[SmithL]

Exodus Ping

[Pontiac]

He said the ELCA’s new position “ignores a clear reading of the scriptures, including God’s created order and design for human sexuality.”

“For our congregation, and for so many, we recognize we’re all sinners and that we are called to love all sinners — without blessing or endorsing sin.”

It is one thing to welcome the sinner in to your congregation it is another to be led by them.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Seriously, even with the most unrestricted and limber of mental acrobatics, using a trampoline of Moral Relativism, how can you read the Bible and see support for this anywhere?

If they want to participate in this sort of un-Biblical behavior, why do so under the banner of Christianity? Why not just set up a new New Age religion based on Human Secularism?

(I know that part of their goal is to destroy Christianity from within, so that is a rhetorical question.)

[driftdiver]

And they wonder why they continue to lose members.

[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.

[Nosterrex]

There is a paradox within Midwest ELCA congregations, they are theologically liberal but socially conservative. They have no problem supporting the ordination of women into the ministry and practicing unionism. The ELCA has altar and pulpit fellowship with the Episcopal, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian USA, and Disciples of Christ. Because of their social conservatism, the older members have problems with practicing homosexuals. They just don't like having to deal with practicing gays. Now, the “conservative” members of the ELCA fall back on Scripture, but only when it is convenient to do so. Where was the outrage before?

[handmade]

Saw an article in last night’s local paper, the Lutheran church is getting ready to vote to break away. I am in south central Nebraska. The Smithfield congregation mentioned in this post is a tiny town with a rural congregation- twenty miles down the road from me.

[rhema]

This is maybe just another statement to society that the church is judgmental,” he said. “We want to have the church seen with arms out, longing to care.”

ELCAspeak translation: "We do get an occasional pang about putting our denominational imprimatur on sin, but our worst nightmare is the secular world's labeling us 'judgmental'."