The Evangelical Lutheran Church continues to be anti-LGBT by adopting a statement which offers LGBTs "separate and unequal" at best. On the one hand, there is marriage for opposite-sex couples and, on the other hand, there are "lifelong monogamous same-gender relationships" for same-sex couples. The extra syllables are there as compensation for the second-class status.

ELCA is not a best buy for LGBTs.

Papering over differences of theology is more important than justice and equality. How typical of mainline churches!

Inclusive Lutheran congregations and synods will again be on their own in trying to prove to LGBTs that they really do care.

Gary Paul Gilbert

Gary, you turn up your nose at every instance of progress. If you think that's a winning strategy you are mistaken.

Ha, I was just thinking that until recently TEC wasn't such a "good buy" either from a certain perspective. I guess it's better than what existed twenty years ago and that's progress. I can live with that and am glad the Lutherans took these steps.

I am exceedingly pleased at the passage of this statement. While TEC cobbled together its "where we are now" statement in a sort-of last minute, midnight caucus action, the ELCA has taken a great deal of time to carefully consider the entire spectrum of human sexuality from the Christian perspectives of their church at the present time. In addition, it required a 2/3 majority to pass suggesting a major shift in attitudes in the church in a fairly short period of time.
Most of us will, of course, focus on the same-gender portions, and really (esp. Gary), what they have said on this is about the same as TEC: Essentially, a majority of us are ready to move forward on same-gender issues, but there is a minority that, although we do not agree with, we respect and more importantly love and wish to continue in relationship with. Not so many years ago, the same-gender advocates were the "minority voice" and all too unhappy about not receiving "equal air time." I hope that we are better than that now. It will help immensely for TEC to have another "mainline" church on the chopping block with us, particularly one more "like us" as the ELCA is compared to others such as the UCC. In honest truth, I believe that the day-to-day "reality" of how we interact with the church is always "congregational," TEC no exception either. In a system where individual churches call their own clergy, congregations are always going to choose someone who fits their ideas and colors. That reality will not be changed by a thousand general pronouncements.

BTW, watching the videos streaming from their churchwide assembly, one quickly discovers what a lovely man their PB +Hanson is. I would very much love to steal him for TEC. : )

I for one am pleased. When I first read these as they were circulating at the seminary, I noted as a non-Lutheran that the theological approach at the start was very Lutheran and that the application failed the theology. And that this is okay. It's opening up the possibility of deepening by providing theological ground--a very Lutheran way to proceed. As my partner is a Lutheran pastor, I will say that our Called to Common Mission household thinks this is a good step.

It is still too little, too late. Some think that we should applaud every little crumb thrown at LGBTs. Would straights accept a separate and unequal arrangement? Mainline churches seem to have passed their expiration date. A denomination which is too busy fighting over its own spiritual nonsense is less likely to stand for full civil rights for all persons in this country and the world.

How lovely that the Lutherans are saying that same-gender couples can have a nice little corner to themselves, where they can either be tolerated or vilified by Lutherans of conscience!

I suppose it took the Lutherans a while to begin to deal with Luther's antisemitism and it may take a few more decades for them to get to a notion of the equality of all persons.

In one respect, however, they are better than the Episcopalians because they are talking about accepted partnered LGBT ministers whereas the Episcopal Church allows each diocesan bishop to flout nondiscrimination canons.

Gary Paul Gilbert

I, who not Lutheran, and yet has been on the receiving end of some of the worst the ELCA dishes out to lgbt persons due to being partnered to ELCA an clergyman, can say there is some grace and hope here.

It is not too late. It is never too late to turn around. It opens spaciousness for change on the concrete level. Is it everything all at once. No. But history rarely changes that way; neither does the Church.

Jim, Gary's not crazy, or overly critical -- Fr. Jake makes the same points today, quoting Candace Chellew-Hodge of Whosoever website:

>...The human sexuality document, meanwhile, is a tepid testament to much ballyhooed, but ultimately ineffectual church councils. It affirms marriage as being between a man and a woman and simply outlines all the different beliefs around homosexuality (that some say it's wrong and some say it's right) and urges Lutherans to stop throwing chairs at each other over the issue. So, it's simply an acknowledgement that people disagree on this issue and we should all get along, with the help of God. Yawn. So much for bold statements from the ELCA.

Yes, Jim -- the ELCA and TEC recently have shown progress. Progress after two centuries of biblical criticism and advances in biological knowledge, and we're still fighting over medieval structures and doctrines. Crumbs are nice, from one's own table, but there are full service restaurants nearby . . .
[http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2009/08/elcas-sexuality-statement-tepid.html]

Murdoch Matthew
lawfully wedded spouse of Gary