Lutheran task force recommends changing gay-clergy policy

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*A task force of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recommended Thursday that its leaders make changes to allow gay and lesbians in committed relationships to serve as clergy.

At the same time, the task force also asked members of the church to respect congregations and synods that disagree because they believe such actions would violate Scripture.

If approved, the measures would change current church policy that allows ordination of gay clergy, but requires them to be celibate. In the report, the task force proposed a four-step process that outlines a possible path for change, starting with recognition of same-sex relationships.

“The task force agreed that this church cannot responsibly consider any changes to its policies unless this church is able and willing in some way to recognize lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships,” the report said.*

chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-lutheran-task-force-web,0,1159342.story
If this keeps up, the Catholic Church will be the only one left following Biblical principles.
 
And I am dismayed and embarrassed.

My only consolation is that it is, at this point, only a recommendation. I pray that it does not become policy.
 
gcnuss said:
And I am dismayed and embarrassed.

My only consolation is that it is, at this point, only a recommendation. I pray that it does not become policy.
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Dear Pastor Gary,
I will pray for my brothers and sisters in the ELCA. My entire family, save my wife, children, and I (we moved to the LCMS in 2000) are ELCA. I would say my pastor dad is spinning in his grave, more likely he is crying.
I have known you through our correspondance here for a while, and I know the pain you must be feeling. God’s peace be with you.

Jon
 
JonNC said:
Dear Pastor Gary,
I will pray for my brothers and sisters in the ELCA. My entire family, save my wife, children, and I (we moved to the LCMS in 2000) are ELCA. I would say my pastor dad is spinning in his grave, more likely he is crying.
I have known you through our correspondance here for a while, and I know the pain you must be feeling. God’s peace be with you.

Jon
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My heart goes out to my Lutheran brothers and sisters.I pray that this will never come to pass.😦
 
Soutane said:
My heart goes out to my Lutheran brothers and sisters.I pray that this will never come to pass.😦
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You know, the ELCA in many ways has done a better job than the LCMS in dialogue with Rome. And now, this could smash all the good they have done, and no one could point a finger of blame at Rome. It would truly be a sad, sad day.

Jon
 
I can envision a time, not long from now, where many Churches return to the Catholic family because of things like this.
 
I anticipated that this would happen, which is one of the reasons I ended up considering Catholicism. The ELCA has capitulated to popular opinion on many issues, sadly, and this is just the latest leak in the dam.

😦
 
I predict that there will be a permanent divide in the Lutheran church over this issue, and that the pro-gay faction will lead the way for other mainline liberal denominations that have not already formerly declared this as policy.

Protestantism as a whole continues to become more deeply divided as time marches on. We will have a permanent rift between conservative fundamentalist churches and liberal churches over the issue of homosexuality, but even within the fundamentalist sects we have a deep divide between pentecostals, “word of faith” preachers and non-pentacostals.

All of these movements are moving further away from each other, not closer together, so tha Christianity outside of the Catholic church is looking entirely incoherent. There are now “types” of Christianity that are considered “non-Christian” by other Christians.

Just one more reason why Protestants need to deeply consider that they were deeply wrong to reject the authority of the Magisterium. Rejection of authority is very near to the heart of Lucifier.
 
Angels_Unaware said:
I predict that there will be a permanent divide in the Lutheran church over this issue, and that the pro-gay faction will lead the way for other mainline liberal denominations that have not already formerly declared this as policy.
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Perhaps. The ELCA is really following the Episcopal Church in this way. I be interested in knowing if this is a trend in Anglicanism or Lutheranism in other parts of the world, or just an American deterioration in the two communions.

Jon
 
JonNC said:
Perhaps. The ELCA is really following the Episcopal Church in this way. I be interested in knowing if this is a trend in Anglicanism or Lutheranism in other parts of the world, or just an American deterioration in the two communions.

Jon
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Liberalism/post-modernism/(call it whatever), as you know, is all over the world and is effecting all Churches and is not limited to the Lutheran or Anglican Communions, or even Protestantism for that matter. So I would not be surprised in the least if this was common outside of the states. But I too would be interested in knowing for sure.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead the Lutheran Church in the correct direction in this matter. Come Holy Spirit!

God bless
 
My Parish Priest who is a very wise man and sympathetic to all denominations of Christianity bemoans the apparent disintigration of mainline protestant Christianity.We see this trend in Canada with the United Church,Anglican Church and now God forbid some of the Lutherans.He says it is as if the Bible has been thrown out the window in the interest of inclusiveness and being “nice”.They are fast becoming irrelevant to the rest of Christianity in their efforts not to offend ANYONE.God said we must love the sinner but also admonish him when necessary as unpleasant and UNPOPULAR as it is today.

The road to hell is wide,easy and paved with good intentions.
 
Soutane said:
My Parish Priest who is a very wise man and sympathetic to all denominations of Christianity bemoans the apparent disintigration of mainline protestant Christianity.We see this trend in Canada with the United Church,Anglican Church and now God forbid some of the Lutherans.He says it is as if the Bible has been thrown out the window in the interest of inclusiveness and being “nice”.They are fast becoming irrelevant to the rest of Christianity in their efforts not to offend ANYONE.God said we must love the sinner but also admonish him when necessary as unpleasant and UNPOPULAR as it is today.
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Wish I could argue the point, even though my synod, LCMS, has not travelled that road.
Jon
 
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