutheran-sounding words.