17/08: ELCA Teeters on the Brink
Category: Mainline Christianity
Posted by: an okie gardener
The Evangelical Lutheran Church stepped to the edge of the cliff recently. From the NYT:
The country’s largest Lutheran denomination officially bars openly gay people from the ministry. But in a move that advocates for gay men and lesbians are hailing as a step toward changing that policy, the denomination is urging its bishops to refrain from disciplining gay members of the clergy who are in committed same-sex relationships.
Full story.
The vote is intended to be an interim measure until a report is made to the church in 2009.
One of the ways denominations have slid down the slope is to keep "studying" an issue until an advocacy group gets what it wants. Votes may be taken, traditional positions enunciated, but the effect blunted by a vote to undertake "further study" or "dialogue." Then, when a convention/synod/assembly finally votes to make a change away from tradition, suddenly there is no need for further study.
God help the Lutherans.
The country’s largest Lutheran denomination officially bars openly gay people from the ministry. But in a move that advocates for gay men and lesbians are hailing as a step toward changing that policy, the denomination is urging its bishops to refrain from disciplining gay members of the clergy who are in committed same-sex relationships.
Full story.
The vote is intended to be an interim measure until a report is made to the church in 2009.
One of the ways denominations have slid down the slope is to keep "studying" an issue until an advocacy group gets what it wants. Votes may be taken, traditional positions enunciated, but the effect blunted by a vote to undertake "further study" or "dialogue." Then, when a convention/synod/assembly finally votes to make a change away from tradition, suddenly there is no need for further study.
God help the Lutherans.
