ILCA ping
Posted on 07/25/2012 3:59:17 AM PDT by rhema
I was surprised to see Amey Schnabel's article "22 votes for a pastor -- for progress" (July 10), in which she shared what felt like personal information about the workings of her hometown church. She wanted the world to know that 22 people voted yes to calling a partnered gay man to serve as their pastor.
[ . . . ]
In my 17 years serving ELCA parishes as a lay minister, I both saw the tears and heard the angry words of those who believe, like Schnabel, that they "read deeper into the meaning of what was written in the Bible." Leaving the ELCA was the best decision we've ever made as a family.
The viewpoint of those brave enough to oppose the politically correct agendas are often marginalized. I will take that chance, because someone needs to wave a flag of warning to other rural churches. This isn't the first and won't be the last small-town church in the ELCA where unity is sacrificed in favor of an agenda.
I am not belittling the 22 who voted to call this gay pastor. Schnabel sees them as being "ahead of their time," and the ELCA is clearly on their side. After all, it was the synod office that recommended this candidate. It was the synod office that permitted his return to the pastoral roster after previously removing him for leaving his wife for a male partner while serving a church. I guess this is called progress.
I am proud of the 29 people who were willing to cast votes in favor of morals. I am proud that they recognize that God's word is unchanging. They are living up to the mission of their church to be "a congregation strengthened by God's Word."
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
ILCA ping
bump
The commentary is sickening, and shows just how far the community has moved away from God.
Most of the comments claimed that the author was hypocritical and mean and holier-than-thou. One very, very lost person declared that she understood God as “a being of time” who is constantly changing. Wow, how very new age of her. The clarity of scripture on God’s intended plan for sexual relations and the condemnations of all immoral perversions of that plan — whether same-sex acts, bestiality, polygamy, adultery, fornication, and so on — are unmistakable. Whatever these people’s viewpoints are, they are not Christian.
The faithful are called upon to welcome the sinners into the Church so they can receive the word. So we gladly accept the “alcoholic” sitting the pew next to us.
That doesn’t mean we are supposed to be serving tequila shots at the alter.
The faithful are called upon to welcome the sinners into the Church so they can receive the word. So we gladly accept the “alcoholic” sitting the pew next to us.
That doesn’t mean we are supposed to be serving tequila shots at the alter.
Just to continue the thought, as I read the comments, I’m struck by what an analogous assertion of identification with a group would look like. Such as:
I am a Freeper, and I consider Freepers to be properly representative of the true nature of the Democrat Party as it currently exists today.
True, I believe and act on the belief that abortion is morally wrong.
True, I believe every law-abiding person should own at least one handgun, one rifle, and one fully-automatic or select-fire carbine and train regularly in its use.
True, I believe all social spending should be privatized.
True, I believe the Departments of Education, Energy, Commerce, Health and Human Services, and most of the rest should be abolished.
True, I believe Obamacare is indefensible and all health care should be driven by the free market or private charity.
True, I believe pResident Zero is a racist and narcissistic clown who is unfit to be the leader of our country.
True, I believe there is no Constitutional problem with prayer in schools...
And so on. So, I’m a real Democrat and when I act on all the above beliefs I’m supporting the goals of the Democrat Party.
>> she understood God as “a being of time” who is constantly changing.
Whatever she *thinks* she understands with her own feeble mind, God says differently:
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I do not change...”
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
I’m surprised that the Minneapolis Star-Tribune published this reply at all.
After all, in the age of obama, people like the author of the reply are considered to be BIGOTS!!!!
We left the ELCA about 20 years ago because of this agenda and other possibly more disturbing directions. Sadly, small congregations that have tried to hang on faithfully are being rewarded with pastors that will do even more damage. Blind loyalty is never good unless it is to Jesus Christ.
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Be rooted in Christ!
I wonder what part of 1 Timothy 3:2 the ELCA does not understand. It says that a church leader must be the husband of one wife. Not the husband of one husband or the wife of one wife.
The HUSBAND of one WIFE.
Absolutely. I've witnessed a few situations where homosexual partners call one another "husband" and "wife". It either helps them in their self-deception (It's not a sin!), or they hope to make their perversion more "acceptable" to non-homosexuals.
What is the meaning of that pic? Clowns preforming Mass?
“Clown Ministry” performing “clown communion” service. The idea being more will come to Jesus of you make ‘em laugh, and do some juggling. Worst community outreach idea ever. Their interpretation of scripture is no doubt as muddled as their interpretation of communion: distributing pieces of a loaf of Italian bread impaled upon a cruciform. You never know, you might get a pie in the face instead, but it’s OK ‘cause everybody laughs. And, yes, the rainbow drop cloth is a clue.
I keep wanting to ask when churches started putting God’s Word up for a vote. The picture of the clowns at the altar with the rainbow flag says it all I suppose...
You are kidding?! Just what church is doing this...this well I can’t say it in the religion forum. You get the picture however.
Thanks for the ping. I still check FR every couple of days, but I don’t have much time for posting right now.
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