Lutheran (EL
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Posted on 11/03/2009 7:44:46 AM PST by SmithL
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The western North Dakota bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America says congregations are wrestling with a national church policy that allows gay and lesbian people to serve as pastors or in other church leadership positions.
Bishop Mark Narum, who leads 192 congregations that make up the Western North Dakota ELCA Synod, said he met with pastors of those congregations this month. He described it as a "wonderful open conversation."
"But there is a whole group in the middle of the church wrestling over, 'What does it mean to be faithful?'" he said.
"An important piece of ... this change in policy allows any congregation to say, 'We disagree,'" Narum said. "Congregations may make statements of declaration as opposed."
Oak Valley Lutheran in Velva voted by a margin of 70 percent to stay within the ELCA; other congregations are still considering the issue, he said.
ELCA leaders emphasize it's up to individual congregations whether they want gay or lesbian pastors.
The Rev. Steve Schou, of Peace Lutheran Church in Dickinson, said the churchwide decision was a grassroots movement that included families of gay and lesbian children within the church, and not a "top-down" decision by national church leaders.
Lutheran tradition strongly emphasizes "the individual conscience of the believer," Schou said. "We are defined by the death and resurrection of Jesus, not our stand on social issues."
"We are defined by the death and resurrection of Jesus, not our stand on social issues."When you choose social and political correctness over Biblical relevancy, THAT is how you are defined.
“”wrestling with gay clergy?” Is someone at that paper being funny?
Never let what God says against active homosexuality nor adultery get in the way of "tradition!"
Sounds like a plan.
Lord help us all, if these are the fools we look to for leadership.
Lutheran tradition strongly emphasizes the Word of God, which is objective...not the wisdom of man, which is fallible and subjective.
I'll undoubtedly never be in the presence of one of these fools, because I would not suffer them in silence.
Thank You!
Mans religion to man. Amazing what happens when you leave the scriptures out of “church” Funny, the arguement used to be innerancy of scriptures (I believe a total innerant Word) but now, innerant or not .. the scriptures are just totally discarded.
Lets worship that telephone poll, or rather (i’ll move into the 21st century) that new blackberry. Hey, we can make it a new ordinance. With this blackbery I commmune ......
Lot’s of words to the seven churches in Revelation. Hmmm ... take it as literal or figuratively, (I’m Pan Millenial, however it pans out is fine with me) but that makes no difference, the warnings to the churches are VERY clear. He that hath an ear .. let him hear......
Believe in nothing and you will believe anything. It is where we are.
I am not certain that I would use the terms “wrestling” and “homosexual” in the same sentence. It is strange to hear that an ELCA bishop would separate social issues from the Gospel. The ELCA is all about political activism. What we have is another example of “gospel reductionism.” As long as you believe in something about Jesus and something about his resurrection, you do not have to pay attention to all those other things in the Bible. All that stuff about homosexuality being depraved and immoral found in the Bible can be ignored.
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
1. Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word;
Curb those who fain by craft and sword
Would wrest the Kingdom from Thy Son
And set at naught all He hath done.
2. Lord Jesus Christ, Thy power make known,
For Thou art Lord of lords alone;
Defend Thy Christendom that we
May evermore sing praise to Thee.
3. O Comforter of priceless worth.
Send peace and unity on earth.
Support us in our final strife
And lead us out of death to life.
Hymn 261
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: John 8: 31
Author: Martin Luther, 1541
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863
Titled: “Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort”
Tune: “Erhalt uns, Herr”
1st Published in: Geistliche Lieder
Town: Wittenberg, 1543
Have you ever noticed how the left relabels sin when it suits their agenda?
Abortion is no longer a mortal sin, it's a "choice", homosexuality is no longer a mortal sin, it's a "social issue".
Granted I'm not a Lutheran and I'm not an expert on Lutheran tradition, but Christians DO NOT believe that sin is determined by a person's conscience. That's what moral relativists believe.
wrestling?
mud wrestling or jello wrestling or turkish oil wrestling....
The ECLUSA insiders are just trying to figure out how to justify their personal hedonism.
I know an ELCA member who supports ordaining gays and gay weddings. She said, “Churches should change, to conform to society.” I said, “No, society should change, to obey the Bible.” We argued for about a half-hour, and neither of us changed our mind.
Freepmail wagglebee or DirtyHarryY2K to subscribe or unsubscribe from the homosexual agenda ping list.
Be sure to click the FreeRepublic homosexual agenda keyword search link for a list of all related articles. We don't ping you to all related articles so be sure to click the previous link to see the latest articles.
Add keywords homosexual agenda to flag FR articles to this ping list.
What the *&#! does that mean?
Your hungry neighbor doesn't matter?
I often wonder what some Protestants think when they read the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Who did God's will and was pleasing to Him? The Priest? The Levite? The men who had faith but nevertheless did nothing??
No!!
The Samaritan man who rendered assistance to his brother in need!
Yes folks, works do matter!!
Churches HAVE CHANGED to conform to society. All churches these days have electric lights, indoor plumbing, central heat and air, many even have their own websites.
However, Christianity DOES NOT need to redefine sin in order to conform to what the moral relativists demand.
I always ask people like this where they intend to draw the line. Should churches accept rape, arson, armed robbery and murder if secular society does?
C.S. Lewis warned us a half century ago of the dangers we faced from the secularists, he was EXACTLY right.
-Bishop says ELCA churches are wrestling with gay clergy issue-
Did ELCA churches learn NOTHING from that little problem that the Catholic church had with gay clergy?
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.