The grandson of friends is enrolled in a sociology class at Ohio State University. Recently, the instructor brought in a guest speaker, a lesbian Lutheran pastor who had been a member of the sexuality task force that has split the ELCA and caused a steady decline in membership since the synod was formed in 1988. Gay men and women were allowed to become Lutheran pastors but had to take a vow of celibacy in the past. She told the class how proud she was of her role in the August 19, 2009 Human Sexuality Statement and reversing that "discriminatory" rule. (I'd truly like to say you could read this without tearing your hair out over the obfuscation and double-speak, but sadly I can't.) In short, it provides for gay pastors in "committed relationships." Our congregation has voted to leave the ELCA, but many Lutheran congregations have never been given an opportunity to vote, or even discuss leaving.
The student is still in his teens, however, he is not a Lutheran but was aware of the ELCA decision. When she asked for questions there were none about the church's new stance, only about her personally. So the young man bravely raised his hand, and began to clarify points in her presentation. "You said that. . . ." and she agreed; and "further you said that. . . " and she agreed, that yes, that is what she said. Finally, after clarifying all her major points, he asked her where in the Bible she found justification for this decision by the synod.
At that point she brushed him off and said, "Let's not get theological. . ." I guess it's all right to bring a gay Lutheran pastor to class, but not God and his word. And isn't that the crux of the matter for the ELCA?
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4 comments:
Amazing. And yet....not. In any case, it's just all so sad. The ELCA has completely turned its back on Biblical truth, but will not admit it. They are so, so lost, & don't even seem to know it.
My church didn't even want to entertain the notion of leaving the ELCA (refused to vote on putting it to a vote!), so I & my family had to leave. We've partnered with several other families who found themselves similarly troubled, & thus, similarly convicted, & we have formed a new church. Our first worship was last November 1st. This Reformation Day, being so close to our one year anniversary, will be a joyous one for us, to be sure!
Brenda
The question that you have to ask yourself is why most people's experience of human sexuality - that some people are born gay - is so at odds with some passages in the Bible. If you don't have a problem with discarding the passages that condone slavery, then why shouldn't you similarly read the passages about homosexuality in the same way?
If the issue is with sex outside of marriage, then the answer is simply to allow gay people the same marriage rights as everybody else.
There is no scientific proof that homosexuality is biologically determined. The Human Genome Project, in brief, found no gay gene. Identical twin studies have disproved any genetic cause. Why would the process of evolution, think about it, produce and advance a "gay gene"? Many "gay scholars" take issue with the claim that homosexuality is determined before birth.
Just because one might be gay doesn't mean that God made him that way. We all have a sinful side and are born into sin. We have to learn how to contend with and control our sinful nature while looking to God to become more holy. I was born with a terrible temper. God didn't make me that way. It is my sinful nature. I had to learn how to control and contend with it.
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