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Christianity Today, October, 2007 |

Moving to 'Acceptance'

Mainline Lutheran assembly urges bishops not to discipline gay ministers.

Lisa Parro | posted 9/12/2007 08:56AM

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A resolution against disciplining pastors in "a mutual, chaste and faithful, committed, same-gender relationship" is drawing criticism from some within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA).

The resolution, adopted on August 11 at the 5 million-member denomination's biennial assembly, seems to contradict a church policy that prohibits ministers from engaging in homosexual sexual relations. "We all know the old saying, 'Practice what you preach.' There has to be consistency," said Jaynan Clark Egland, president of WordAloneNetwork, a Minnesota-based renewal group of more than 230 ELCA churches.

ELCA delegates postponed any official changes to the denomination's policy until 2009, when a task force is scheduled to complete a sexuality report. Many who voted in favor of the resolution, which passed 538 to 431, cited embarrassment caused by a recent case involving the Rev. Bradley Schmeling. Officially defrocked after an investigation into his gay relationship, his Atlanta church nevertheless kept him as pastor.

"The trial of Bradley Schmeling put this into public focus throughout the country and throughout the church," said the Rev. Paul Landahl, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod. Landahl said he proposed the resolution as a temporary fix.

"It's not a matter of looking the other way," Landahl said. "There's a movement toward acceptance. To me, it's a gospel issue."

The resolution may do little to quell sexuality disputes, however. Paull Spring, chair of Lutheran core, another renewal group, said most bishops would continue to abide by the church's policy. "I had several bishops speak to me personally [at the assembly]," he said, "and they said they have no intention of restraining discipline."

Related Elsewhere:

Weblog has commentary and links to news stories about the ELCA resolution.

Officially, ELCA standards for ordained ministers have not changed.

Other articles on sexuality and gender and church life are available online.

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October 2007, Vol. 51, No. 10

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Anna	Posted: September 12, 2007 9:01 PM

These people doing the voting are influenced by the secular world and they have moved themselves into positions of power within the Churches. Its the 1960s attitude of "if it feels good do it, you're a free person", "..Be happy". Well, you get the picture. So, if the homosexual can't be disciplined because one church of non-Christians voted to keep their "girls/devils" in power, than the alcoholic can continue to beat their kids and wives when they're drunk which is all the time, and the adult in the house can do sex with their kids because why should they be required to change their habits if the homosexuals don't have to. So, now, families who don't want their kids associated with or being influenced by the "savory" have to go elsewhere. I thought the Church's idea was to be strong enough to say no to the devil, apparently it's hard to say no if it feels so good to say yes. Well, keep demanding lower and lower standards and morals, our family has already left that Church anyway.

T	Posted: September 12, 2007 4:44 PM

Even heterosexual union in fully lawful marriage for just "fun" and "recreation" is cutting it fine. Never mind the use of the body for homosexual lust, which is forbidden every time it is mentioned in the scriptures. At best married sex - when not for the wonderful act of procreation - which is its rightful use - is to stop someone burning and itching with lust. God welcomes sex in marriage for the sake of bringing godly children into the world. But sex as part of a clinging and over-erotic mindset brings people into the realm of the enemy whose trap is to draw people into lawlessness and poor spiritual discipline. Sex is a joy when conception is welcomed and children are conceived and a family is made real in its full godly sense. But physical erotic sex is treading close to the line. Homosexual lust treads over that line into the realm of ungodly and can never serve God's purposes ever!

Casey Hough

Posted: September 13, 2007 9:50 AM


Here is my response at http://ncmin.com/archives/140