UPDATED AT 2:50 PST
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the fifth largest church in the country, is voting today on three provisions relating to its gay congregants. An AP article discusses the provisions and the debate that went on yesterday.
The three provisions would:
*Affirm the church ban on ordaining sexually active gays and lesbians, but allow bishops and church districts called synods to seek an exception for a particular candidate if that person is in a committed relationship and meets other conditions.
This article was defeated 503 to 490 by the delegates. Even had it obtained a majority it would not have passed as this article woudl have amended the ELCA’s bylaws and required a 2/3 vote.
*Uphold the denomination’s prohibition against blessing of same-sex unions, but give bishops and pastors discretion in deciding how to minister to gay couples.
During the vote, language was stripped away that might have given local pastors leeway leaving a simple confirmation of the anti-gay marriage position of the church and placing trust in pastors to minister to gay people. At this time I haven’t been able to find the vote count for stripping the language supporting flexibility.
*Call for unity, even though congregants disagree on the issue
This article has passed by a wide margin.
While I’m not overfond of afirming the ban or upholding the prohibition, in practical terms the ELCA is acknowledging that many of their member churches want to bless same-sex unions and have openly gay clergy that are in committed relationships. These allow those portions of the country that are more open to gay people to follow the dictates of their conscience without fear of punishment from the national body. Basically, its a step.
Of particular interest in yesterday’s debate:
The Rev. Sara Gausmann of the Lower Susquehanna Synod in Pennsylvania said easing the rules would make it impossible for her to teach children to follow Christian sexual ethics. Many delegates said the truly Christian approach would be to convince homosexuals to change their sexual orientation.
”This debate is not about emotional pleas for love and acceptance,” said Kara Felde of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod. ”It’s about what Scripture says.”Advocates for full inclusion of gay clerics attempted to counter these arguments by expressing the pain of what they called rejection by their own church.
His voice cracking with emotion, Timothy Mumm of the South-Central Wisconsin Synod said he became suicidal after years in therapy trying to rid himself of his attraction to men. He said a ”faithful, caring pastor” helped him accept his homosexuality.
This debate highlights the importance of continuing to speak out against the lies perpetuated by ex-gay ministries. The distortions, bogus statistics, and fraudulent claims of “hundreds of thousands” are what allow otherwise decent people to say the “the truly Christian approach would be to convince homosexuals to change their sexual orientation”.
For every Sara Gausmann out there, we need to have a Timothy Mumm. And we need to find a way to provide the Mumms of the world with accurate information to counter the false witness of the anti/ex-gay movement.
MY OPINION ADDED:
While it is disappointing that the ELCA did not make any favorable change this year, it is encouraging that nearly half the delegates voted to allow the ordination of gay persons in a committed relationship (currently they only allow celebate gays to be ministers).
Remember, it has only been 36 years since Stonewall.
It’s gratifying to see that they’re on the road to more acceptance, but on the other hand, I have to say that as a Christian I find this pretty appalling. They basically want to:
1. Have an official ban, but leave loopholes.
2. Support couples under the table, but withold God’s blessing.
3. Do it all in the name of not offending anyone.
Try as I might, I just can’t find the passage in the New Testament where Jesus says:
For behold, many gays shalt thou have in my Body, yet thou shalt not acknowledge them, and lives of pretense shalt everyone lead, for this is pleasing to Me. Therefore, neither shalt ye ask, nor shalt ye tell. Verily I say unto you, the most important thing is for everyone to feel good about themselves.
On the other hand, I do seem to remember this part where He says he came not to bring peace, but a sword.
Patience, Boo.
As someone who was raised in an LCA (now ELCA) church, let’s just accept progress one agonizing step at a time.
I know progress will occur in fits and starts, and I can accept patience while people get over their hang-ups about it, it’s just this particular step I think is entirely wrong-headed. This is about putting what’s convenient above what’s right. My belief in and experience of God’s love leads me to believe in equal rights for and social acceptance of homo- and bi-sexuals. I could respect someone who comes to an honestly different conclusion from the same starting point even if I disagreed with them. This seems more like trying to compromise truth (on either side) in the name of not offending anyone, with the result being a big game of Let’s Pretend.
If denominations have to split so that everyone is able to follow their conscience, then let them split.
Good posting Timothy,As someone who some (rudely) mistake for being alive at the time, this reminds of my own Baptists and 1845. Let’s avoid a real shooting war this time, shall we? Least of all, simply because spiking a cannon while wearing a crinoline is hard work.(Despite the apparent flippancy, I am trying to make a point about an historic moment when “the Christian spirit” eluded many. They lived to regret that, as will some churches over this issue.)
Splits only further polarize both sides. Talking is always better than walking.
Couple of thoughts:
1) anecdotal evidence suggests the voting reflected the regional politics across the country – Upper Susquehanna Synod is more liberal than Lower Susq. Synod, but not as much as New England.
2) The church moves in excruciatingly slow steps. For us to be having as much discussion as we are truly amazes me.
3) Boo, a group already split a long time ago — they’re called Missouri Synod Lutherans. Or, as my pastor used to say, Missouri Bigot Lutherans (I know, bigot doesn’t quite apply here, but you get the point). The ELCA won’t split on this issue.
4) The long and short of it is that individual church leaders are basically free to do what they want to do anyway. Do you think Margaret Payne is going to suspend a minister in Massachusetts for participating in a gay marriage ceremony or whatever? Probably not.