Lutheran (EL
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Posted on 11/20/2009 7:23:27 AM PST by lightman
Lutherans Concerned / North America (LC/NA) responded with sadness to yesterday's announcement proposing a new church body to be formed by and for former ELCA members and congregations opposing the full inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life of the church.
In August 2009, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, by a 2/3 majority, passed a social statement on sexuality. The statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" described as faithful four positions on beliefs within the denomination on the inclusion of people in same-gender relationships. The four positions ranged from the view that same-gender sexual behavior is sinful, calling gay and lesbian people to life-long celibacy, to the belief that the community is best served when same-gender relationships are lived out within lifelong and monogamous commitments. The passage of the social statement respecting the four views set the stage for the elimination of policies excluding ministers in same-gender relationships.
Responding to yesterday's announcement, Emily Eastwood, Executive Director of LC/NA, said, "You might think we would be happy that those who oppose the full inclusion of LGBT people and their families would be leaving the ELCA. Well, we're not.
"We know first hand what happens within families when a member comes out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Often there is a period of denial, fear and anger, sometimes sadly resulting in temporary or life-long estrangement. In August the ELCA finally came out about its LGBT members and ministers and the congregations who accept and advocate for them. It seems with yesterday's announcement that some ELCA Lutherans cannot even tolerate being in the same church family with congregations who accept us. Anger and fear have overtaken the great commandments from Jesus himself: to love God, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
"For 35 years LC/NA has never isolated itself from those who disagree with us. Nor have we threatened to lead an exodus from the denomination by those congregations who found the wait too long or the social statement well short of the advocacy needed for LGBT people in church and society. We have never called for congregations to withhold giving to the ELCA; in fact, we encourage additional stewardship, especially in times like these.
"Since 2007, the leadership of LC/NA has requested dialogue with the leadership of Lutheran groups vocally opposing full inclusion. To date, only one such leader has responded to our requests for engagement. We know that families stay together out of love even when they disagree on some subjects. Reconciliation takes time, respect and relentless care. LC/NA stands ready for that reconciling work. We believe that wherever and whenever two or more are gathered in Christ's name, the Holy Spirit will be present, stirring our hearts and minds to greater love of God and the neighbor."
Since the August decisions, LC/NA has responded to requests for information, education, and pastoral care for members of congregations and synods where vocal groups opposing the apparent and growing tolerance within the ELCA have sought to divide, to withhold giving to the denomination, to force accepting pastors to resign, or ultimately to leave the ELCA. LC/NA has called its members to reach out to those disaffected by the August decisions with love and respect.
About Lutherans Concerned Working at the intersection of oppressions, Lutherans Concerned / North America (LC/NA) embodies, inspires, advocates and organizes for the acceptance and full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities within the Lutheran communion and its ecumenical and global partners. LC/NA is based in St Paul, Minnesota.
LC/NA's lobbying arm may call itself "Goodsoil" but this parable makes clear that all soil is good; as the hymnwriter puts it:
All the world is God's own field,
Fruit unto His praise to yield.
But the parable also makes clear that the soil the kingdom had become horribly polluted by much bad seed.
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Translation: "We were hoping to find more Laodicean Lutherans who regard the Bible as lightly as we do. To our shock and dismay, those who disagree with us actually believe and heed their Bibles."
Four positions? I thought there were at least 69!
Y’all should have left in 2007, when the ELCA mis-leaders were pushing the feminazi liturgy down your throats.
Then—among other good things that would have happened—the sodomites would not have been able to say that you “left because you oppose ‘full inclusion’ “.
Oh well, better late than never. Let the gaysbians sputter and fume. And let them try to recruit for their congregations by stressing the values of “inclusiveness”, not the Gospel. I’ve seen liberal ELCA synods’ and congregations’ planning for “evangelism” first hand. They NEVER mention Jesus Christ.
A steaming pile...
How long before lc/na sends "missionaries" into the CORE group and begins the conversion process there?
SoDak expresses sadness that his church was taken over by apostates and has shaken the dust off his shoes.
The people really effected by this vote are the very people it was supposed to help....the gays and lesbians because now the will be permanently seperated from G-d by their unrepentant sin.
Perhaps you should have left, but that was never the agenda.
Knowing that the United Church of Christ (UCC) and Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) are extremely liberal, laissez-faire in all things I have never understood why the homosexualist Lutherans did not simply go to those “welcoming” communities. They would have been free to continue to use the Lutheran liturgy and to tip their hats to the Lutheran Confessions.
But instead...
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