(ELCA News)
Y.T. Chiu described himself as a “former homophobe” who, encouraged by his pastor to look at the ELCA documents, changed his mind about the issue. “Change is good; being a rebel is not bad,” said Chiu, Northeastern Ohio Synod.
The Rev. Craig Werting of the South Dakota Synod urged voting members of the assembly not to be swayed by the “many stories on both side of this issue that present emotional appeals.”
Anyone who listens cannot help but be moved,” he said, “but emotions themselves do not make an argument. Instead of following the emotion of the day, sometimes we must put feelings aside and do what scripture tells us to do.”
He is a former homophobe because he no longer accepts scripture and tradition. He is now traditionalphobic and bibliophobic.
It will be interesting to watch a denomination that has traditionally followed [i] sola scriptura [/i] instead of [i] prima scriptura [/i] (I know this describes Hooker Anglicanism more than Episcopalianism) have this debate and justify the results.
The worst moment came when Pastor John Stendahl said that those who opposed the proposed statement and the recommendations on ministry were guilty of sinning against the Holy Spirit. So much for “honoring the bound conscience.” I think we’ve been declared to be out of the Church and out of communion, not to mention damned to hell. Nice.
This was the Scripture passage from II Timothy that formed the basis of our prayer and devotions in last night’s elders’ meeting:
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
II Timothy 4:1-5
It passed. But while it was being debated, a tornado hit downtown Minneapolis and took the steeple off Central Lutheran while advocates were in the building. Located across the street from the Assembly, Central is a strong supporter of gay and lesbian clergy in the ELCA. It has been the leadership hub for advocates during the Assembly. No one was hurt. But the building damaged by said tornado, said act of God. While the ELCA was in the process across the street busily defeating an amendment that would have strengthened the church’s support for marriage and family, the winds hit.
Hmmm …
Here’s an interesting quote:
[blockquote]And a tornado was headed our way. Just after 2 p.m., the twister knocked the cross off the steeple of Central Lutheran Church just across the street from the convention center. I walked outside afterward to look at it and the steel cross was dangling high up in the air.
During the storm, ELCA President Mark Hanson read outloud the 121st Psalm to calm everyone down.
“We trust the weather is not a commentary on our work,” said the Rev. Steven Loy, chairman of an ad hoc committee on a controversial statement on human sexuality that was on the floor that afternoon. The statement, which seems to open the door to greater acceptance of homosexual practice, passed by an exact two-thirds vote a few hours later. One or two votes less would have killed it. There was quite a gasp when we saw the results.
Later some of us were discussing in the pressroom whether the Almighty had sent a tornado to send the Lutherans a message. After all, one of the reporters said, the ELCA endured an electrical storm during one of their previous conventions — where human sexuality was also on the table – in Orlando.
And if God was speaking, was anyone listening?
– Julia Duin, religion editor[/blockquote]