Yes, the ELCA recognizes that spiritual revelations and human understanding, compassion enter into the faith. LCMS parents, for example, of gay children feel very uncomfortable with the teachings of the Missouri Synod.You are correct. The difference, of course, is that in the ELCA, it is no longer against their moral teaching for that pastor/priest to be in a “committed relationship” (unless it is heterosexual - then they have to be married :hypno.
Jon
Spiritual revelations and human understandings about what? There are no latter day revelations on the issue of God’s word and sexual behavior, regardless of the type of behavior it is. It is not compassionate to tell people that certain behaviors are ok when God’s word says they are not, heterosexual or otherwise.
Feel uncomfortable about what, specifically?
We disagree. So be it.
If the women were not vested and were out and about in their daily lives carrying out their roles as members of God’s priestly people praying for and proclaiming to the people about them the truths of the Gospel, I am sure Jon would not object. But when such women don vestments and stand up and pray for God’s gathered people and proclaim the truths of the Gospel to them thereby acting as re-presenters of Christ in the latter context as they had in the former context, then it is altogether inappropriate. Isn’t that clear to you? Well, it’s not clear to me. But apparently it is to Jon et al.
The Church of Sweden also ordains women along with homosexuals committed or not. Also the Swedish Church will defrock a pastor that does not fall into line.
They have to be told that practicing homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible. But keeping homosexual feeling under control is not a sin. Everyone who thinks that being a practicing homosexuality is no big deal wants the Church to conform to the world.
Hn,
Weird. That Lutheran church has icons - the one icon even appears to be Coptic.
Lutherans, per se, do not venerate icons or statues. They are holy images of our Lord and his saints, the company of heaven. In general, the Western Church doesn’t use icons like the Eastern Church which is a shame. But they are showing up more often in Lutheran churches and I suspect, the same is true of Anglican and Roman Catholic churches.
Icons are increasingly common in Lutheran churches even more so in Swedish Lutheran churches. My bishop in Sweden had an icon that covered one whole wall of the chapel in his residence. In the cathedral of my diocese there was an icon of the Theotokos before which fresh flowers were set every week. In Lutheran homes both in this country and in Scandinavia icons are often to be found. And now one can even find newly written Marian hymns in the Swedish Psalm Book.
Obviously, Orthodox have a very precise belief in the meaning of icons. I think icons are actually more appealing to me than statues and I have several around my home. My parish has an icon of Christ ascending into heaven on the aumbry to the side of the altar. Jotto points out that icons and statues, especially of Christ, are often accompanied by flowers and votive lights.
Very interesting, and this would make a good separate discussion.
No, the majority of American Lutherans use the words pastor, deacon and bishop for the clergy. European call them priests and “Father”.
And priest is used in the confessions.
My parish uses a Christus Rex processional crucifix, and the large crucifix over the altar is iconic.
In Sweden and in Finland, clergy have since the time of the Reformation, continued to be titled “priest.” Though sometimes referring to the head priest of parish or just in general as is the case of Free Church clergy, they are referred to as “pastor.”
Me thinks that is only very seldom that Lutheran clergy in Europe are addressed as “Father.” And when they are it is for the most part as honorific title not unlike “monsignor” in Roman Catholic circles.