Religion: October 1517 Archives

TO: The Leaders of my Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

RE: The 2007 Assembly's decision regarding Ordained/Ordaining practicing homosexuals

Dear Leaders,

I have spent many hours at our website, elca.org, researching our Church's thoughts and actions regarding Ordained/Ordaining practicing homosexuals.  Our most recent position is the result of the 2007 assembly which states:

Assembly Encourages Restraint in Discipline of Congregations, Leaders

The Churchwide [sic] Assembly made no changes to ELCA standards for professional leaders, declining proposals that suggested specific policy changes. By a vote of 538 to 431, the assembly asked its synods and bishops to 'refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining' people and congregations that call otherwise-qualified candidates in mutual, chaste and faithful committed same-gender relationships, and it called for restraint in disciplining rostered leaders in committed same-gender relationships. The proposal was adopted as a substitute for a recommendation of the Memorials Committee.

Following the decision, Hanson said, "These are words of counsel. They are not words that change the standards of the church. They reflect the mind of this assembly as it seeks to give counsel to the leaders of this church."

I am sorry to say that I think Presiding Bishop Hanson is dissembling (see above - ...not words that change...); the previous standards of the Church called for the removal of practicing homosexuals from all official positions, whereas our current position is to condone (as in 'refraining from disciplining') homosexual behavior among our Leaders.

By the various votes is clear that our church is deeply divided on this issue and that an official position of disciplining those engaged in homosexual behavior might fracture our church as it has the Anglican/Episcopal Church.  I suspect that at least some of you Leaders wish to prevent this at all costs; some of you see it as a Civil Rights issue; some of you see it as tolerance, or acceptance, of diversity; some of you see it as the loving inclusion of practicing homosexuals into the life of the Church; and so on...  Some may even see it as a financial issue in terms of the potential lost revenue if thousands leave our Church.  The rest of you see it as I do; a Sodom and Gomorrah-esque rejection of God.

By accepting practicing homosexuals as Ordained Priests, you are declaring them to be approved role-models worthy of emulation by all in our congregations.

In my opinion, Protestantism had come to a point analogous to that of Roman Catholicism right before Luther began the Reformation, where the common Christian could no longer support the corrupt institution the Church had become.  The current state of extreme and pervasive secularism and licentiousness in America has put a tremendous strain on Christianity, and those religious institutions too attached to this world will fail in their commitment to Christ and become ensnared by that world.

While we may all, hopefully, "love the sinner", please let those that also 'love the sin' go; let them leave our church for one of their own.  Let our church stand fast in 'hating the sin'.

"None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." John Milton

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor." Henry David Thoreau

He who walks with the lame learns how to limp. - Latin Proverb

Bumper Sticker that caught my eye:

     "If Bush is the answer, it must have been a STUPID question."