The Christian Science Monitor Mar 13, 2:30 PM EDT
Lutheran Group Addresses Marriage Issue
By RACHEL ZOLL AP Religion Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- A task force drafting a statement on
***uality for the nation's largest Lutheran group said
Thursday that the church should continue defining marriage as
the union of one man and one woman.
However, the panel did not condemn same-gender relation****ps.
The committee expressed regret that historic Lutheran
teachings have been used to hurt gays and lesbians, and
acknowledged that some congregations already accept same-***
couples.
The re****t released by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America is part of the denomination's yearslong effort to
bridge internal differences over the Bible and homo***uality.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a separate, smaller group,
is theologically conservative, and teaches that same-gender
relation****ps violate Scripture.
Called a "Draft Social Statement on Human ***uality," the
re****t is a wide-ranging study of Christian views on ***ual
morality, premarital ***, domestic abuse and families.
But the most anticipated part of the do***ent was whether the
task force would recommend equal standing for gay and
hetero***ual couples in the 4.8 million-member church.
Next year, the panel will decide whether to suggest changes in
current clergy standards that bar gays and lesbians from being
ordained if they are ***ually active. After revisions, both
proposals will be presented for a vote to the 2009 Churchwide
Assembly in Minneapolis.
The do***ent released Thursday repeatedly states that ***ual
intimacy should be reserved for married couples, and condemns
*** for personal gratification alone.
"The church recognizes the historic origin of the term
`marriage' as a lifelong and committed relation****p between a
woman and a man, and does not wish to alter this
understanding," the re****t says.
The task force goes on to describe different responses to gays
and lesbians in congregations, noting that some churches
require celibacy for them, while others urge gay couples to
"establish relation****ps that are chaste, mutual, monogamous
and lifelong."
"These relation****ps are to be held to the same rigorous
standards and ***ual ethics as all others," the do***ent says.
"This suggests that dissolution of a committed same-gender
relation****p be treated with the same gravity as the
dissolution of a marriage."
The do***ent expressed regret that Lutheran teachings have
been used "to tear apart families with gay or lesbian
members," and asks all Lutherans to welcome gays and advocate
for legal protection for them.
Still, a gay Lutheran group called the do***ent disappointing,
as did church members with traditional views of Scripture.
Lutherans Concerned/North America, which represents gays and
lesbians, criticized the task force for urging respect for
same-gender couples without providing religious rites for them
to make a lifelong commitment.
"This draft merely tolerates rather than celebrates the
presence of same-gender families in the church," said Emily
Eastwood, executive director of Lutherans Concerned. "It is
inconsistent and insufficient."
Mark Chavez, leader of Lutheran CORE and the WordAlone
Network, which represent theological conservatives, argued
that the do***ent was not grounded enough in the Bible, and
could lead the church to allow each ELCA synod, or district,
to set its own policy on gay clergy.
"It not only doesn't resolve anything, but it's going to make
things worse," he said.
The task force did address the different views of Scripture
underlying the conflict. They said that the Bible "can be
abused and misunderstood through selective use as a moral
guide," noting that biblical verses were once used to justify
slavery.
They said Scripture should be interpreted in light of
scientific knowledge and human experience. "Human knowledge
about ***uality, such as that found in medicine and the social
and physical sciences, can teach us about healthy practice and
provide new insights," they said.
The 15-member task force, comprised of Lutheran clergy, lay
people and academics, expressed hope that the members of the
denomination can continue studying the issue together.
The ELCA is one of several Protestant groups divided over gay
relation****ps and the Bible.
The Episcopal Church caused an uproar in 2003 when it
consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of
New Hamp****re.
About three dozen of the nearly 11,000 congregations in the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have voted to leave the national
church since its 2006 meeting. At that assembly, Presbyterians
debated providing some leeway in ordaining gays, and allowing
alternative phrasings in liturgy for the divine Trinity -
"Father, Son and Holy Spirit."
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On the Net:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: http://www.elca.org/
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The light ****neth in darkness;
and the darkness comprehended it not.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be
single,
thy whole body shall be full of light.
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of
darkness.
If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great
is that darkness!
Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead,
and Christ shall give thee light.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
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