Outrage as US Lutherans Ease Rules on Pastors in Gay Relationships
The largest Lutheran body in the US has enflamed a debate in the wider Christian community as it controversially eased guidance on the way bishops should deal with homosexuality within the Church.
by Daniel Blake
Posted: Saturday, August 11, 2007, 19:50 (BST)
The largest Lutheran body in the US has enflamed a debate in the wider Christian community as it controversially eased guidance on the way bishops should deal with homosexuality within the Church.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has urged bishops to use restraint in punishing homosexual clergy who actively participate in sexual relationships, according to an announcement made on Saturday.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) passed a resolution at its assembly urging bishops to refrain from disciplining pastors who are in “faithful committed same-gender relationships”.
The resolution was passed by a vote of 538-431.
A day earlier, attendees voted down a measure that would have ended a ban on non-celibate gay clergy. But Saturday’s vote means those who violate that policy may no longer be tried or punished if their guiding bishops so decide.
Phil Soucy, spokesman for Lutherans Concerned, a gay-lesbian rights group within the Church said: “The Church ... has just said 'Do not do punishments'. That is huge.”
The 4.8-million member ELCA had previously allowed gays to serve as pastors, but only under the condition that they abstained from any sexual relations.
The conference also instructed a committee that is developing a social statement on sexuality to further investigate the issue. The committee is scheduled to release its report in 2009.
Since the ELCA was founded in 1988, the body has ordered three pastors in gay relationships to be removed from their ministries.
The announcement has greatly outraged conservatives within the Christian community who follow the historic Christian teachings, which declares homosexuality a sin according to Scripture.
Rev. Mark Chavez, leader of Lutheran CORE, a group that says non-celibate gays should not serve as pastors, called the decision “tragic”.
“This decision will be an excuse for bishops to disobey ELCA policy,” he said. “This decision does not reflect the will of the people, but of bishops and clergy who disregard God’s word.”
The gay clergy issue has become an increasingly volatile subject amongst Christian denominations – in particular the 77-million member strong worldwide Anglican Communion is on the verge of schism as it debates the controversial issue.
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Friday, August 24, 2007, 3:54 (BST)
Homosexuality is a perversion of the beautiful physical love that God reserved for marriage between a man and a woman.
For the church to publicly condone someone who is unrepentant in this sin is a tragedy and a travesty. They ought to be ashamed to call themselves Christian and Lutherans.
I am ashamed of them!
Ruth, Caro, Michigan
Added: Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 14:40 (BST)
The issue is the sin not the sinner. We are all sinners, only God is good. God requires a repentant heart, those who persist in their sinfulness have not returned to God. Men cannot change the Word of God. Therefore those who are faithful are those who say to God, "Lord forgive me a poor sinner." The Lord Jesus replied, "Go and sin no more." To love our neighbor as ourselves is not to accept there sinful ways, but to reproof the sin and bring them back into faithfulness.
Rusty Bailey, USA
Added: Sunday, August 12, 2007, 14:55 (BST)
I truly cannot understand this nonsense.
If you read Romans, God clearly did not advocate unclean acts between men or women for that matter. It has always been unacceptable. I honestly believe God has not changed His position in this matter.
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by the wrath of God when homosexuality had run rampant. After the great flood, He promised Noah he would not punish man by destruction again.
Has mankind become so vain that they believe they know better than their Creator what is acceptable? Do people honestly believe they can contaminate innocent people with their filth and be given a credential to do so?
I truly don't understand.
Wiz, Lake Havasu City, AZ USA
Added: Sunday, August 12, 2007, 10:43 (BST)
What clergy member is required to be without sin before being ordained?
Would there be outrage if a heavy-set priest were ordained, because gluttony is a sin, and would there be so much anger and controversy over that sin? Would there be this much controversy over whether to allow wealthy clergy based on Jesus' own message?
At core, it is simple small-mindedness to single out sexual sins and put so much importance on them, when Jesus himself had so little to say about sexuality by comparison to other sins, and Jesus had absolutely no mention, much less condemnation, of homosexuality.
I repeat, it's pure small-mindedness to put so much condemnation against homosexuality when other sins like having too much wealth or being greedy or gluttonous, or being a poor steward of our planet -- all much more dire sins than homosexuality --- just slide by, it means there's something wrong with the person who stresses this sin too much.
Ross Archer, Fremont, CA
Added: Sunday, August 12, 2007, 2:09 (BST)
Satan rules pseudo-christians of America.
Sodomites and their lifestyle winning the battle
Those are the signs of last days
Andre, Seattle, USA
