Posted on 08/16/2009 12:12:52 PM PDT by IbJensen
FRIDLEY, Minn. - The Rev. Dave Glesne stood before the members of Redeemer Lutheran Church a few weeks ago and told them there might be some painful decisions in the near future.
Glesne is against letting people in same-sex relationships serve as pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and he says his congregation is behind him. They're worried this suburban Minneapolis church could find itself on the losing side as leaders of the nation's largest Lutheran denomination vote on whether to take that step at their biennial national convention, which starts Monday in Minneapolis.
"Of course the question was asked: What will we do, Pastor Dave, if this goes?" Glesne said. "The conversation we had left me no doubt that we will definitely have a discussion about leaving the ELCA."
Avoiding such divisions was a main goal of an ELCA task force that prepared recommendations for debate by the 1,045 voting members at the convention. One is a revision of ministry standards that would let individual congregations employ gay and lesbian people in committed relationships as clergy. The other is a broader statement on human sexuality, a 34-page document that tries to craft a theological framework for differing views on homosexuality - but which critics say would simply liberalize the ELCA's attitudes.
At 4.7 million members and about 10,000 congregations in the United States, the ELCA would be one of the largest U.S. Christian denominations yet to defy what the Bible says about homosexuality.
In 2003, the 2 million-member Episcopal Church of the United States consecrated its first openly gay bishop, deepening a long-running rift in the worldwide Anglican Communion about homosexuality and Scripture.
(Excerpt) Read more at onenewsnow.com ...
Choose only one below:
A) God
B) Some Religious Denomination
Fear only one below:
A) God
B) Some Religious Denomination
“Come out from among them.” St. Paul
> the ELCA would be one of the largest U.S. Christian denominations yet to defy what the Bible says about homosexuality<
How nice. Defying the Almight above to appease Satan’s minions on earth.
If they’re not going to read the Bible, why in the hell do they even go to church anymore? Seems like a waste of time to me.
Exactly! I’d answer A and Amen!
Exactly! I’d answer A and Amen!
Well, there's always the hot dish after the service ...
kidding...
Homosexuals destroying another denomination.
The have an agenda. They want to be good socialists force others into the economic slavery of socialism and finally into hell itself.
They promote abortion, euthanasia, communism, socialism, and yes, they have no use for the Bible which they believe is chock full of errors.
From what I have read, the ELCA is one of the most theologically and politically liberal denominations around. They are active in promoting what they view as “social justice.”
Barrack Obama attended ELCA churches during the presidential campaign after he left Rev. Wright's church.
The delegates are stacked in favor of the homosexual agenda. The vote won’t even be close...
Moving from Texas to Georgia meant leaving the LCMS church -going to the ECLA church 15 miles up the road was not even an option. Other choices, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Jehovah’s Witness, and Southern Baptist.
Yep, had to get dunked since my infant sprinkling was not sufficient ( I believe the sprinkling took)to join the Southern Baptists.
I am a Lutheran and have attented the same church (ELCA brach) for 25 years. I will withdraw my church membership and leave the Lutheran church if this takes place.
When I read reports of mainline protestant denominations losing members; what mystifies me is why they have not lost all their members.
Interesting options for a Lutheran. Richard John Neuhaus found yet another, and joined Creyton Abrams, Bob Bork, and Clarence Thomas, among others.
Funny this is, if MN's capitol city wasn't just as uptight and politically correct as the rest, then your line above would be a great slogan to recruit Mpls straights to move across the river to St. Paul.
But quoting the wise fellow that you're named after is probably asking too much of any enlightened humanist city government.
I do not know enough about the ELCA to judge them regarding weekly church teachings. But, regardless what flavor of Christianity, most denominations cover so little of the bible in Sunday sermons that a person not studying His word outside of church might never read/hear much of it. And if ELCA, like many others, has 'bulletins' or 'advisories' or guidelines of some kind that come down from a hierarchy of power, then the range of biblical text covered in masses is likely even smaller.
Many Christian individuals and denominations are confused about God's law. And it's because of issues like this one and the people promoting the acceptance of a popular sin. This is a perfect example of what Paul would call bad leaven, which left in the body (church), will eventually corrupt the whole.
Considering your "why the hell..." question again, always remember what it is that Satan finally seeks and God ultimately abhors. It is to have the masses reject God's law in favor of false wisdom. Sure, the devil will sit on your shoulder and try to get you to break God's laws now and then. But the real goal of the great hell raiser is to convince as many as possible to reject God's law.
Many today actually think the laws of the old testament were done away with after Christ. Hell, even Catholics think it ok to eat pork now. Jesus was the final and perfect sacrifice. Thus putting an end to the blood rituals of course. But as Christ Himself reminded us, He was not sent to change one bit of His Father's law.
“Of course the question was asked: What will we do, Pastor Dave, if this goes?” Glesne said. “The conversation we had left me no doubt that we will definitely have a discussion about leaving the ELCA.”
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