Gay + Youth + Camp = ELCA

To date we know of three gay youth camps that have direct ELCA involvement.  Lutherhill is one of them, which we have already discussed.  (read here)

The second one is The Naming Project camp held at Bay Lake Camp in Deerwood, MN.  Bay Lake Camp is owned and operated by First Lutheran Church which is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA.  

This camp is being promoted by the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA.  (see here)

The third camp is called Wonderfully Made and it is held at Bear Creek Camp, Wilkes Barre, PA.  Bear Creek Camp and Conference Center is a ministry of the Northeastern and Southeastern Pennsylvania Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church In America.

Lutherans Concerned/North America has this to say about the camps, ". . .there are now three organizations that offer camps and retreats for youth who want to explore the connections between faith, sexual orientation, and gender identity. These camps are designed not only for LGBT youth, but youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities. And…amazingly enough, they are all sponsored by Lutherans! The three camps have the stamp of approval of the Youth, Young Adult, and Family Committee of Lutherans Concerned/North America."  (read here)

Lutherans Concerned/North America describes itself this way, "working at the intersection of oppressions, Lutherans Concerned/North America (LC/NA) embodies, inspires, advocates and organizes for the acceptance and full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities within the Lutheran communion and its ecumenical and global partners."  (read here)

If Lutherans Concerned is giving the camps their "stamp of approval," I highly doubt the youth attending these camps are being told that homosexuality is a sin and God has a better way for them that does not involve homosexuality.

God's Word says this about homosexuality -

Romans 1:26-27 -  Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

Teaching and encouraging kids to be involved in sin instead of turning away from it, can cause years of harm, separation from God, and bondage to evil.

God's Word says this about youth and sin -

Mark 9:42 - "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck."

The ELCA is doing this and I don't want to be part of it.  What say you?