Posted on 06/06/2005 1:06:41 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Bishop: We're united amid differences
MILWAUKEE, WI (AP) - The Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has passed a resolution recommending the Churchwide Assembly permit gays and lesbians in committed relationships to be ordained.
Bishop Paul Stumme-Diers said it was important to maintain unity within the church.
"We are committed to remaining united even amid our differences, recognizing our center is not on our opinions but rather it is in Christ," he said.
The recommendation was passed at its annual meeting Saturday.
It is one of up to 65 that are expected to be delivered to the Churchwide Assembly, which in August will consider whether to bless same-sex unions and whether to allow homosexuals to serve as pastors, associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers.
(In Madison, a representative of the South Central Synod of Wisconsin said that the group did not take up the issue during its annual meeting last month.)
The issue of homosexual unions and pastors has been discussed by the Greater Milwaukee Synod since the late 1990s. Homosexual issues have also been intensely debated by other denominations and were controversial in the recent presidential election.
Nearly 20 synods held regional meetings this weekend, and it was unclear how many other synods have passed similar resolutions, said John Brooks, a national spokesman for the ELCA, whose headquarters are in Chicago.
The resolution components that will be recommended to the Churchwide Assembly are:
• That individual congregations be allowed to disagree about whether to accept homosexual members and pastors.
• That homosexuals in committed relationships be allowed to serve as leaders.
• That individual congregations be allowed to decide whether to bless committed same-sex unions.
Pastor Jennifer Thomas, 32, of Lake Park Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, said she was pleased with the results.
"I believe the Gospel of Christ calls us to fully include everyone in the church. Homosexuality is not a sin," Thomas said.
But Pastor Jay Thorson, 45, of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Hubertus, disagreed with the vote and said homosexuality is a sin.
"I see the entire Bible as the inspired word of God. (Ordination of homosexuals) violates our understanding of the use of Scripture," he said.
For the Churchwide Assembly to revise national ELCA policies, two-thirds of the 1,100 voting delegates would have to approve a change.
The ELCA has 96,000 baptized members and 141 congregations in the Greater Milwaukee Synod, making it one of the largest Christian denominations in the area, second to the Catholic Church.
Nationwide and in the Caribbean, the ELCA has 5 million baptized members and 11,000 congregations.
What's with all of these
Haikus? Are you going for
a record or what?
Of course. In an organization of a billion people it's hard to avoid.
But the Church's pastors haven't issued any statements recommending such folks for leadership.
LOL
Uhhhh....has someone discovered a Commandment that reads "If it feels good, thou shalt do it?" Or perhaps one that reads "Thou shalt bugger thy neighbor"? Just curious......
Try the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).
It’s a Lutheran church that still believes what Martin Luther did.
They just turned the other way and let them keep on preaching.
I am a lifelong Lutheran in the LCMS (Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod) which is holding firm in the faith of our fathers.
Those who are leaving the liberal synods should immediately join a LCMS congregation to remain on the light side.
I love the Catholic Church also, but the Lutherans have better hymns, LOL.
Leni
Good. We need guys like you.
I think in general the truly conservative churches are GAINING members and the more liberal ones are losing. Can you imagine Martin Luther's reaction if he could see what his church was looking like nowadays?
This separates those who entered the ministry because they loved God and God's righteousness from those who entered the ministry because THEY wanted to be loved and admired.
"Where did you go? I've about had it with the ELCA myself."
Haven't found a home, yet. My mom went Methodist years ago, but that was only because she was kicked out of our Lutheran church for her "affair" with a guy she later married. (I'm so proud! *Rolleyes*) I've attended her church and there is too much goofing around for me. All potatoes, no meat.
If you think of something, let me know. Not sure if I can go the whole Catholic length, but it's under consideration.
Hey, my Catholic hymnal has "Nun Danken wir Gott" and "A Mighty Fortress" and just about every Protestant hymn I can think of.
As a former Lutheran and now a Catholic I agree. ;o)
They apparently saw the title "Living Bible" and got confused.
Leni:
I agree about the hymns. Why don't you come back to Rome and lend your song to us! :)
Thanks. I've heard of them, and there is a church in the area. Yippee! I can be an real "Evangelical" instead of just being accused of being one by my socialist BIL, LOL! ;)
Correction: some turned the other way and we heard it in the newspapers.
But there were no newspaper articles about the ones who took steps to prevent such individuals from corrupting the ministry.
We all know about how Cardinal Law failed. We never hear about how Bishop Bruskewitz succeeded.
This reminds me of one of my favorite NT passages, Matthew 7-19: 21. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." I guess Christ foresaw the Lutherans.
We Catholics would welcome you with open arms (a former Congregationalist)! My opinion is somewhat like Ben Franklin -- we Christians had better hang together -- or hang separately! Christians are under seige!
Some of us are quite aware of Bp Bruskewitz' success. Trouple is, some of the hierarchy don't want to hear about it.
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