[rhema]

In the aftermath of the 2009 decision, I predicted that something like this was inevitable: the radicalization of the ELCA along liberal Protestant lines. Nevertheless, it profoundly saddens me now if this event is the turning point that will prove me right. I have hoped against hope in the interim that the painful cost of the 2009 decision in terms of defections and demoralization (for the evidence, see Prof. Mark Granquist’s article "A Slow Disaster and a Modest Proposal" in the Summer 2012 issue of Lutheran Forum) would cause the presiding bishop and his court theologians to reconsider the wisdom of their actions and to reach out to what remains of the loyal opposition. There is still time for Bishop Hanson to attend the CORE theological conference, August 14-15, in Golden Valley, Minnesota. That would give at least nominal evidence of his pastoral responsibility for all in the ELCA. It would perhaps even strengthen his own understanding of the confessional norm to which he himself is subject and for which he is supremely responsible in his stewardship of the church. And, unlike the uncritical adulation he might anticipate receiving at the Washington meeting, it would manifest the virtue of courage. But we shall see.

[icwhatudo]

So in a nutshell, the leader will go and meet with the homosexuals but not with the conservatives?

[Graewoulf]

Thanks for this thread.

[Carl Vehse]

Regarding the ELCA and its "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust” (HSGT) Statement, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) has issued a Response document which states, in part:

"The ELCA has now taken this step, embodying apostasy from the faith once delivered to the saints."

"While HSGT claims to work with primary Lutheran categories such as justification by grace through faith, the distinction of law and Gospel, the duality of faith and love, and vocation, they are distorted to serve an ideological purpose that can in no way be identified with confessional Lutheranism nor catholic [universal] Christianity."

Before he was elected LCMS President in 2010, the Rev. Matthew Harrison reached a similar conclusion about the ELCA back in 2009. As the 2009 ELCA Church Wide Assembly wrapped up their meeting which two days earlier had approved ordaining active homosexuals, on Friday, August 21, 2009, Rev. Harrison answered a question from the Rev. Todd Wilken in an Issues, Etc. interview (at 9m16s):

Wilken: "Is apostasy too strong a word to describe what we’ve watched over the last — better part — of the decade that culminates this afternoon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America?"

Harrison: "No, it is apostasy. There’s no way around it. It gives me great pain to say that, but there’s no other word for it."

In 2001, the LCMS, at convention, indicated that the ELCA was no longer considered to be an orthodox Lutheran church body. If the recent CTCR Response is approved by the LCMS convention in 2013, the LCMS would officially consider the ELCA organization to be in apostasy, this is, totally lapsing in Christian faith.

[stpio]

Taylor Marshal, an Episcopal priest left the priesthood
to become Roman Catholic.

A major, major reason, authority. A woman would say to Taylor, I am pro-choice. What is the point to tell her Christ’s teaching when Protestantism accepts a vote on Truth.

Just like secularists.

Whatever you want to believe, then, bring it to a vote!

[lightman]

Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!

* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.

Be rooted in Christ!