wfn.org | [LCMSNews] Statement discusses ELCA decision

["LCMS e-News" <LCMSENEWS@lcms.org>]

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>4.15.2010              
>       LCMS News               
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>THE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod             
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        April 15, 2010 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 35

Statement discusses ELCA decision to ordain homosexuals

>By Linda C. Hoops

A statement released March 23 addresses the decisions on human sexuality
made by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at its 2009
Churchwide Assembly.

Titled "Theological Implications of the 2009 ELCA Decisions," the
10-page statement was prepared by a task force appointed by Synod
President Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick.  At its August 2009 assembly, the
ELCA resolved to recognize "lifelong, monogamous, same-gender
relationships" and to authorize ordination into the pastoral ministry
for individuals living in such relationships.

In an e-mail memo to pastors introducing the statement -- available at
http://www.lcms.org/?16740 -- Kieschnick encouraged them to share it
with congregation members and others, "given that two 'Lutheran' church
bodies have taken such markedly different positions on a matter of great
significance."

The document first looks at the two church bodies' differing views on
the authority of Holy Scripture and the resulting difference in their
understanding regarding human sexuality.

"Some believe that the Bible's relevance to contemporary moral questions
is not decisive, arguing that what the Bible says is culturally bound,
conditioned by the limited understanding of its human authors," states
the document.  From this perspective, the biblical references that
condemn homosexual acts as sinful "are of limited relevance today."

According to the task force statement, the 2009 ELCA decisions are based
on a view of Scripture that leads to the conclusion that "so long as
differing moral perspectives on homosexual acts are held in good
conscience, other Christians and the church ought to respect the
validity of a variety of perspectives."

In contrast, the Missouri Synod's view of Scripture's authority holds
that "God is their primary author and every word of Scripture is His
word."  It also holds the Scriptures to be "understandable and truthful
in their plain or simple meaning and that no other writing,
understanding, or experience may call into question that meaning."

This view, states the document, "leads us to affirm that where the Bible
speaks clearly regarding matters of human values, conduct, or behavior,
such teachings may not be denied or qualified, but must have continuing
relevance in every era of the Church."

Human sexuality "must be understood in the context of what God, our
Creator, has revealed in the Scriptures about marriage.  The Bible
reminds us that God created man and woman for one another," and being
united in marriage, this union "may also result in the procreation of
children."

"Such a view of marital sexuality can only be heterosexual in nature,"
states the document.  "The LCMS believes and teaches that same-gender
genital sexual activity -- in every situation -- violates the will of
our Creator and must be recognized as sin."

Yet, believing all have sinned (Rom. 3:23), the Missouri Synod has
joined with the other 33 member churches of the International Lutheran
Council (ILC) in affirming its concern for the "pastoral care of
homosexuals."  In a statement unanimously adopted at its meeting last
summer in Seoul, South Korea, the ILC stated that, "we declare our
resolve to approach those with homosexual inclinations with the deepest
possible Christian love and pastoral concern," while recognizing that
homosexual behavior violates God's will and is sinful.

The task force statement discusses the potential for the ELCA's
decisions to affect "involvement in inter-Lutheran cooperative
relationships and activities with the ELCA."  It calls for
distinguishing "between joint participation in Word and Sacrament
ministry" and "cooperation between churches in matters of physical
need," and then lists five questions to help LCMS congregations,
districts, and other organizations determine whether to continue
inter-Lutheran cooperative projects.

The third section of the document discusses "Lutheran identity" and what
it means to be a Lutheran today.  The report notes that the foundational
document for the ELCA's approval of same-gender sexual relationships
describes itself as a "distinctly Lutheran approach" to human sexuality.

However, "any purported distinctiveness which minimizes biblical
authority or isolates us from the church catholic's consensus regarding
homosexual activity is sectarian and a departure from what makes
Lutheranism truly distinctive," the statement reads.

"We pray that our brothers, sisters and friends in the ELCA, and any
others who have departed from this biblical and Christian understanding,
would reconsider -- even now -- their actions," the statement concludes.

The seven members of the task force that prepared the document, in
alphabetical order, were Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, executive director of the
Synod's Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR); Dr. Dale
Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; Dr. Dean Nadasdy,
LCMS fourth vice president; Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger, director of church
relations -- assistant to the LCMS president; Rev. Larry Vogel,
associate executive director of the CTCR; Dr. Dean Wenthe, president of
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne; and Dr. John Wohlrabe, LCMS
third vice president.

The document will be printed in its entirety in the 2010 convention
workbook.

Linda C. Hoops is a freelance writer and a member of Lutheran Church of
the Resurrection, Sunset Hills, Mo.

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If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release, contact
Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org
<mailto:joe.isenhower@lcms.org>  or (314) 996-1231, or Paula Schlueter
Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org <mailto:paula.ross@lcms.org>  or (314)
996-1230.

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