 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
ELCA Sexuality Task Force Recommendations Do Not Uphold Biblical Standards |
2005-01-27 |
|
|
The "ELCA Task Force for Studies on Sexuality" spent four years
studying the question of sexuality (specifically homosexuality) and gathering opinions from throughout the church. About 28,000 people sent responses to the Task Force, including your pastors and members of our congregation who discussed the issue over several sessions of Adult Sunday School this past autumn. Unfortunately the task force by its recommendations which were released on 13 January does not seem to have seriously wrestled with Scripture, or taken seriously either the opinions of the vast majority of those who gave input or the historic witness of the Church on the question of sexual purity. The Task Force recommends that the ELCA continue the policy of requiring celibacy of single clergy and fidelity in marriage, and does not approve of making same-sex marriage ceremonies an official action of the church's ministry. But the Task Force also recommends that in order to find ways to "live together faithfully in the midst of our disagreements" these ELCA policies not be enforced. The Task Force tries to have it both ways and appease conservatives by not changing the current standards, while at the same time allowing those who disagree with those standards to do what they want without discipline or consequences. This seems at best naive or hypocritical, and at worst dishonest. It is like telling your children that you do not allow them to sleep with their boyfriend or girlfriend, but that it is up to them if they want to go to a motel. Discussion and debate are fine, but there are limits to talking about something. Either homosexual behavior is wrong or it is right. There is no compromise or way to "make a space" for those who disagree. A decision, based on God's Word and the collected wisdom of the past two thousand years of Christian witness, needs to be made. In this case, the loving thing is not to let people who feel that homosexuality is good do what they want, but to set limits and lovingly enforce them. Isn't that what we do with our children? Is that always easy? Does that always feel good? Do our children always like us or appreciate what we are doing when we don't let them have their own way? Did we always appreciate our parents when they "laid down the law" with us? Who is really the more loving parent, the one who is permissive or the one who sometimes says no?
Alan Wisdom of the Institute on Religion and Democracy gives a good
summary of what would result from accepting the recommendations of the Task Force. "The just released report ... offers what is clearly
intended to be a compromise. But its recommendations regarding same-sex blessings and homosexual ordination do not represent a true 'middle way.' They represent no way at all. By letting the church's standards on marriage and sexuality stand on paper, while gutting those standards of any practical force in the life of the church, the task force would leave the denomination with no real standards of any sort. It would detach the ELCA from everything that gives it strength and life. If adopted, this non-solution would not bring any lasting peace to the ELCA. At most, it would lend the appearance of a truce. But the price of that temporary truce would be exceedingly high. It would be an almost total abdication of the church's responsibility to proclaim God's will for human sexuality. There would be no clear answer to give young Lutherans who asked, 'How does my church believe that I should conduct myself sexually?' The mute ELCA would move ever closer to cultural irrelevance, unable to challenge a society in which 'every
person does what is right in their own eyes' (Judges 17:6)"
We need to continue to pray for God's guidance in being strong
witnesses for the truth of the Gospel, while asking God for humility, wisdom and love in dealing with each others' sin. We need to pray for the leadership of the ELCA, and for all of its congregations as we continue to struggle through this contentious issue. We need to pray for Pastor Janine and all the other delegates who will be attending the Church-wide assembly this summer to vote on the policies of this church and how they are enforced. We look to our crucified and risen Savior to lead us imperfect sinners to practices and policies that will uphold biblical morality and build up the church rather than tear it down.
|
|
|
|
Summer: starting Memorial Day Weekend
9:00 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
10:00 am Coffee and Fellowship
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm
Winter: starting after Labor Day
8:30 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
9:35 am Educational Hour
9:35 am Coffee and Fellowship
10:45 am Worship Service
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm |
Click Here
401 South Flynn Drive
Milbank SD 57252
605.432.5566 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
