A response to the ELCA's taskforce on sexuality
My pastor's response to the ELCA's
task force
For those that don't know, the ELCA (my denom)
has been "studying" the issue of sexuality and specifically, whether or not it
should ordain open, practicing homosexuals and bless same sex marriages. The
taskforce that the ELCA created has posted their response, and my pastor (the
same one you've
been praying
for, thank you) wrote a response that I thought was worth posting.
Here's his
response:
A Response to the Recommendations from the ELCA’s Taskforce on Studies of Sexuality
On January 13, 2004 the ELCA’s task force released three recommendations for the study of sexuality. It is important to note that these recommendations are only recommendations and do not represent the current position by the ELCA. These recommendations instead will be considered at the ELCA gathering this summer. If you would like to view the report in its entirety you can find it on the web at: http://www.elcawebstatus.org/tfreport.pdf
Below is my response to these recommendations.
Why the Pilgrims came to America
Why did the Pilgrims come to America? In grade school we learned that the Pilgrims came to America because of religious persecution. But that is only half the answer. The pilgrims left England because of persecution. However, they did not come straight to America. Instead they moved to Holland, where they received much freedom and tolerance. But soon they found this tolerance to be just as threatening. As Professor Stan Gaede explains, “The Puritans found Dutch tolerance just as threatening as the intolerance of England had been. For it too imperiled the truth – this time not by coercion, but by the poisoning effects of a polluted soil” (p. 79).
Why would the Pilgrims leave a place where they had so much freedom? The answer is simple, namely, they valued truth! Truth was not just a hunch or an opinion. Rather, truth was something worth living, dying, and suffering for. The Puritans suffered in England because they could not practice their faith. The Pilgrims suffered in Holland, because the atmosphere “polluted” their faith. And so the Pilgrims came to America.
We could learn a thing or two from the Pilgrims. Currently the ELCA is in a place where truth does not mean much. The values of a pluralistic society have infiltrated the Church causing the virtue of tolerance to reign supreme. You can even see its affects all throughout report and recommendations made by the ELCA taskforce. For instance, the report begins by saying that they do not want “winners or losers.” Now, I understand their sentiment, however, it is a little naïve. Whenever we discuss truth there will be a right answer and subsequently a wrong answer. And thus there will be “winners and losers.” Now, I understand the taskforce is trying to stop a war within the church, but that is why we need to settle the issue so that we can move on to ministering to those affected.
Second, the report did not reflect the work of the congregations who took time to study the issue. If you read the end of the report (p. 32), you will see that 57% of the people opposed the ordination of practicing homosexuals; 22% favored the ordination of practicing homosexuals; 17% were undecided; and 3% wanted a third option. Now, of these four positions the taskforce decided to go with the last. They recommend a local option and thus chose the position held by only 3%. This is troubling because it appears that the taskforce has no connection with the members of the ELCA.
Third, the recommendation of a “local option” is not practical. In our current structure a pastor holds the office of Bishop for a term of seven years (with a max of two terms). Now, under this current recommendation the Bishop decides whether or not to allow practicing homosexuals to pastor congregations within the synod. My question is what will happen if the next Bishop has a different stance. Will a synod remove ten of its pastors? Will a synod be willing to lose its’ churches? Or is the taskforce hoping that by then the local option will become the denominations option?
Finally, and maybe the worst of all, for a study that promised to be grounded in the Word of God, this recommendation is entirely too nebulous. In fact it appeared that the taskforce lifted one’s conscience over the Word of God (see page 11). Again this is problematic in a pluralistic church because our consciences will differ. That is why we need the Word of God to be authoritative and normative to our faith and life. Whenever we move away from the Word of God we move into trouble. The Pilgrims understood this and so they set sail to America for the hope of protecting themselves and their children. It is my hope that we would be willing to move and to fight and to speak out not only for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren.
I want to end on a bright note. Our Lord has said that the gates of Hell will not prevail over the Church. Why? Because the Lord is faithful to his bride! The Holy Spirit will lead his people into faith and truth. We as Christians must be assured that even these recommendations will be used by God to purify and strengthen and impassion and embolden and enliven His church. “For all things work for the good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes” (Romans 8:28). And so as your pastor I encourage you to continue to read God’s Word. I encourage you to attend the adult study on “The Bible and Homosexuality” occurring Sunday mornings. And I encourage you to pray for the Christian Church, the ELCA, and for Reformation Lutheran Church!
Because tolerance is not always a virtue,
Pastor Russell Lackey
A Response to the Recommendations from the ELCA’s Taskforce on Studies of Sexuality
On January 13, 2004 the ELCA’s task force released three recommendations for the study of sexuality. It is important to note that these recommendations are only recommendations and do not represent the current position by the ELCA. These recommendations instead will be considered at the ELCA gathering this summer. If you would like to view the report in its entirety you can find it on the web at: http://www.elcawebstatus.org/tfreport.pdf
Below is my response to these recommendations.
Why the Pilgrims came to America
Why did the Pilgrims come to America? In grade school we learned that the Pilgrims came to America because of religious persecution. But that is only half the answer. The pilgrims left England because of persecution. However, they did not come straight to America. Instead they moved to Holland, where they received much freedom and tolerance. But soon they found this tolerance to be just as threatening. As Professor Stan Gaede explains, “The Puritans found Dutch tolerance just as threatening as the intolerance of England had been. For it too imperiled the truth – this time not by coercion, but by the poisoning effects of a polluted soil” (p. 79).
Why would the Pilgrims leave a place where they had so much freedom? The answer is simple, namely, they valued truth! Truth was not just a hunch or an opinion. Rather, truth was something worth living, dying, and suffering for. The Puritans suffered in England because they could not practice their faith. The Pilgrims suffered in Holland, because the atmosphere “polluted” their faith. And so the Pilgrims came to America.
We could learn a thing or two from the Pilgrims. Currently the ELCA is in a place where truth does not mean much. The values of a pluralistic society have infiltrated the Church causing the virtue of tolerance to reign supreme. You can even see its affects all throughout report and recommendations made by the ELCA taskforce. For instance, the report begins by saying that they do not want “winners or losers.” Now, I understand their sentiment, however, it is a little naïve. Whenever we discuss truth there will be a right answer and subsequently a wrong answer. And thus there will be “winners and losers.” Now, I understand the taskforce is trying to stop a war within the church, but that is why we need to settle the issue so that we can move on to ministering to those affected.
Second, the report did not reflect the work of the congregations who took time to study the issue. If you read the end of the report (p. 32), you will see that 57% of the people opposed the ordination of practicing homosexuals; 22% favored the ordination of practicing homosexuals; 17% were undecided; and 3% wanted a third option. Now, of these four positions the taskforce decided to go with the last. They recommend a local option and thus chose the position held by only 3%. This is troubling because it appears that the taskforce has no connection with the members of the ELCA.
Third, the recommendation of a “local option” is not practical. In our current structure a pastor holds the office of Bishop for a term of seven years (with a max of two terms). Now, under this current recommendation the Bishop decides whether or not to allow practicing homosexuals to pastor congregations within the synod. My question is what will happen if the next Bishop has a different stance. Will a synod remove ten of its pastors? Will a synod be willing to lose its’ churches? Or is the taskforce hoping that by then the local option will become the denominations option?
Finally, and maybe the worst of all, for a study that promised to be grounded in the Word of God, this recommendation is entirely too nebulous. In fact it appeared that the taskforce lifted one’s conscience over the Word of God (see page 11). Again this is problematic in a pluralistic church because our consciences will differ. That is why we need the Word of God to be authoritative and normative to our faith and life. Whenever we move away from the Word of God we move into trouble. The Pilgrims understood this and so they set sail to America for the hope of protecting themselves and their children. It is my hope that we would be willing to move and to fight and to speak out not only for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren.
I want to end on a bright note. Our Lord has said that the gates of Hell will not prevail over the Church. Why? Because the Lord is faithful to his bride! The Holy Spirit will lead his people into faith and truth. We as Christians must be assured that even these recommendations will be used by God to purify and strengthen and impassion and embolden and enliven His church. “For all things work for the good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes” (Romans 8:28). And so as your pastor I encourage you to continue to read God’s Word. I encourage you to attend the adult study on “The Bible and Homosexuality” occurring Sunday mornings. And I encourage you to pray for the Christian Church, the ELCA, and for Reformation Lutheran Church!
Because tolerance is not always a virtue,
Pastor Russell Lackey
Posted: Thu - February 3, 2005 at 03:31 PM | | | | | | |
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