More

Lutheran Bishops Prepare To Welcome Gay Clergy

Gay Lutheran Clergy

First Posted: 05/12/10 06:12 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 04:50 PM ET

pewforum.org:

ishops in the nation's largest Lutheran denomination have approved preliminary steps to welcome a group of openly gay and lesbian ministers as official clergy with new liturgical rites.

Read the whole story: pewforum.org

FOLLOW HUFFPOST RELIGION

ishops in the nation's largest Lutheran denomination have approved preliminary steps to welcome a group of openly gay and lesbian ministers as official clergy with new liturgical rites.
ishops in the nation's largest Lutheran denomination have approved preliminary steps to welcome a group of openly gay and lesbian ministers as official clergy with new liturgical rites.
Filed by Jed Bickman  | 
 
 
  • Comments
  • 44
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Recency  | 
Popularity
10:55 AM on 03/18/2010
They are just in it for the costumes
07:28 AM on 03/18/2010
It was potlucks and those priestly vestments. 2/3 of the gay triad of food, fashion, and now -fornication.
06:35 AM on 03/17/2010
LUTHERAN BISHOPS PREPARE TO WELCOME GAY CLERGY

Next headline: LUTHERAN BISHOPS WONDER WHERE ALL THE LUTHERANS WENT
photo
Yeah-Me
Well... Just who else would I be? Palin?
07:16 PM on 03/16/2010
Congratulations to the ELCA with such a move.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
07:58 AM on 03/16/2010
The only way churches will retain parishioners is if they continue socially progress. They're already losing members in droves.
01:05 AM on 03/14/2010
Why call yourself Christian if you're simply going to blatently undermine clear bible teachings/principles?
- 1 Tim 1:10

But then again, the Bible did propheisy that this would happen...
-Matt 7:15; 24:11,24
-2 Pet 2:1-3
-1 John 4:1
05:54 PM on 03/14/2010
There are plenty of clear Bible teachings that the ELCA and other churches ignore. Like the prohibition against women teaching, and Jesus' completely clear teaching on divorce & remarriage. See below for more.
01:55 PM on 03/15/2010
you're correct. thats exactly why I don't attend churches. Much of Christendom is full of hypocrisy.
08:14 PM on 03/14/2010
And when are you planning to stone the adulterers to death?
02:11 PM on 03/15/2010
Uhh..I think you have accidently mistaken me for God. Only God can execute final judgement on us, & the Bible is simply the messenger...so don't hate on the reader of the message. BTW its apparent you didn't bother reading 1 Tim 1:10 which ALSO mentions fornicators (which includes adultery). My point was, you can't truely call yourself christian if your brazenly practicing the very things the Bible condemns (including adultry,etc).
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
wandering girl
grownup
02:32 PM on 03/13/2010
our pastor was quoted today in our local paper applauding this decision. several years ago, my husband & I were delegates to the Regional Synod Meeting, where the entire body overwhelmingly supported the decision to allow openly gay clergy, as well as recognize their committed same-sex relationships. and our congregation also became a "Welcoming and Affirming" church, as well.
01:43 PM on 03/13/2010
Congratulations to the Lutheran Church. May God bless you and your congregations.
photo
clearwaterclearmind
couldn't stand bush. can't stand obama for the sam
01:22 PM on 03/13/2010
gays should have the right to worship (and pay money to) something that doesn't even exist just like the rest of the suckers.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Treehuggindirtworshiper
Steward of God's Creation
09:09 AM on 03/13/2010
Hurray for the Lutherans! Unite so that all of God's children are treated equally.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
11:00 PM on 03/12/2010
I'm looking at the picture and wondering why the clergy feel the need to wear skirts and clown suits.
photo
GDWhiteman
Christian mystic iconoclast
08:57 AM on 03/13/2010
I think it's part of their effort to reach out to clowns.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
FerrellGummitt
http://ferrellgummit.wordpress.com
03:44 PM on 03/12/2010
The ELCA needs to take the "Lutheran" out of their name. Martin Luther in his wildest nightmares would never have condoned Gay Clergy.
photo
invirginia
A higher double-standard.
04:09 PM on 03/12/2010
Martin Luther was also a raving antisem1te.
02:06 PM on 03/16/2010
Who wasn't in the 16th century?

The Church Reformers had a motto: Ecclesia semper reformanda--the church always reforming.

Would Luther have condoned women or gay priests? Certainly not in the 16th century. Considering how forward the man's thinking was in other areas, I think it's impossible to say where he would stand today.
photo
GDWhiteman
Christian mystic iconoclast
06:39 PM on 03/12/2010
The next thing you'll be telling me is that Jesus was a Jew.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
11:04 PM on 03/12/2010
I read the book "Rabbi Jesus" last year. Not only was he an observant Jew, his own followers called him "Rabbi".

I was raised a Southern Baptist and I was 23 years old before I discovered that the "Last Supper" was a Passover Seder.
11:55 AM on 03/12/2010
I just wonder how this is possible in a supposed "chrisitian church"? It's not about coming around to the 21st century or having an open mind. It's their church, and they can do what they will, but it's not bibilical. The bible is very clear regarding homosexual relations...Romans 1:27...but again, this is the religious left and the militant gay movement taking over and shoving their beliefs down everyone's throats.
photo
GDWhiteman
Christian mystic iconoclast
02:59 PM on 03/12/2010
Maybe it has something to do with those of us on the religious left no longer standing silent in the face of having misunderstanding on the part of the religious right about exactly what forms of homosexual behavior the Bible is talking about crammed down OUR throats any more. And we're REALLY tired of watching hatefulness and violence in the name of Jesus. If saying, "No more!" is "taking over", so be it. Amen.
photo
GDWhiteman
Christian mystic iconoclast
03:16 PM on 03/12/2010
It boils down to this: apparently you understand use of the word "homosexual" in the Bible to mean any and all sexual acts involving persons of the same gender, and I suspect you've fallen for the "choice" theory too or maybe you;re with the "they shouldn't do the behavior in any case" group. Others familiar with the historical context understand the prohibition of the custom of homosexual and its forced bowing before the conqueror as well as the lameness of attempting to say something akin to, "It wasn't really adultery. I didn't have sex with a woman other than my wife." Those on this side of the aisle see no reference to loving, committed relationships. That homosexuals are in the minority does not make them "wrong". Atypical? Yes, but not necessarily "abnormal". Red hair isn't typical, but it's within the range of "normal". People who read and study the Bible come down on both sides of this issue. You have to choose what you believe. Personally I have the same confidence in your prohibition against homosexuality that I have in the Pharisees' claim that it's against God's law to heal on the Sabbath. i.e. Twisting God's words and misguided.