A Pastor’s Reaction to the ELCA Sexuality Proposals
February 19th, 2009
I'd say this pretty much sums up the very heart of the problem, and concern. Here is how one of my ELCA pastor friends has expressed what he sees as the greatest tragedy in the ELCA debates over homosexuality and now the latest round of proposals.
I'm concerned with a generation of young people who are being taught in
ELCA congegations a false understanding of God's intent for marriage
and family. I'm concerned with a generation of young people who,
having had the institution of marriage fall in on them as they
experienced their parent's divorces, have few positive models of
marriage and we have yet to expend any significant effort extolling WHY
God's intent for marriage is a healthy choice for them. I'm concerned
with a yet another generation of young people who will never know the
Gospel or what it means to experience deep seated freedom and grace in
Christ because we have wasted the last 20 years on this issue and are
becoming increasing inept at evangelism in our current culture along
the way – with many more years to come as these recommendations go
forward. If these recommendations pass as written, the ensuing
political chaos will be visited upon every synod in the ELCA as the
advocates take the fight local. We will no longer function as a
national church, but a federation of synods with conflicting standards
for ordination and expected clergy behaviors – and all the on-going
conflicts and "will to power" that entails.
ELCA congegations a false understanding of God's intent for marriage
and family. I'm concerned with a generation of young people who,
having had the institution of marriage fall in on them as they
experienced their parent's divorces, have few positive models of
marriage and we have yet to expend any significant effort extolling WHY
God's intent for marriage is a healthy choice for them. I'm concerned
with a yet another generation of young people who will never know the
Gospel or what it means to experience deep seated freedom and grace in
Christ because we have wasted the last 20 years on this issue and are
becoming increasing inept at evangelism in our current culture along
the way – with many more years to come as these recommendations go
forward. If these recommendations pass as written, the ensuing
political chaos will be visited upon every synod in the ELCA as the
advocates take the fight local. We will no longer function as a
national church, but a federation of synods with conflicting standards
for ordination and expected clergy behaviors – and all the on-going
conflicts and "will to power" that entails.
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Categories: Lutheranism
Well I certainly know his pain. One real problem is that the ELCA hasn’t acted as a “national” church for some time with regards the enforcement of its own constitutionally stated beliefs that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final norm and authority over matters of faith and life. Whole synods, bishops, and seminary professors have forsaken the fundamentals of Lutheran/Christian faith. For quite a while the ELCA has been but a confederation of synods and congregations doing their own thing. Some are orthodox, some are not, and “all are welcome.”
God willing, this will wake people up. However it seems to me that most folks in the ELCA will go along with “local option” in the hope that “their” congregation or synod won’t go along.
Peace in the Lord!
Rob Buechler, Pastor
Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church
LakeView Lutheran Church
Back in 1991 when I was a university student I was quite active with the ELCA campus group at my college, so active in fact that I was considering becoming a Lutheran and (perhaps) studying for ministry. Well, once I started investigating the ELCA, I was immediately put off by two things: 1) the pro-choice position of the denomination when it came to abortion (which is evil pure and simple and which immediately made it impossible for me to further consider joining such a group) and 2) the already clear direction of the the ELCA’s elite regarding the acceptability of homosexual conduct.
I talked to the campus pastor, a very nice and well-meaning and scholarly man who was every bit sold on the “new morality” re: abortion and homosexuality, and I was very impressed with how polished and assured he was about the direction that the ELCA was taking. I decided then and there that the trajectory of the ECLA was moving in a very wicked direction. And that was 18 years ago! This isn’t anything new. It’s sad. But hardly unanticipated or unforeseen. Anybody that didn’t realize that this was going to happen has been, to be blunt, in deep denial.
While I share the deep concern expressed over this, and feel it is certainly appropriate to say so publicly and to make clear the distinctions between them and the LCMS, I think Pastor Harrison’s warning to us LCMS folks (next post) is important.
First of all, we in the LCMS have serious problems of our own…it’s easy to look at the ELCA and think “well at least we don’t have their problems,” which seems to be the position of our Synodical leadership. While there’s a certain amount of truth in that statement, it’s important to not ignore the log in one’s own eye while worrying about the twig (or log) in our neighbor’s eye.
Second, too often we in the LCMS come across as sanctimonious when criticizing the ELCA. I have a great deal of friends who are ELCA who are just as concerned about their church body as we are. It is a sad thing to see them slip into heterodoxy, and with I grieve with those like Pastor McCain and others who see a body who could be a great witness for Christ be done in by issues that God’s Word speaks clearly about.
May God have mercy on us all as!
As the author of the quote, I have not been naive concerning the direction of my church. I will admit I use to think, foolishly, I could make a difference and work with others to hold back this strange tide of confessional rejection and hostility toward traditional marriage and family. The fellow above suggests he knew in 1991. I knew when I was ordained in 1984. But this is the church into which (well, the LCA anyway) I was brought to faith in Christ. It’s the church within which I have been blessed to live out my call as a pastor. It’s the church that allowed me to learn from some of our best people. But I will admit I have over the course of my career hoped it would never slide over into the more bizarre forms of feminist corrective we see in the release. Frankly, for any confessional Lutheran the document is an embarrassment.
So where does this leave us confessional, evangelical Lutherans who lead congregations with young professional men, their wives and families? That, my fellow Lutheran friends, is the question many of us may have to explore next fall.
Peace,
Dr. Brian Hughes
StJohnMD.Org
Brian,
Moving forward into something else can feel like a worry. Don’t. I have not been in the ministry near as long as you. You will remember I was with the ELCA and then finally decided with two of my congregations to leave and join another Lutheran association. I admit to some points of fear and wonder and worry about where and when to go and how this would affect my wife and child, but I am also reminded that the Lord will not abandon his people and will care for us. Trust him, as I know you have. He will lead you where you need to go. I can say the water has been fine a year after leaving.
Peace in the Lord!
Rob Buechler, Pastor
Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church
LakeView Lutheran Church
Starkweather,ND