Posted on 04/24/2009 12:31:44 PM PDT by lightman
ELCA NEWS SERVICE April 24, 2009
Teaching Theologians Affirm ELCA Task Force Documents 09-096-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A statement supporting a recommendation put forth by the Task Force for Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Studies on Sexuality is gaining support from more than 100 teaching theologians of the church and other Christian theologians teaching at ELCA institutions.
Professors from ELCA seminaries, colleges and universities, retired bishops, a retired seminary president and ELCA theologians teaching at other institutions are signing on daily.
On Feb. 19 the task force released a report and recommendation for a process to consider changes to ministry policies that could make it possible for Lutherans in committed same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and ordained ministers.'
The task force also released that day a proposed social statement for the church -- "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust."'
The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly -- the highest legislative authority of the church -- will consider both documents Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis.
The Rev. Barbara R. Rossing and the Rev. Ralph W. Klein co-authored the statement, "Appropriate Next Steps for the ELCA." Rossing is professor of New Testament, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), and a member of the council and executive committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Klein is a visiting professor at Yale University, New Haven, Conn., and retired professor of Old Testament at LSTC. LSTC is one of eight ELCA seminaries. The LWF is a global communion of churches representing 68.5 million Lutherans.
"We want to underscore that the majority of teaching theologians support the work of the task force," said Rossing in an interview. "I believe God is calling our church to structured flexibility."
"We disagree with those who claim that theologians must oppose the recommendation on biblical, confessional and ecclesiological grounds," Rossing said. "The claim that there is uniformity among member churches of the Lutheran World Federation is simply not true. That rationale should not be used to oppose the recommendation."
The dissenting opinion in the report and comments from others are "not representative of what many scholars who teach at colleges, universities and seminaries believe," Klein said in an interview.
"We believe that the recommendation is what the gospel is calling us to do today. The recommendation enables the ELCA to move forward without causing division in the church. This is very important to us. We respect those who differ, and we know that there are many gay and lesbian people who desire to serve in rostered ministry who will bring great blessings to this church," Klein said.
The task force recommendation is comprised of four steps to be considered consecutively by the ELCA churchwide assembly this summer. In their statement, the theologians responded affirmatively to each step.
The teaching theologians stated that they affirm the authority of the Scriptures, but "the seven biblical texts that are frequently cited on the issue of homosexuality are not directly pertinent to the 21st century discussion because some of them condemn specifically homosexual rape, deal with questions of 'clean and unclean' that are not normative in the Christian community, do not take into account issues like 'sexual orientation,' and presuppose that all would agree with a particular interpretation of what 'nature' teaches."
The task force proposes that both heterosexual and homosexual people are expected to express sexual intimacy within publicly accountable, lifelong and monogamous relationships, the theologians' statement said. "This has long been the expectation for heterosexual couples, and therefore is an appropriate expectation for homosexual couples."
The theologians' statement states that Scandinavian and German Lutherans have already taken similar actions to those being proposed now in the ELCA. The teaching theologians also pledged to "honor and respect" those who for reasons of theology and conscience oppose these changes.
"We recognize that the unity of the church is based on one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, and that within this unity, faithful members may disagree on individual items of faith and life," the statement said.
- - - The theologians' statement is available at http://OT-studies.com on the Internet.
The task force's "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies" and "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" are available at http://www.ELCA.org/faithfuljourney on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
In the ELCA Friday afternoon is the time for releasing incendiary stories to the press which have that sharia effect upon the body of Christ.
Kyrie Eleison.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Be sure also to read:
Statement by Three Dissenting Members of the ELCA Task Force on Human Sexuality
It’s Not About Homosexuality--Not Really
“Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust”: A Critique by Carl E. Braaten
When There Are No Biblical or Theological Grounds to Change, Don’t
WordAlone Network responds to ELCA human sexuality proposals
Lutheran CORE leaders urge rejection of ELCA task force recommendations
Those professors should be fired, as soon as possible. Seminary professors should teach the Bible, but those professors refuse to do that.
From the document:
The following ELCA teaching theologians and Christian theologians teaching at ELCA
institutions support this statement:
1. James W. Aageson, Concordia College, Moorhead
2. Klaus-Peter Adam, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
3. Terrence Baeder, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
4. James L. Bailey, Emeritus Wartburg Theological Seminary
5. David Balch, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
6. John Barbour, St. Olaf College
7. Mark W. Bartusch, Valparaiso University
8. Patricia Beckman, St. Olaf College
9. Kadi Billman, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
10. Walter C. Bouzard, Jr., Wartburg College
11. Julius Carroll, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
12. Herbert W. Chilstrom, Presiding Bishop emeritus, ELCA
13. Lisa Dahill, Trinity Lutheran Seminary
14. Steed V. Davidson, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
15. Mark U. Edwards, Jr., Harvard Divinity School
16. Paul W. Egertson, Bishop emeritus Southwest California Synod
17. John H. Elliott, University of San Francisco
18. Lowell Erdahl, Bishop emeritus St. Paul Area Synod
19. Maria Erling, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
20. R. Guy Erwin, California Lutheran University
21. Norma Cook Everist, Wartburg Theological Seminary
22. Stephen P. Folkemer, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
23. David Fredrickson, Luther Seminary
24. Clifford Green, emeritus Hartford Seminary
25. Roy Hammerling, Concordia College, Moorhead
26. Guillermo Hansen, Luther Seminary
27. Shauna Hannon, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
28. James Hanson, St. Olaf College
29. Paul D. Hanson, Harvard Divinity School
30. Kurt Hendel, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
31. Sarah Henrich, Luther Seminary
32. Stewart W. Herman, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
33. Mary Hess, Luther Seminary
34. Krista E. Hughes, Hanover College
35. Carol R. Jacobson, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
36. Peder Johnson, St. Olaf College
37. Roger Johnson, emeritus Wellesley Colleg
38. Brian C. Jones, Wartburg College
39. Laurie Jungling, Augustana College, Sioux Falls
40. Everett R. Kalin, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
41. James Kelhoffer, St. Louis University
42. Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
43. Kathryn A. Kleinhans, Wartburg College
44. Edgar Krentz, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
45. Karl Krueger, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
46. L. DeAne Lagerquist, St. Olaf College
47. Kristin Johnston Largen, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
48. Gordon Lathrop, Yale Divinity School
49. Carolyn S. Leeb, Valparaiso University
50. William E. Lesher, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
51. Barbara Lundblad, Union Theological Seminary
52. Ronald B. MacLennan, Bethany College
53. Romwald Maczka, Carthage College
54. Madeleine Forell Marshall, California Lutheran University
55. Jim Martin-Schramm, Luther College
56. Susan McArver, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
57. Esther Menn, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
58. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Seattle University
59. Peter T. Nash, Wartburg College
60. Craig Nessan, Wartburg Theological Seminary
61. Douglas E. Oakman, Pacific Lutheran University
62. Jon Pahl, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
63. Gary Pence, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
64. Ann Milliken Pederson, Augustana College, Sioux Falls
65. Pete Pero, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
66. Brian Peterson, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
67. Cheryl Peterson, Trinity Lutheran Seminary
68. Ray Pickett, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
69. Melinda A. Quivik, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
70. H. Frederick Reisz, Jr. , President Emeritus, Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary
71. Caryn D. Riswold, Illinois College
72. David Rhoads, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
73. Nelson Rivera, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
74. José David Rodriguez, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
75. Tom Rogers, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
76. Barbara Rossing, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
77. Philip L. Ruge-Jones, Texas Lutheran University
78. H. Paul Santmire, emeritus Wellesley College
79. Craig Satterlee, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
80. Gwen Sayler, Wartburg Theological Seminary
81. Christian Scharen, Luther Seminary
82. Thomas Schattauer, Wartburg Theological Seminary
83. Brooks Schramm, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
84. Lea Schweitz, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
85. Michael Shelley, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
86. Gary Simpson, Luther Seminary
87. Mary M. Solberg, Gustavus Adolphus College
88. Gary Stansell, St. Olaf College
89. Kirsi Stjerna, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
90. Martha Stortz, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
91. Fred Strickert, Wartburg College
92. Ben Stewart, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
93. Jarvis Streeter, California Lutheran University
94. Paul Stuehrenberg, Yale Divinity School
95. Karla Suomala, Luther College
96. Mark N. Swanson, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
97. Richard W. Swanson, Augustana College, Sioux Falls
98. Rosanne A. Swanson, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
99. Ronald F. Thiemann, Harvard Divinity School
100. Linda E. Thomas, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
101. Samuel Thomas, California Lutheran University
102. Mark Thomsen, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
103. Teresa Swan Tuite, Bates College
104. Alicia Vargas, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
105. Gregory Walter, St. Olaf Collage
106. Christine Wenderoth, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
107. Audrey West, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
108. Paul Westermeyer, Luther Seminary
109. Vitor Westhelle, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
110. Courtney Wilder, Midland Lutheran College
ELCA continues the slide down the slippery slope of calling evil, good, and good, evil. Error continues to enlarge its foothold in this denomination and I am sad to say that. Not like we could not see it coming.
Why do we need “teaching theologians”? All we need to do is look into our heart and all the answers are there. Right?
/sarcasm
“We recognize that the unity of the church is based on one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, and that within this unity, faithful members may disagree on individual items of faith and life,” the statement said.
So they use this particular rationalization when discussing things such as homosexuality and abortion rights.
Why do they not do the same for those who enjoy outright murder of other people? So what if there’s a commandment about it. Can’t ‘faithful members’ disagree about what constitutes murder and the positive benefits murder can bring to society as a whole? After all, abortion is murder, and that seems to be an area where ‘faithful people’ can differ. Let’s expand it and regard it as a 40th trimester abortion.
How about theft from other folks? I am sure there are a lot of liberal democrats who have no problem with government taxing us at confiscatory rates. Why cannot we just steal from other people and have ‘good people’ disagree and still both be okay with God on the subject? It is not important there’s a commandment for that either, only whether we can get along with those who hold an opposing view to what the bible says.
Can you understand why I place the ‘good people’ and ‘faithful members’ in parens? If you don’t you don’t understand why what they are proposing is a total joke and a slap in the face of God.
I am deeply grieved upon reading that list.
Luther’s Catechetical question “what does this mean” may be answered:
A: The next generation of Seminarians are basically lost. And orthodox Seminarians will be bitterly persecuted unless they misrepresent themselves. Orthodox parishes will be denied the opportunity to serve as Teaching Parish or Intership sites.
The entire political class’s raison d’etre is that envying your neighbor’s goods not only isn’t a sin, empowering that envy is the main reason we have a government
These Pharisaic “teaching theologians” are a joke!!!! They’re the same ones, no doubt, who opposed Karl Braaten et al. on the “sexuality” issue last time around. So their signing off on the newest mess of rubbish is no surprise.
The funny thing is that I knew many of these people when I was at Harvard. I doubt if more than one or two of them know that I become an Orthodox Christian last year, in part because of the feminist “liturgy” and the continuing attacks on orthodox catholic Christianity roiling the ELCA. (Of course, the main reason that I became Orthodox is because after quite a few years of being part of a Serbian Orthodox community, I was basically Orthodox already.)
I doubt if my becoming Orthodox would have any impact on them whatsoever, if they knew about it. Even if a million or more people would leave the ELCA at once as the result of the “gay” resolutions this year, it might well have little impact on them.
Who would fire them? The are speaking and acting in compliance with the wishes of their "elders and betters."
This would take a grass roots revolt to fix. Pardon my pessimism, but it ain't gonna happen.
What will happen is those who will not condone this action will stop attending church -- perhaps just elca churches, perhaps church altogether. If the church is indistinguishable from the larger culture, why fritter away your Sunday mornings???
Oh yes, I was right. I knew quite a few of these people.
That quote is "church-speak," quite similar to "new-speak," for, "Stuff it, we're going to do it anyway!"
I agree that they probably won’t be fired. Many ELCA members should ask the professors and their elders to research what the Bible says, about homosexuality.
Phil, this is not to be argumentative. I, too, wish things were different. The "professors and elders" know perfectly well what the Bible says. Please see post #14.
I wonder if we are in the last days. Technically, I guess we have been in the last days for 2000 years but I am talking about the last, last days. You don't have to be a millennialist fanatic or a believer in the "Left Behind" fiction to wonder about that. You don't have to believe in convoluted timelines or other inventions to see that there is a "falling away" in the church. And very soon, as you noted, those who have not "fallen away" will be persecuted, and they will be persecuted first in the so-called church itself! If we claim to be orthodox, we cannot engage in speculation about the end times and then get dogmatic about our idle speculations. But it is plain that a spirit has taken over much of the so-called church, and it is not the Holy Spirit!
Just a Public service reminder:
The LCMS is NOT the ELCA. As ELCA has abandoned Martin Luther’s “Sola Sciptura” in favor of Secular Humanist subjectivism - ELCA is LINO: Lutheran in Name Only.
The LCMS, OTOH, still knows what, and who, Abomination means.
Carry on.
Hence the lavender "ELCA" in the Ping banner.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.