Do lutherans accept homosexuality
The Church and Homosexuality
[1] After attending a study group using the ELCA revise guide Journey Together Faithfully: The Church and Homosexuality at Advent Lutheran in Arlington, TX, I felt as Dennis Bielfeldt () did when he wrote:
&#;While I believe Journey Together does fairly describe the other voices and positions within the ELCA on this controversial issue, I discover it neither particularly helps readers show up at justifiable views, nor effectively aids the institution of the ELCA in coming to a responsible and defensible position.&#;
[2] I certainly had a viewpoint on all the topics addressed in Journey, and this contribution is an attempt to communicate part of that viewpoint as a defensible position. I have assumed that statements by Jesus in the Gospels outweigh rules and judgments found elsewhere in the Elderly and New Testaments and that those rules and assessments must be evaluated in light of Jesus&#; moral principles as applied to 21st century western culture.
[3] Jesus&#; moral principles are plain, the application difficult: &#;love your neighbor as yourself&#; (Ma
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod affirms traditional stance on LGBT issues, compassion for LGBT people
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod overwhelmingly passed a resolution reaffirming its traditional, biblical stance on gender identity and sexual orientation, while also calling for churches to “minister compassionately” to people who identify as LGBT.
At the LCMS’ 67th Regular Convention in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, Resolution A, titled “To Encourage Synod to Develop Resources to Aid Congregations and Schools regarding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues,” passed with % of the vote.
Among its points, the resolution reaffirmed “the biblical truth that God created humanity as male and female” and commended people who “continue to reside chaste and decent lives in repentant faith” in spite of “same-sex attraction and gender identity confusion.”
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the superior stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Display . Be the first to know.
It also condemned “acts of abuse” agai
Same-Gender Issues Among Lutherans in Canada
A Statement from the Council of Presidents/Bishops of Lutheran Church-Canada
Recent years own brought separation and discord among Lutheran Christians around the world as various church bodies have departed from historic Biblical education and practice by approving same-gender relationships, both within their churches&#; membership and even in the ranks of the ordained clergy. This disruption will now spread in our land through the decision of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) to authorize its pastors to conduct same-gender marriages, as well as by its finding that sexual orientation is no longer an issue in certifying candidates for the ministry.
Because these decisions will be covered in the media, members of the larger Christian community and the Canadian public in general may mistakenly conclude that these decisions represent the position of all Lutherans in this land. In proof, the ELCIC is the only Lutheran church body in Canada which has approved such a departure from accepted Christian training. Further, alt
Readers of The Lutheran know the ELCA has been involved in a study of human sexuality with specific reference to homosexuality and whether homosexual people should be ordained as pastors. Pastors and others received a thorough study, Background Essay on Biblical Texts, as part of the ELCA’s study.
Members of some congregations have not had the opportunity to read this analyze, or they may have been turned off by its length and detail. But even for those who do read it, I share some insights that I have not seen in this study. I will also ask some questions to ponder as you consider the biblical texts, leaving you free to draw your own conclusions.
I am in no way involved in the process for determining the ELCA’s position or policies on the issues before the church. My purpose is to tell and invite reflection on the subject of homosexuality and the church today, while not trying to persuade anyone toward any conclusion on the issues at hand.
In dealing with biblical texts, it is easy to study into or out of them what one wants to discover. Therefore, different and conflicting interp