Policy changes a real test of faith { Exodus from the ELCA }

More than two decades ago, some like-minded Lutherans merged to form the nation’s largest Lutheran body, optimistic that they could create a mighty ministry force.

But unity among the 4.7 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is splintering over a landmark policy change.

At its national assembly in August, ELCA members voted to give each church the option of blessing same-sex couples and hiring gay and lesbian clergy in committed relationships.

For some of the 176 congregations in South-Central Texas, the change marks a long-awaited and just victory for their gay and lesbian members.

But more conservative churches see it as a heretical break from core Lutheran beliefs in scriptural authority. At least three are headed for the exit door, and a fourth church may follow suit. They’re likely to switch to more conservative Lutheran associations.

Most congregations remain in limbo — keeping their options open while they engage in soul-searching conversations about their next move.

Trying to hold the ELCA together are church officials like Bishop Ray Tiemann, head of the Southwestern Texas Synod, which is based in Seguin. It encompasses most of South-Central Texas and has 68,000 members.

“We’re not talking about whether Jesus was God or not or how valid the doctrine of the Trinity is,” Tiemann said, “but how does our faith affect people in their daily lives and what does it mean to live a moral life in following Christ’s commands. It should not be — for us — a dividing issue.”

Tiemann carries a message of unity-in-diversity to lay and clerical Lutherans at public and private forums across the region.

He coats it with the balm of civility in disagreement — a central Lutheran tenet — and emphasizes that congregations have the autonomy to decide whether to adopt the policy or not and still stay in the ELCA.

He promotes the denomination’s resources, which the churches would lose if they join a smaller, less-established Lutheran group. More than two dozen colleges and universities turn out lay and clergy leaders, for example. “There are things you just can’t do when you’re by yourself,” he said.

The ELCA is one of dozens of Lutheran traditions in the United States that trace their roots to founder Martin Luther. Today, they celebrate Luther’s challenge to the Catholic Church in 1517 that sparked the Protestant Reformation and the eventual split with Rome.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Like many mainline churches, the ELCA has been absorbing blows from the economic recession and a cultural shift away from denominational loyalty. Other Protestant denominations — Episcopal, United Methodist and Presbyterian — are grappling with similar controversies over gay and lesbian policies.

Tiemann’s church, Bethany Lutheran in Fredericksburg, shunned the prospect of leaving the ECLA but banned the new policy, while tempering it with a standing welcome to gay and lesbians.

In New Braunfels, which wears its German heritage proudly, Lutheran roots run deep. The city is home to what is believed to be the oldest denominational church in the state, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, which is open only for ceremonies now.

The two ELCA churches in the city, one the outgrowth of the other, are separated by more than Interstate 35.

After several contentious votes that have split the church, St. Paul Lutheran is close to quitting the ELCA. Peace Lutheran isn’t so sure; its members still are wrestling with the policy while trying to keep the church whole.

At St. Paul — the larger and older of the two with 1,000 members, about half of whom attend services on average — a majority voted 259-194 last month to leave but failed to garner the necessary two-thirds majority.

A group of staunch policy opponents pressed the issue and collected enough signatures on a petition to force a second vote three weeks later. Although 107 fewer members voted, two-thirds were in favor of ceding from the ECLA.

A final vote needs to be taken, probably in January. If it decides to affiliate with another Lutheran body, the church can keep its building and land.

“We’re not against homosexuals. We’re all sinners, but there are certain standards laid out in the Bible,” said Chuck Knudson, who voted to leave. “I don’t remember God ever asking for a show of hands about them.”

Margaret Warncke, the church’s 77-year-old receptionist and membership coordinator, voted against leaving the ELCA, but she can’t see herself quitting the church, where she was married, her children were confirmed and her husband’s funeral was conducted.

“It’s caused an awful lot of heartache,” Warncke said. “A lot of people feel it’s not our place to judge. And others say we’re not doing what the Bible says. There’s no winner in a situation like this.”

She said members disappointed with the outcome are departing for other churches in town, such as First United Methodist and Peace Lutheran, in search of less politically volatile congregations.

Nancy Zarbock, 76, foresees having to find another church if St. Paul leaves, which she thinks is unnecessary since the adoption of the policy is optional.

“There’s no way a church in New Braunfels is going to call a gay pastor,” said Zarbock, a 12-year member. “They voted my church out from under me.”

Church Council President Bryan Baese said he and others leading the charge to leave the ELCA have done so respectfully, yet with firm convictions.

“I was prepared to worship elsewhere” had the second vote failed again, Baese said. “People began to see the light. Some members that were strongly pro-ECLA graciously gave up the fight.”

Some St. Paul members are looking to see what will happen at Peace Lutheran, which was established two decades ago out of St. Paul’s surplus attendance.

At a recent forum, Pastor Gary Lange read the New Testament words, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” before handing out packets titled “ELCA Sexuality Forum.”

“No matter what we decide, let’s not say ‘us’ and them.’ ” one woman said. “They’re us.”

“I hope and pray everyone decides not just in their head but also from the Word,” another said.

“Will I take heat from my friends? ‘Y’all are staying at a church that says it’s OK to do this?’ I’ll have to say no,” he said. “Do I want (same-sex couples) at my church? Yes, I do. What about a blessing? I’m going to tell them no. I don’t want them to think their sin is a blessing from God.”

“I have gay and lesbian friends and grew up with all kinds of backgrounds and don’t feel comfortable saying who can and can’t be there at church,” she said. “I do enough judging that I shouldn’t do as it is.”

Lange is resolved to the church staying and expects members will make up their minds by congregation’s meeting in January.

“I know we don’t all agree,” Lange said. “But my goal has been to be a partner for both sides of this issue.”

In a living room in San Antonio last week, about a dozen members of New Beginnings Lutheran Church gathered for Bible study. Preschool-age children romped on sofas under the watchful eye of their parents.

One couple who joined New Beginnings eight months ago, Duane Poor, 50, and his partner Scott Godsey, 35, brought along their 4-year-old adopted son, Geronimo Godsey-Poor, who was baptized in the church. Poor, who grew up on the West Side, said New Beginnings was the first church where he has felt accepted as gay.

Dewey Chapa, the Bible study leader, scanned the scene. “I didn’t think this was possible, honestly,” he said, referring both to the diversity of the group and the ECLA policy, which is in keeping with New Beginnings’ mission of inclusion.

Raised in a small, independent Pentecostal church, Chapa was in his 20s when he admitted to himself and a group of close friends that he was gay.

“The church talked about grace, love and God’s forgiveness, but it was for everyone else,” he said. So he broke up with his then-girlfriend and left the church. He fasted from food and prayed for answers. So did his mother, dubious then of his sexuality.

He visited an ELCA mission church pastored by a gay, celibate man who mentored him with a message that God’s love didn’t condemn him for being gay.

Now 32, he joined New Beginnings seven years ago. He and his partner of six years look forward to the day when their relationship can be blessed by the church, which will occur after the liturgy is formalized by the ELCA.

“To be able to stand before God and show the love that everyone else is allowed to do — I don’t think people appreciate what that means for us,” Chapa said.

The same was true for female clergy and divorced pastors who once were banned by most Lutheran bodies, said New Beginnings Pastor Marilyn Lange, who’s not related to Peace Lutheran’s pastor.

New Beginnings started about 26 years ago and draws about 70 people — the average age is 40 — to a storefront in Northeast San Antonio on Sundays.

“We see this as a biological issue; therefore, if people don’t have a choice in their orientation, then why should they be punished for it,” Lange said. “Once you know people who are gay, you see them as human beings and not as statistics or stereotypes.”

Unlike New Beginnings, where there is no question about the policy, other churches in the synod are not nearly so united.

In Boerne, St. John Lutheran will vote Nov. 15 on whether to leave, said senior pastor, Henry Shulte, a former synod bishop.

“The key thing is that we love and accept all persons, but when the church votes to override Scripture, then it has replaced Scripture,” he said.

Reidun Hilleman, a self-described minority on the church council, said she’s committed to her “church family” and wants it to stay with ELCA.

“I think the Bible is clear on many, many things and that we all struggle with sin. I struggle with being arrogant or a know-it-all, but we’re not singling those ones out. It’s hard for me to ... say this is where we should draw the line.”

Zion Lutheran near Victoria and St. Andrew’s Lutheran in Goliad County have taken initial votes to leave the ELCA.

Shulte’s son is senior pastor of the synod’s flagship congregation, Zion Lutheran of Helotes, where more than 650 people attend weekend services.

Church leaders have held one town hall meeting but are deferring any further action to gather more information, said associate pastor Jennifer Gold, who spoke in place of the vacationing pastor.

“We have Bible-believing, devoted Christians on both sides of the issue,” Gold said. “We’re taking our time because it’s a long process and we want to be able to walk this out with prayerful intention and not react quickly.”

LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

At age 50, Duane Poor (far left) — accompanied at a Bible study session by partner Scott Godsey, who's holding their son, Geronimo Godsey-Poor — says New Beginnings Lutheran Church is the first church where he has felt accepted as gay.

Graphic

Discord in the ELCA (PDF)

The debate

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to lift the ban on noncelibate gay and lesbian clergy and blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples. Congregations have the option whether to adopt the change.

Here is a summary of the pro and con arguments about the policy:

FOR
Lutherans view Scripture through the eyes of Jesus, who never commented directly about homosexuality. The Bible's more numerous references to social justice causes — poverty, orphans and the oppressed — reflect the main message of loving one's neighbor and trumps the fewer references condemning homosexuality.

AGAINST
Lutherans traditionally have maintained the Bible is the ultimate and timeless authority on standards of morality, defining marriage as between one man and one woman for life and denouncing homosexuality as sin but not singling it out from other immoral behavior in need of repentance.

A very simple and logical answer to the ELCA problem

There shouldn’t be all the huff n puff wringing of hands

Move to the LCMS which is the Conservative Traditional
Synod.

Liberals stay ELCA, Conservative Traditionals head to your nearest LCMS parish.

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