After another extended plenary session, the 11th Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approved two final resolutions on Friday afternoon that open their church’s rostered clergy rolls to men and women in same-sex relationships.
The session began on a softer tone after a worship and lunch break. Speaking in favor of the change, Larry Christensen of the Southeastern Iowa Synod said, “I read my Bible. I'm not in favor of sin.” He cited Jesus’ warning about judging others: “He asked that we apply the law ruthlessly to ourselves, and grace to others.”
“We want to be understood,” said Pastor John Stendahl of the New England Synod, who also favored the resolutions. “We want to stop insulting each other. We need curiosity about each other.”
Wayne Jacobson of the Northeastern Iowa Synod held a small Bible in his hand as he spoke about scripture’s authority. “It's more than a book faith,” he said, referring to a program emphasis of the ELCA. “It’s a book of life.” God’s word stands forever, he said, adding that “a majority vote by an assembly, or a gathering of human beings, is not going to change that.”
The resolution passed on a vote of 559-451.
The fourth and final resolution enabled the church’s leadership to develop “structured flexibility” that reflects the church’s new standards regarding clergy in same-sex couples. That resolution passed on a vote of 667-307.
After the vote, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson spoke with a quiet intensity and cited passages of scripture for three different types of Lutherans gathered in the Minneapolis Convention Center. For conservatives who grieved the week’s voting, he cited Romans 8, in which Paul asks what can separate Christians from the love of God. For gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Lutherans, he cited Ephesians 2, with its emphasis on becoming one in Christ. For Lutherans concerned about church unity, he cited Colossians 3, which urges Christians to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bishop Hanson closed his remarks by repeating a statement he made during a report earlier in the week: “We meet one another finally, not in our agreements or our disagreements, but at the foot of the cross.”
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2 Comments
As I read the Bible, it is clear to me that God loves us all no matter who or what we are, praise be to God. Even so, it is also extremely clear to me that unless one is in a one man, one woman Holy Matrimony relationship, one MUST be celibate! If not in heterosexual Holy Matrimony, a single person, no matter what their sexual orientation, MUST remain celibate and SHOULD dedicate their life to serving God. Those who engage in either heterosexual or homosexual sexual activity outside of one man,one woman Holy Matrimony should be kindly yet firmly informed that they are not doing what God would have them do. They should be welcome to worship in a church and to serve in certain ways, however, if they wish to become Vestry or Priests or Deacons, etc., their offer to serve in that way should be kindly yet firmly DECLINED with advice that they need to cease their sin. I am very afraid that the Episcopal Church and Luthern Church leaders may eventually be reprimanded by the Lord for what they have done. Jesus will someday return to sit as Judge. I can only behave as what His words in the Bible prescribe and respectfully suggest that others do the same as I am doing here.
Ernest, with all due respect, your position rests on a very shaky foundation. I am not referring to the Word of God, which is a firm foundation, but rather to your implicit assumption that YOU fully understand and know what that word is and what it means. There can be no doubt that it is "extremely clear" to you that holy matrimony is limited to one man and one woman, and that your certainty is based on your personal interpretation of the Bible (and that of many others as well). But it is just as clear that David, Solomon, and many others had multiple wives, all with God's approval. If you were to say "that's in the Old Testament, so it doesn't count," then you have lost your ability to rely upon the purity code in Leviticus. If you say, "it's obvious to me which Old Testament laws must be obeyed still, and which ones not," then you are imposing your personal interpretation on others, which then forces others to try to decide who you are and why you should be believed. If you say, "well, that's what a lot of other people believe," then you reduce biblical interpretation to majority rule, and we can see where that got the people of Salem, MA. Finally, for you to say that God's words in the Bible "prescribe" things is again nothing more than code for saying, "the way I read the Bible, it supports what I think; if you don't read it the same way that I do, then I'm right and you're wrong." When will we reach the point where we can have a civil discussion? When will we step back and let the Holy Spirit guide us?