ELCA Official Says Members Who Oppose LGBTQ Will Have Conscience Protections. We Doubt It
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is claiming that members who oppose same-sex protections will have conscience protections to hold the position. Given the denomination’s trajectory and track record, however, we have no reason to believe this is true.
In 2022, the Churchwide Assembly authorized two reconsiderations of the Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust (2009) social statement. While the 2009 statement pledged to respect and bear with members who were opposed to same-sex marriage, progressive activists within the denomination demanded not just tolerance but celebration. Hence, they voted to pursue two major changes:
Reconsideration #1: A review of specific text references that “would consider the import that marriage legally is now a covenant between individuals;” review specific wording “in light of public acceptance of marriage of same-gender and gender-non-conforming couples;” and “consider references to diversity of family configurations;” and
Reconsideration #2: A fresh consideration of the “church’s current concept of the four positions of bound conscience” found on pages 19-21 of Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.
In the Spring of 2024, the ELCA Church Council Executive Committee seated a task force to review these recommendations, which includes a host of radicals on board. These include:
(Parker is a woman, and it’s unclear whether or not they are married or just shacking up. Tew recently posted this quote on ELM
The first recommendation they butchered, explaining in their executive summary:
One category of edits involved updating language to reflect recognition of legal marriage between individuals of the same gender in the United States. For example, in several sentences describing marriage, gendered language (“husband and wife”) was replaced with nongendered language such as “marriage for both spouses” (line 105) or “the couple” (line 118). In addition, the heading in line 123 was changed to “Sex, Gender, and Sexuality in Marriage” to reflect the legality of marriages between individuals today.
The second recommendation has not yet been touched, but the activists are licking their chops at the thought of what they might do to it. Presently, the 2009 statements offer four positions on homosexuality, summarized succinctly by The Christian Post to include:
Those who believe “same-gender sexual behavior is sinful, contrary to biblical teaching and their understanding of natural law.”
Those who oppose homosexuality but “acknowledge that such relationships may be lived out with mutuality and care.”
Those who support same-sex relationships but “do not equate these relationships with marriage.”
Those who want “same-gender relationships” to be “held to the same rigorous standards, sexual ethics, and status as heterosexual marriage.”
The would love to excise the first two, and the third as well if possible.
Ryan P. Cumming, the program director for the ELCA’s Theological Ethics, Education, and Community Engagement, insisted to The Christian Post these reconsiderations were only editorial in nature and would not be altering “the substantive meaning” of the statement.
“Discussions of human sexuality and marriage naturally raise significant concerns among many throughout the church. It is important to remember, as well, there are many different convictions involved, including the concerns of those who have experienced marginalization or discrimination because of beliefs that their sexuality is sinful and that they ought not have the right to marry.”
Lies, lies, and more lies.
The first recommendation significantly altered the meaning and theology, and there’s no reason to suppose the second won’t either, given the rampant acceptance of LGBTQ theology within this withering and dying denomination.
With the ELCA Church Council voting last month to “Adopt proposed editorial changes to the social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust in response to the memorial “Reconsideration of Social Statement on Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust,” which was approved by the 2022 Churchwide Assembly,” it’ll be less than two years before dissenting members will be severely castigated, and where the scant remnant of anti-LGBTQ ELCA churches will vote to separate finally.
BS! That was not true ten years ago. I was blacklisted by the synodical bishop of North Texas and told I would not be acceptable by an assistant bishop in Washington. The ELCA has only become less tolerant of orthodox Christians and pastors.