Posted on 06/15/2007 3:22:00 PM PDT by SmithL
A Lutheran congregation in San Francisco will ordain an openly gay partnered minister Saturday as part of a drive to equalize LGBTs within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Dawn Roginski's ordination at St. Francis Lutheran Church directly challenges the denomination's policy of requiring lifelong celibacy of its gay and lesbian clergy while imposing no such restrictions on its heterosexuals.
The ceremony will mark the third such challenge to the policy in eight months.
The ceremonies, which run outside the usual guidelines of Lutheran ordinations to certify the credentials of openly identified sexual minorities, are supported by the Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries and the Extraordinary Candidacy Project.
Roginski made headlines in 2005 when she and partner Lisa Johnson successfully sued the state of Missouri to let them become foster parents.
Johnson is a child-development expert; Roginski was a youth chaplain with an undergraduate degree in psychology, a master's in counseling and a divinity degree.
Despite their picture-perfect credentials, the women were rejected by the Missouri Department of Social Services on the grounds that Johnston, the formal applicant, was not "of reputable character."
In February 2006, a county judge ruled that Missouri could not refuse the couple because of their homosexuality. The state dropped its appeal several months later.
Fourteen Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and two independent Lutheran congregations are now served by openly gay pastors who have gone through the Extraordinary Candidacy Project.
As it faces increased pressure to overturn the policy, the denomination will revisit the issue at its biennial assembly Aug. 6-11 in Chicago.
Neither St. Francis nor Martin Luther would approve, but this congregation FEELS like celebrating pseudo-Sacraments.
Replacing the Bible with anything else always, eventually, leads to another gospel, even depravity.
Romans 1:26-32 —
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Another abomination sanctioned by ECLA. Pray for their souls.
Not quite correct: This abomination might well incur sanctions by the Sierra-Pacific Synod of the ELCA. The article states that there are 14 ELCA congregations or ministries served by persons "ordained" through the Extraordinary Candidacy Project. These "Ordinands" are not subject to the discipline of the ELCA because they are not on the roster of ELCA clergy; nor can they become part of that roster because of their homosexual behavior. The congregations/ministries which "call" such person are subject to discipline; a few years ago two San Fransisco area congregations were in fact removed by action of the S-P Synod Council. But such actions are rare.
Amen to that...and equally scandalous is the complicity of those Bishops who refuse to exercise their ministry of oversite in bringing discipline against such wayward congregations.
“You are what you tolerate.”
Those of you that may be looking for a true Lutheran group may wish to visit http://www.lutheransonline.com/clc
*Shaking head*
Wonder what old Martin Luther would say?
I encourage you to check out the website of the Society of the Holy Trinity http://www.societyholytrinity.org Read the page on "The Rule" http://www.societyholytrinity.org/rule.htm, paying particular attention to the section entitled "Parish Practices".Members of the Society are deeply committed to the weekly Eucharist, Private Confession and Absolution, and the public recitation of the Daily Office
Then look at the membership directory http://www.societyholytrinity.org/stswebdirectory.htm to see if there are any STS members serving a congregation within a reasonable driving distance. Although not every parish is practicing every aspect of the Rule at this time, most subscriber clergy are committed to working toward those goals and have a deliberate plan to achieve them incrementally. These clergy would be delighted to receive visitors and/or new members who share those commitments.
Revski
http://www.revski.org/
That's not what God says...
Psalm 5:5,6 -- 5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. 6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
Psalm 11:5 -- The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
Proverbs 6:16-19 -- 16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Hosea 9:15 -- All their wickedness is in Gilgal, For there I hated them. Because of the evil of their deeds I will drive them from My house; I will love them no more. All their princes are rebellious.
Malachi 1:3 -- But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.
Leviticus 20:23 -- And you shall not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things, and therefore I abhor them.
I thought only Ex-Catholics did this?!! Wait they aren’t Ex-Catholics are they??!!
I checked out the website, it reminds me a bit of the “oxford movement” of 19th century England.
What’s next? Caligula’s horse?
There are definite parallels to the Oxford movement and to its contemporary United Methodist version, the Order of St. Luke.
What is nothing short of phenomenal is the growth from less than two dozen to well over 200 subscribers in less than ten years. In late April I attended a multichapter retreat in western PA that had more attendees than some of the early General Retreats.
Clearly a work of God!
As a Catholic I’m always happy to see these movements, I think it brings us all a bit closer together.
You left out Jesus’ comment in Revelation that he hates the Nicolations.
There are lots of Scriptures that demonstrate God’s “hate” of certain people(s) that I’ve left out. Anyone who has not been added to the Church by the Holy Spirit has made himself an enemy of God (Romans 8:7, Ephesians 2:16, James 4:4), and is subject to God’s hate and wrath.
It’s probably a good time to remind folks that God’s hatred is not emotional, but comparative. Essentially, His love for those who have obeyed the Gospel is so great as to make His love for those who haven’t appear as hatred. Remember that it is His will that all men come to salvation, and He has provided the means for such. He does not engage in any vendetta against those at war with Him; rather, He desires their repentance (John 3:16).
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