Quoting the Bible and denomination founder Martin Luther, delegates sought to place the decision within their interpretation of their Lutheran faith.
“We live today with an understanding of homosexuality that did not exist in Jesus’ time and culture,” Tim Mumm, a lay delegate from Wisconsin and supporter of Lutherans Concerned, an gay-rights organization, said during the debate. “We are responding to something that the writers of Scripture could not have understood.”
But other said the recommendations weaken the Biblical standards of the church.
“As Luther taught us, Scripture does not have a wax nose,” said the Rev. Ryan Mills, a delegate representing Texas and Louisana. “It cannot be twisted into anything we want it to say. But that’s just what we’re doing with these following recommendations.”
[blockquote] “We live today with an understanding of homosexuality that did not exist in Jesus’ time and culture,” Tim Mumm, a lay delegate from Wisconsin and supporter of Lutherans Concerned, an gay-rights organization, said during the debate. “We are responding to something that the writers of Scripture could not have understood.”[/blockquote]
Such arrogance. We have the likes of the narcissistic Gene Robinson, who divorced his wife and took up with a man, saying they know better than the St. Paul, St. Peter, and all the holy fathers of the church – people who gave their lives in martyrdom – and caused the church to flourish in contrast to those who now cause the church to wither and die.
Robroy,
Not all ELCA Lutherans. Not all by a long shot.
The backlash on this will be huge. The laity have no interest in this mess and, IMHO, we have stronger theological tools to lean on then you folks did.
See example from a friend. Name removed.
August 21, 2009
Presiding Bishop Hanson, ELCA
Bishop Steve Talmage, Grand Caynon Synod, ELCA
Dear Presiding Bishop, Bishop , and brothers in Christ ,
I am writing to you as my Bishops to declare that this lifelong Lutheran is doing a very Lutheran thing. I am declaring myself Status
Confessionis from this Church . I am a pastor called to the office of
Word and Sacrament in this church. I remain in this church for now, but due to the actions of the Churchwide Assembly August 19th and 21st, in which this body ceased being a part of orthodox Christianity and chose heterodoxy, I can no longer be silent in matters of faith and life.
What does status confessionis mean? Most recently it was used by
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the German church during World War Two, and by the Lutheran World Federation to protest apartheid in South Africa The term arises out of the Lutheran struggle during the so-called Interim. The Emperor Charles V, after the defeat of the Protestant Schmalkald League, pressured the Reichstag in 1548 to decree uniformity of practice (the mass) and of authority (bishops) in all churches. Melanchthon and others in heavily Catholic areas of West Germany favoured compromise in “adiaphora” (matters of indifference), as long as they did not threaten the heart of the gospel, which is justification by faith. But Flacius, speaking for a large group in East Germany, where the Lutherans were strong, opposed this interpretation of the situation. He argued that in a case/situation/time of confession/scandal/persecution, things which otherwise might be indifferent are no longer indifferent, neutral, or irrelevant to the confession of faith. Matters of worship or governance that may be indifferent in themselves will become instruments of witness to the gospel, and there are circumstances in which, if there is compromise here, precisely the wrong message will be given. There will be a distortion or suppression of true doctrine (specifically, justification by faith) and a denial of Christian freedom.
“We believe, teach, and confess that in a time of scandal or confusion, when an unequivocal confession of the faith is demanded of us, we dare not yield to the opponents in such indifferent matters. As the Apostle wrote, ‘Stand firm in the freedom for which Christ has set us free, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery’ [Gal. 5:1]. And: ‘Do not put on the yoke of others; what partnership is there between light and darkness?’ [2 Cor. 6:14]. ‘So that the truth of the Gospel might always remain with you, we did not submit to them even for a moment’ [Gal. 2:5]. For in such a situation it is no longer indifferent matters that are at stake. The truth of the gospel and Christian freedom are at stake. The confirmation of open idolatry, as well as the protection of the weak in faith from offense, is at stake. In such matters we can make no concessions but must offer an unequivocal confession and suffer whatever God sends and permits the enemies of His Word to inflict on us”
[Formula of Concord-Epitome, Article X,6].
To declare that one is in statu confessionis is to pronounce a state of confessional protest against an ecclesial entity which has become
heterodox, such an entity being in violation of Scripture and the
Lutheran Confessions. This declared critical state of affairs is a
public, churchly, and confessional form of protest and is the most
potent type of protest that can be made. To declare a status
confessionis is a solemn and weighty matter. It is an exercise of the
office of the keys.
To declare a state of confessional protest is something done for the
sake of the saving Gospel of Christ. It is done pastorally in concern
for the faith of those in error and for preserving the pure preaching of the Gospel and the right administration of the holy sacraments in the Church. It is intended to bring to repentance those who have fallen into false doctrine and errant practice.
In addition to this, to declare a status confessionis means to cease and desist from all activities of word and deed which support the ministry of those within one’s church body who are propagating incorrect doctrine actively or by indifference. Finally, it should be noted that being in statu confessionis is only to be a provisional (transitional) condition in which the orthodox party remains until either full doctrinal orthodoxy is reached or is summarily rejected in unrepentance. It is not meant to be a permanent state of affairs – something which would be harmful if allowed to remain permanent.
I will look forward to Bishop’s Talmage meeting with all the pastors and Board of xxxxxxxxxx in September of this year to talk further as brothers in Christ.
I love this church, but it has left the 99% of Christianity in this
world that is orthodox, and joined itself to a social and heterodox
Gospel. I am turning in my credentials as a voting member of this
assembly and will return to Arizona later today.
Bishop Talmage, I have known you for fifteen of the twenty years I have served in the ELCA, and you are a fine person, family man and Bishop. I love you and Barb and your children, but the term “bound conscience”, which has been misused this week, and distorted in it’s presentation to the Assembly, should be bound to God’s Word, like it was for Martin Luther. It is not to be bound to my own conscience or opinions, right or wrong. It is bound to Jesus Christ, and his life giving Word.
Truth is not found in a simple majority vote.
In utmost respect and Christian love,