The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is the largest Lutheran body in the United States with something near 5 million members. The next closest is the Missouri Synod (LCMS) with about 2.5 million American members. On Monday, August 17, 2009, a national churchwide assembly of ELCA leaders takes place here in town at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Church I belong to is a member of the ELCA, and I fear for what is going to take place this week. Here are a few of the issues they will address:
- This summer, the ELCA adopted a new hymnal. According to reports, their new worship book contains some very serious theological flaws. The chief concern I have read about is the increasing use of gender neutral language in reference to the Deity.
- The second, and more widely publicized, issue has to do with homosexuality. Basically, there has been a movement to ordain practicing homosexuals and bless homosexual unions. One of the key phrases being used is the idea of having a "bound conscience" (the ELCA website makes reference to Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 - regarding the acceptability of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.)
- The theme of the convention is "God's work. Our hands."
- Recommendation of a Social Policy Statement entitled 'Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.'
Being at least a second generation (possibly third?) ELCA member, I don't want to see my church go through what the Episcopal church is recently going through including the rapid decline in membership (you remember the name Bishop Eugene Peterson?) And I don't want the ELCA to call into question any issue of sin, nor permitting non-repentant leaders in the pulpit or as Bishops, nor do I want anything done at the ELCA to stain the name of Jesus Christ, the only way of salvation. And so, here is my small prayer for the ELCA convention:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, have mercy on us who are sinners saved only by Your Grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice on the Cross. Bless all those who are attending the ELCA convention, and especially those who will vote with greater discernment of what is Your Will as is taught in Your Holy Word. I also pray for their Wisdom, and as Your Word teaches, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Send Your Holy Spirit and give us all teachable hearts. And if it is Your Will, protect the name of Jesus Christ and Your holiness at this convention. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Will you join me in this prayer, and add your own prayers? Thank you. In Christ, /s/Tom Wolff
7 comments:
I'm afraid that in this instance, only one of us will have our prayer answered the way we want it to be...
Pax,
~E~
Whada ya know? Sometimes miracles DO happen... Or do people just eventually grow in wisdom, compassion, and justice?
Why do you find it so difficult to accept a non-celibate gay in the pulpit, when you already have women preaching in "direct" violation of scripture? Or do you consider such women "unrepentant sinners" as one of your linked blogs once stated?
Haven't heard anything about the gender-neutrality issue yet, have you?
~E~
Since you link to Piper's blog, I thought you might find this story from City Pages interesting...
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2009/08/the_gay_storm_w.php
Pax,
~E~
Ed, thanks for asking questions that clarify the issue.
God's Word makes clear that homosexuality is a sin. Here is one of many verses both OT and NT that make clear that homosexuality is a sin: "Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality ... will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
On your question about the difference between women Pastors and homosexual Pastors? The difference is that one is a sin, and one isn't.
And note that this also applies to any sexual sin, including adultery.
What about the vast majority of Christians who believe they have biblical evidence that seems to clearly imply that having female Pastors (or Priests, or whatever any one Christian cult wants to call them)? Lutherns themselves believed for many generations that having women in the pulpit was a sin...
My point here is that perceptions and interpretations change...
~E~
Edward O. writes: ...My point here is that perceptions and interpretations change...
Ed, would you mind helping me to understand your point? What perceptions are you speaking about? There was homsexuality back in Jesus' day. The Roman empire being a good example. And there is homosexuality today. So could you explain further what you mean by "perceptions and interpretations change"?
Thanks.
Hi Tom, hope you're feeling better!
What I was referring to, in this particular case, was the changing attitudes towards the role of women as a model to illustrate what could guide the ELCA on sexuality.
Up until recently, it WAS considered a sin to allow women to act as spiritual leaders, and the proponents thereof had plenty of bible verses to back that up. Many sects within Christianity still feel that way, so for you to say simply that gay preachers are a sin but female preachers aren't, is a gross over-simplification, or, in my way of seeing it, a white-wash to make your view seem more tenable.
Have the homophobic passages in the Bible been confirmed by modern language experts? So much has been mis-translated over the centuries, by people who had their own axes to grind, that I trust very little that hasn't been re-evaluated in the past 5 - 10 years, especially the KJ version, or anything based on it.
Remember our discussion several years ago about brainwashing and cult-like control? Rules about food, clothing and sex are well-known tactics for controlling populations of followers. The OT's obsession with all three proves that this religion, like most others, is all about control, and that was a very disappointing revalation to me many years back... I see all those rules as man-made, and not the word of any god. But I digress...
I guess the main message is that, spiritually speaking, what is RIGHT is more important than what is written... why should we allow God to define right and wrong when he is so often wrong about it? Treating all people with a certain degree of respect and dignity is basic ethics, and that includes giving gays equal rights and equal participation.
No church that practices open discrimination (and some even call it "hate") against sexual minorities (be they gay, bi, transgender, polyamourous, etc...) will ever receive my endorsement.
Pax,
~E~
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