ELCA VOTE ON HUMAN SEXUALITY - AUG 19, 2009

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America passes the Social Statement on Human Sexuality by a razor thin margin: 66.67% Yes - 33.33% No (2/3 majority required) at the Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis, MN. The statement provides new insights on sex, marriage, children and family and opens the door for greater acceptance of our GLBT brothers and sisters. Matthew 22:36-40 became the starting point of what the church has to say on sex. Find out more: http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney

Thanks to all who have kept the debate respectful despite our differing convictions.

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[Markpink21]

really a baptist church? Im in Ga and thats all around me..lol I have to say I was raised Lcms and I converted judaism. What a change! :)

[IantoCross]

Have you ever considered, perhaps, that some things in the Bible were what men thought God wanted, and not necessarily direct doctrine? And even many things in the Bible we don't practice anymore, such as slavery, women bought and sold as wives, etc. because we know better. Perhaps we now know better about sexual & romantic orientation than we did previously?  That it's an innate, or hard-wired, part of every human being?

[MrsSarb]

I just remember driving home that day in Minneapolis and on the news they kept saying that there was no scientific reason that they could come up with to explain why there was a tornado that day. I think this was clearly from God. This is profound. I do not hate gay people. I love gay people. However, the Bible is very clear on this. There is a huge difference between tolerance and love and a stamp of endorsement. The church has put their stamp of endorsement on this with this vote.

[jes381990]

I resigned my membership in the ELCA and joined a Baptist church because of this.

[CMLovejoy]

This will split in the denomination in half.

[bdawg6]

I was there, It was intense haha

[DoormanPriest]

4) I pick up a strong sense of a double standard here.

[MrRockythesquirrel]

it is only "unnatural" to those who do not understand human sexuality. who dislike folks whose sexuality is different from themselves, and have to hide their dislikes behind the bible and the cross. and you can add to that the mis-interpretation of scripture, and the taking of portions out of context

[sandworm3]

It is apostasy. There is no teaching that would back this unnatural relation up. These bishops should be ashamed of themselves as they are to be guardians of sound doctrine and scripture.  Humanism, autonomy, post-modernism are all present here. Tolerant intolerance. If it feels good do it, nobody is going to tell me what to do... I AM ME... I do whatever I want despite clear doctrine.

[DoormanPriest]

My curate is a lesbian. She can't "do" sodomy.

What of the gay men who aren't into sodomy - a significant proportion (I'm told it's not compulsory).

These Biblical injunctions are not about faithful, loving and committed relationships. They are warnings not to follow the religious practices of the neighbouring tribes; practices which included cultic prostitution of both genders.

This is not a warning about personal morality, it is a warning about the dangers of apostsy. morality