With the Episcopalians headed toward a likely split over the appointing of gay bishops, ELCA leaders are well aware of the risks. Bishop Mark Hanson, the Twin Cities native who leads the ELCA, said that no matter how the vote comes out, he’s intent on keeping the losers from rebellion.
“It is my commitment and my conviction that we will not succumb to this polarizing question that often divides communities,” he said.
Despite the divisiveness of the issue, the assembly promises to uphold the ELCA’s reputation for nonconfrontational confrontation.
Well PB, every other mainline that’s gone down this road has discovered they are diminished as a result. Why should we be any different? Given the largest congregations in our denomination have already told you they plan to walk when and if apostasy happens, what does he really mean spouting off platitudes like this?
I can’t tell if the man is blinded by willful ignorance or willful arrogance.
I suspect that, as is the case in TEC, the problem in ELCA is deeper than this one issue.
Absolutely. Like in TEC (from what I can tell as a Lutheran), the underlying issue is a wholly different Gospel, supported by a radically different hermeneutic, that has become pervasive in our seminaries and in the national office bureaucracy over the last 30 years.
One example of many: an ELCA parish in California uses a bastardization of the Lord’s Prayer that begins “Our mother who is within us,” and the response of their bishop is “Its awfully hard to define heresy.” Granted, we don’t have the Prayer Book tradition that you Anglicans enjoy, but nonetheless…a bishop who tolerates open heresy in worship, and a reworking of Christ’s own words, nonetheless.
One thing that is utterly clear: it is not just about sex.
Ryan Schwarz
I think the real Christians are far better off making a clean break. The TEC model has been painful, expensive, and soul destroying. Just be done with it and split. Let the pro-LGBT infiltrators “win” and form up in another building, toughen the bylaws to prevent this sort of thing from ever happening again, and move on with the mission to evangelize the world for Christ. We need to stop giving the LGBT crowd a forum.
Hello Ryan, Lutheran Visitor #3 and Sick and Tired #4, when I was in Birmingham I worshiped at a wonderful Episcopal Parish, the Cathedral Church of the Advent. After arriving in Tucson, with no Advent here, I was led to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, which is rock solid through and through. My church here is wonderful and it is great to know that when I travel I can visit any LCMS church and have a great worship experience.
[blockquote]With the Episcopalians headed toward a likely split over the appointing of gay bishops, ELCA leaders are well aware of the risks. Bishop Mark Hanson, the Twin Cities native who leads the ELCA, said that no matter how the vote comes out, he’s intent on keeping the losers from rebellion.[/blockquote]
How does he plan to stop people from leaving? We heard basically the same thing from TEC. We belong to a denomination by choice, not by assignment. We can leave as we see fit and in the face of heretical teachings and reinterpretation of scripture not consistent with orthodox and traditional views sometimes leaving is the only answer.
I have quietly, and politely, sat and listened to an ELCA pastor tell me that those who leave a denomination instead of staying to fight are weak. I wholeheartedly disagree. I believe it has taken more guts to step away from the comfort zone of an established church and stand up for what we believe in and move out into the unknown. As one who is intrinsically a planner that likes to know the itinerary ahead of time this scares me to no end. But noone can tell me that I cannot do it.
After reading this article quoting PB Hanson and the later posting from +Yoos I see that they are basically on the same train as TEC. I am very happy to see that there are some ELCA bloggers here that clearly do not hold to the party line. I will be praying for you as your Assembly takes place.