Lutherans vote yes on gay 'relationships'
By Julia Duin
Aug. 21, 2009
Belief Blog
I am writing from the Minneapolis Convention Center. They were standing in long lines at the microphones; members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America — the largest of three major Lutheran denominations. Some were near tears. Others earnestly quoted Scripture and still others quoted Martin Luther.
Here is the vote they just passed: 619 'yes' votes, or 60.63 percent, to 402 'no' votes. The resolution: "that the ELCA commit itself to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships."
Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson asked the assembly to not comment but to quietly pray. They started debating a second resolution allowing sexually active gay pastors but have just taken a lunch break. Bishop James Mauney of the Virginia Synod told me he voted for the first resolution. One can recognize the presence of gay couples in Lutheran churches, he said, but that does not mean clergy have to "bless" their relationships in terms of church-sanctioned quasi-wedding ceremonies. That he will not do. But will this resolution lead to same-sex blessings? That is the $64 you-know-what.
Both sides also mentioned — a lot — something called "bound conscience." the rest
ELCA to Allow Same-Sex Blessings
posted by Pat Dague @ 3:42 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Why do you put the word 'relationships' in quotation marks?
If you don't believe such relationships constitute 'marriage,' that's one thing.
But they are relationships.
Or do you know better?
An orthodox Lutheran pastor friend of mine has allowed me to post his response as a "voting member" in Minneapolis at their Assembly to these moves last week. He also discusses the upcoming meeting in September to form a new orhtodox body. You can see it at my blog Texanglican. Stop by and say howdy!
I have enjoyed your blog for quite some time. Well done, Father!
This is just appalling. If Luther, the late German Christian protester, would still be here…where the denomination “Lutherans” derived from, he would be stunned and completely disappointed in this horrible abomination to the Word of God and the Gospel. I totally am against this election. When God created “man” he created Adam and Eve, NOT Adam and STEVE!!! Hello people. This is a direct form of disobedience to God. And this is happening in a Church, a denomination that professes to know the Word of God???? Please, God will have to deal with you guys…and it won’t be pretty.
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