I am a LCMS pastor, and the main issue with those denominations that have left the ELCA, such as CORE is doing, is with the LCMS’ position that only males can be pastors. The second issue is with closed communion. Thirty years ago the issue of women in the pastoral office would not have been a divisive issue, since none of the Lutheran denominations ordained women. It is like the old saw about once the horse gets out of the barn you cannot get it back. What the members fail to understand is that the same arguments for women’s ordination are exactly the same ones for accepting homosexuality. Once you ignore the Scriptures and tradition on one point, it opens to door to anarchy.
We left the ELCA 17 years ago for the LCMS. Thank you, Lord. We have been blessed and if the LCMS ever ordains women, we’re outta there.
I am a LCMS pastor, and the main issue with those denominations that have left the ELCA, such as CORE is doing, is with the LCMS’ position that only males can be pastors. The second issue is with closed communion.
I too am an LCMS pastor, and those are exactly the same two issues I would cite, in that order. They don't have a problem with women pastors, and they don't "get" the historic Christian practice of communion fellowship. And really, the underlying problem is an inadequate view of the authority and inspiration of Holy Scripture. That is what led to women's ordination, and now, homosexual pastors. ELCA "conservatives" are liberal by Missouri Synod standards.
What the members fail to understand is that the same arguments for women’s ordination are exactly the same ones for accepting homosexuality. Once you ignore the Scriptures and tradition on one point, it opens to door to anarchy.
Bingo. Both are symptoms of the same problem. As soon as they went for women's ordination, it was inevitable and predictable that they would eventually go for homosexual ordination.
With all due respect your logic is specious. There is no logical imperative between women and homosexuals. Woman, all things being equal are who they are. Homosexuals, however, are defective. Sorry, if that offends, but they are. They do not function as God and/or nature intended. Same-sex attraction is not normal.
Furthermore, homosexual acts are condemned in the Bible numerous times. This is fact. Wishing it to be otherwise does not make it so.
Having said the above, I have no problem with any man or woman becoming a religious leader. But I don’t understand why it’s important for me to know their sexual preference. Why, for example, is it important for me to know that a men’s choral group singing at my local library is “The Gay Men’s Chorus”.
People can be defective physically and mentally and still answer God’s Call. Gay and lesbian clergy should keep their problem to themselves. It is not relevant to their calling. Tolerance is an integral part of all Judeo-Christian faiths. It doesn’t just apply to the homosexual community.
Sorry, but your moral equivalence argument does not apply.