ELCA Pastors Support Same-Sex Marriage

A letter from 150 Iowa pastors was delivered to Iowa lawmakers today stating their support for same-sex marriage.

Because this is an ELCA focused website I am going to list the ELCA pastors that signed this letter.  But you should look at the news article.  There are many denominations represented here.  This is a another sign of the Christian, church-wide problem with liberal thinking and denial of Biblical Authority.

The last paragraph of the letter says, "As clergy, we stand together in support of civil marriage equality for ALL families.  We ask for your support of civil marriage equality and ask that you oppose any resolution or attempt to diminish the marriage rights of Iowa’s families."

This is outrageous! There is a big push by Iowans saying they should be allowed to vote on whether same-sex marriage should be allowed in the state.  What these pastors are asking is that Iowa lawmakers deny the citizens of Iowa that right. (last year the Iowa Supreme Court decided same-sex marriage was legal in Iowa) 

Here are the ELCA signers of the letter -

Rev. Charles Ager; ELCA (retired); Strawberry Point

Rev. Paul S. Bengtson; ELCA (retired); Storm Lake

Rev. Ramona S. Bouzard; St. Paul Lutheran Church; Waverly (ELCA)

Rev. Dr. Walter C. Bouzard; Waverly (ELCA)

The Rev. Dr. Sean D. Burke; Luther College; Decorah (ELCA)

Rev. Dennis Dickman; ELCA (retired); Waverly

The Rev. Travis M. Fisher; St. Mark Lutheran Church; Davenport (ELCA)

The Rev. Andrew G. Gangle; Peace Lutheran Church; Adel (ELCA)

Rev. Randall E. Gehring; Bethesda Lutheran Church, ELCA; Ames

Pastor John Hagberg; St. Mark Lutheran Church; Sioux City (ELCA)

Rev. George Hanusa; ELCA (retired); Windsor Heights

Rev. Gerald Iverson; Associate in Ministry; ELCA (retired); Sioux City

Pastor Steven M. Jacobsen; First Lutheran Church; Decorah (ELCA)

The Rev. Scott A. Johnson; Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State University (ELCA); Ames

Rev. R. Paul Johnston; Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA); Sioux City

The Rev. Dr. Kathryn A. Kleinhans; Wartburg College; Waverly (ELCA)

Pastor Jim Klosterboer; Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church; Elkader (ELCA)

Rev. Mark W. Kukkonen; Intentional Interim Pastor; St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church; Cedar Rapids (ELCA)

Pastor Vernon H. Naffier; Faculty, GrandView University; ELCA; Ankeny

Rev. Peter T. Nash, PhD; Professor of Religion & Liberal Studies; Wartburg College; Waverly (ELCA)

Rev. Delwyn L. Olivier; Augustana Lutheran Church; Sioux City (ELCA)

Rev. Michael J. Schmidt; Christ Lutheran/St. Peter; LeMars (ELCA)

Pastor Victoria Shepherd; Denver (ELCA)

Rev. Diana Jacobs Sickles; ELCA (retired); Des Moines

Pastor Sarah Stadler-Ammon; Denver (ELCA)

The Rev. Rachel Thorson Mithelman; St. John’s Lutheran Church; Des Moines (ELCA)

Rev. Beverly J. Wolff; St. John Lutheran Church; Cushing (ELCA)

Rev. Dr. David Cline, Evangelical Church in America: Polk City (ELCA)