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ELCA Pastor/A Former Leader In Lutheran CORE Shares Her Support of Abortion and Gay Marriage

6/4/2018

2 Comments

 
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​A few weeks ago, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s NPR news station posted an article entitled, “The Politics And Ethics Of Pennsylvania's Proposed Down Syndrome Abortion Ban.”
 
The article’s reporters spoke to several people about the abortion ban. One of those interviewed was Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastor Natalie (Gessert) Hall:
 
“Hall said she doesn’t know if she would be capable of raising a child with Down syndrome, which she said is why she might have considered terminating such a pregnancy.
 
‘I’m not convinced that I would have the care and support I would need to embark on caring for a child with Down syndrome,’ she said. ‘Or a child with any other significant developmental or physical difficulties.’
 
...Hall said she’s counseled women who have struggled over whether to have abortions. Ultimately, she said it’s a personal choice that’s made more difficult by a society that’s not very accepting or supportive of people with disabilities.” (see here)
 
And thus we have another public statement by an ELCA clergy person who is supportive of a woman aborting the baby who is growing and developing in her womb. This is a common position for ELCA leadership and is reason alone for pro-life people to leave the denomination. 

But there is more to this blog than Pastor Hall's public statement about abortion. See, I am familiar with her. She “follows” me on Facebook.  Rev. Natalie Hall, formally Natalie Gessert, was a part of Lutheran CORE for a time (I am assuming that is no longer the case). In fact, she held a leadership position with Lutheran CORE.  Lutheran CORE is a "Network for confessing Lutherans...(and an) advocate for Biblical authority and confessional fidelity among churches of the Lutheran community..." (see here)

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 A Lutheran CORE publication said:

“Pr. Chavez recognized and
thanked the Lutheran CORE staff, all
but two of whom are part-time…Facebook Moderator Natalie Gessert." (Page 2 of
http://www.lutherancore.org/archive/pdf/Connection-Aug-Sep-11.pdf)

She was also involved in this project: 
 
“The 2010 Sola/ReClaim Edition* is a faithful word-for-word translation from Luther’s German Catechism.” “By the cooperative effort of Sola Publishing and ReClaim Resources this edition of the Small Catechism was produced in 2010 translators/authors representing Lutheran Core, WordAlone, LCMC, and NALC. The primary translator of the 2010 edition is Rev. Scott Grorud, with Rev. Thomas Jacobson, Rev. Natalie Gessert, and Dr. Gracia Grindal as translational consultants.” (see here) 

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So what happened to Pastor Natalie (Gessert) Hall? Why is this former leader in Lutheran CORE speaking out for abortion rights. Why is she posting on Facebook her support for homosexual marriage and rights? (see screenshots from her page posted on this blog). I do not know the answer, but I do know it is dangerous to place yourself in toxic cultures and environments. That is what you are doing by staying in the ELCA. It is dangerous and can bring about the compromising of your faith and Scripture. Sometimes when you are around someone long enough you succumb to their beliefs.  

This is one reason I encourage people to leave the ELCA, pastors and members alike. 

Below are additional interesting Facebook posts by Rev. Hall. 

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2 Comments
Didaskalos link
6/4/2018 06:54:31 am

The Babylon Bee, which bills itself as "Your Trusted Source For Christian Satire," often runs satirical articles that are more factual than satirical. One such article is "Progressive Evangelical Leaders Meet To Affirm Doctrine Of ‘Sola Feels’" [http://babylonbee.com/news/progressive-evangelical-leaders-meet-affirm-doctrine-sola-feels/ ]

The ELCA pastor in this post is doing what so many other ELCA pastors, leaders, and parishioners are doing: setting aside God's Word for their subjective feelings. As Jesus declared it in Mark 7: "You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men."

The Babylon Bee satirically describes what the ELCA's hermeneutic actually is:

“The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in our feels, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from our feels: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by the Scriptures, church history, or theologians.

“Quite simply, ‘Sola Feels’ means that all spiritual truths only become true once they’re filtered through and accepted by our feels—all the feels...Thus, things that make us feel bad, those are wrong. The things that give us all the happy feels, those are true, right, and good.”

“Feels are the only true and perfect standard, revealing truth from lies, and love from intolerance. And we feel sooo good about Sola Feels, so you know it’s great.”

Besides setting aside the Biblical proscription of murder, this ELCA pastor is ignoring another truth about Down syndrome individuals, their parents, and their siblings:

", , , as CBS goes on to admit, “Many people born with Down syndrome can live full, healthy lives, with an average lifespan of around 60 years.”

"That’s not the half of it, actually. Research published in 2011 in the American Journal of Medical Genetics found that 99 percent of individuals with Down syndrome report being happy, 94 percent of their siblings express pride in their brother or sister with Down syndrome, and just 4 percent of parents regretted their decision to keep their child.

"This is important for one simple reason: The entire argument for aborting children diagnosed in utero with Down syndrome is based on quality of life. It’s not a medical concern.

"Such children, goes the argument, are an unwelcome burden on their parents or on society, and in the end, will live unhappy lives. So, “it will be better for them,” we are told.

"But if you or a friend has someone with Down syndrome in the family, you know nothing could be further from the truth! Those with “Downs” are often the most joyful and loving people you meet."

'99% of People With Down Syndrome Happy With Their Lives, But Most are Aborted' -- http://www.lifenews.com/2017/08/23/99-of-people-with-down-syndrome-happy-with-their-lives-but-most-are-aborted/

Reply
A Pastor's Wife
6/4/2018 11:21:04 am

She posted (referenced above) --
"Jesus Christ calls all people to serve as a witness to the great value God places on all humanity in both words and actions - even if it is at personal peril."

So it doesn't really matter if she doesn't think she has the gifts necessary to raise an imperfect child. Jesus calls those whom he calls ...it's not about you. AND, there are many couples out there who would happily take and teach and love such a child if it would just be allowed to life long enough.
I am sad to read this from someone who is currently expecting her second (perfect) child.

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    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  
    ​1 Thessalonians 5:21

    Dan Skogen

    Former ELCA seminary student and former ELCA member who is fed up with the ELCA's consistent mockery of God's Word.


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  • Home
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