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Naked and Unashamed: ELCA Leaders Call for an End to ‘Oppressive Relational and Sexual Standards’

4/20/2017

6 Comments

 
Sexual intimacy being reserved for marriage is so old school, at least according to the LSTC Gender and Sexuality Coalition, a group of ELCA leaders. They have written a statement on relationality/sexuality in the ELCA:
 
“We are ELCA Lutherans…The plethora of stories we hear in our conversations demonstrate that life and liberty are being oppressed in the pressure for church leaders to be in marital relationships, or otherwise abstain from all sexual intimacy. The common good of both parishioners and church leaders would benefit from the freedom to be in a variety of healthy relationships…” (see here)
 
Additionally, “We call for a moral deliberation and discernment process as described in CS initiated in the ELCA where V&E, DGD, and HS are evaluated based on an expanded theology and ethic of Christian relationality. Specific changes we would like to see include:
- No longer privileging marriage as the only acceptable form of sexual relationality
- Updating ELCA policies to reflect marriage equality in the United States
- Editing out language that perpetuates heteronormativity and sexual oppression” (see here)
 
A number of high profile ELCA leaders have signed this statement, people such as Nadia Bolz-Weber, transgender Rev. Asher O’Callaghan, Rev. Jeff R. Johnson, Pastor Jason Chesnut, Francisco Herrera, Rev. Kwame Pitts and Pastor Emily Scott. (see complete list below)
 
This group of ELCA leaders also has a website (Naked and Unashamed), with supporters of the group writing and sharing their story. (content warning)
 
One Ph.D student shared her story and titled it, “How My Clitoris Keeps My Faith Alive.” It is just as bad as you can image. Here is one quote from the story, “My praise comes from between my legs, and right now that is enough.” (see here)
 
A male ELCA youth leader writes, “Church for me happens at night—in a kiss, on the dance floor, in the company of drag queens, my chipped nail polish, smudged eyeliner and all.” (see here)
​
Instead of filling this blog with all the raunchy and personal sex stories which permeate the Naked and Unashamed website (which is frightening to think that the ELCA leaders think this is a godly endeavor), next are some quotes of those wanting change in the way pre-marital sex is viewed. One person details a personal viewpoint:
 
“It’s time that the church look itself in the mirror and acknowledge: a very large percentage of our denomination’s members, clergy, and candidates have sexual relationships before marriage. And many of these relationships are healthy, holy, and whole. This is nothing new. It has been the case for many years now. But we’ve all been too ashamed of our own sexuality to admit it.
 
No longer.
 
I am a human made in God’s image. Created with the glorious capacity to give and receive pleasure. A capacity to love and be loved. A capacity to discern together with my partner what sort of legal commitments are right for us. My current sexual relationship is holy and whole right now without marriage. I will not be ashamed.” (see here)
 
And,
 
“The plethora of stories we hear in our conversations demonstrate that life and liberty are being oppressed in the pressure for church leaders to be in marital relationships, or otherwise abstain from all sexual intimacy.” (see here)

And,
 
“This experience is the opposite of grace, of being freed by baptism to serve the neighbor, of the Lutheran assertion of an embodied incarnational God. The ELCA needs to repent of this oppression and change the way we teach people about sex and marriage.” (see here)
 
The far left ELCA group Decolonize Lutheranism showed their support tweeting:

Join our partners, #nakedlutherans, & push against sexual purity codes that oppress people within the #ELCA. https://t.co/T5huGnUopR

— LuthDecolonized (@LuthDecolonized) January 26, 2017
​
Here are the ELCA leaders who signed the Naked and Unashamed summary statement:
 
"Iren Raye, PhD Student, Naked & Unashamed co-founder
Malina Keaton, Seminarian, Naked & Unashamed co-founder
Elle Dowd, Seminarian
Rev. Asher O’Callaghan, Pastor
Christian Scharen, ELCA Pastor, Vice President of Applied Research, The Center for the Study of Theological Education
Nadia Bolz-Weber, Rev.
Amalia Vagts, Lay Leader
Jason Chesnut, Pastor/ Mission Developer
Francisco Herrera, Convener #decolonizeLutheranism
Rev. Kwame Pitts, Pastor
Shane R Brinegar, M.Div., STM, Advanced Studies Student, LSTC
Anonymous, Seminarian
Andrew Baumgartner, Seminarian
Andrew Tobias Nelson, Pastor
Rachel Slough-Johnson, Lay Member
Courtenay Reedman Parker, Associate Pastor
Zsófi Schmiedge, Pastor – ELCIC
Aneeta, Intern pastor
Laura Gomez, Congregation Member
Hannah Podshadley, Director of Youth Ministry
Anonymous, Seminarian
Anonymous, Pastor
Jaeymes Childers, Diaconal Ministry Candidate
Amy Asendorf, MDiv Candidate
Beth Ann, Off the Roster Pastor
The Rev. Fr. Ángel Marrero Ayala, Priest
Erin Coleman Branchaud, Seminarian
Emily Scott, Pastor
Anonymous, Pastor
Joshua Warfield-May, Youth Minister
Jessica Obrecht, Seminarian
Analyse Triolo, Vicar
Charles H. Featherstone, Pastor & Counselor, Psalm 10 Ministries
Sherianne Molzahn Caldwell, Congregation Member
Kim Triplett, Pastor
Lenny Duncan, Seminarian
Maria Anderson-Lippert, Pastor
Anonymous, Vicar
Anonymous, Seminarian
Lianna Branham, Former Member
Michelle, Former Member
Kiah Shaw, Congregation Member
Anonymous, Pastor
Carol van Deelen, Congregation Member
Deborah Ahl, Lay Leader
Mark Hernes, Congregation Member
Mary See Kennedy, Member
Alice Connor, Campus Minister
Anonymous, Youth Ministry Leader
Joan Braun, Congregation Member
Rachael, Congregation Member
Rene Paquin, Administration
Libby Denton, Congregation Member/ Future Seminarian
Elyssa Salinas, PhD Student
Allison Westerhoff, Congregation Member
Tyler Freckmann, Lay Person
Amanda Hancer, Congregation Member
Shelby Harrah-Ferguson, Member
Catherine Slabaugh, Student-California Lutheran University
Anonymous, Youth Minister
The Rev. Rachel K. Anderson, Pastor
Patricia Kuehner, Congregation Member
Kali Hill, Congregation Member
Dennis Bux, Retired Pastor
Scott Maxwell-Doherty, University Pastor
Tori Dahl, Congregation Member
Christina Montgomery, Seminarian
Jeff R. Johnson, Rev.
Christina Espegren, Lay Person
Rebecca Deming Rumpf, Congregation Member and Choir Member
Anonymous, Seminarian
Sierra Ronning, Lay Person
Eric Renn, Congregation Member
Steven Rizzo, Director of Ministry
Kristen Lee, Seminarian
Casey Kloehn, Rev.
Sarah Kretschmann, Seminarian
Emily Miller, Lay Leader
Leandra Rizzo, Congregation Member, Former ELCA Missionary
Melissa Melnick, Rev.
Rev. Matthew Stainz, Pastor
Craig Johnson, Synod Vice President
Day Hefner, Seminarian
Ryan Muralt, ELCA Member
Zac Baker, Churchwide Assembly Nominating Committee
Nathan Graham, Congregation Member
Rachel Johnson, Congregation Member
Alexandra E.H. Smith, Seminarian
Jess Meibeyer, Congregation Member
Edwina Rockman Baethge, Mdiv. Pulpit Supply Preacher
Jenna Pulkowski, Rev.
Kayla, Congregation Member
Sarah Coen-Tuff, Seminarian
Kevin Beebe, Seminarian- PLTS
Anonymous, Seminarian
Joelle Dahl, Customer Professional
Anonymous, Seminarian
Jo Hobbs, Church Council Secretary
Carolyn Carpenter, Congregation Member
Peder Hinderlie, Pastor
Paul Carlson, Pastor
Elizabeth Clark, Seminarian
Sarah Derrick, Seminarian
Pamela Shea, Congregation Member
Mathew Berger, Seminarian
Moose Flores, M. Div, Youth Director
Mary Dungy-Akenji, Congregation Member
Ray Gentry, Worship Director
Cole McGlynn, Incoming Seminarian
Julie M. Merrill, Lutheran
Sharon Janot, Pastor
Kate Wulff, Lay Leader
Nikoli Falenschek, Rev.
Anonymous, Candidate, CSS and Seminarian
Catherine Tietjen, Congregation Member
Anonymous, Pastor (on leave from call)
Ben Hogue, Seminarian- PLTS
JD Mechelke, HS Youth Minister
Tuhina Rasche, Rev.
Andrés Albertsen, PhD Candidate
Christine Therriault-Merkel, Pastor
John M. Brett, Seminarian
Reed Fowler, Congregation Member/ Future Seminarian
Christephor Gilbert, Seminarian and ELCA Candidate
Anonymous, Seminarian
Gary Schaeffer, Executive Director, Deacon
Jessica Davis, Christian Educator
Margaret Grimes, Congregation Member
Keith Walbolt, Pastor
Debbie Ahl, Lay Leader
Anonymous, Seminarian
Jane Garvey, Congregation Member
Anonymous, Seminarian
Amy Kumm-Hanson, Rev.
Chelsey Olson, Seminarian
Barbara Denton, Congregation Member, Church Council Steward
Anna Hurley, Congregation Member
Charlotte Trent, Congregation Member, Future Seminarian
Samantha Markman, Congregation Member
Maria Markman, Seminarian
Christine Hitt, Director of Worship and Music
Devin, Praise Band Director
Lou Ann Wischnewski, Congregation Member
Shelby Denton, Congregation Member
Anonymous, Vicar
Anonymous, Seminarian
Bethany Ringdal, Candidate for Ordained Ministry, Seminarian
Lainey Wolff, Cradle Lutheran
Anders Nelson, Seminarian
Anonymous, Member
Karl Anliker, Seminarian
Makayla Marinack, Seminarian
Fanya Berry, Seminarian
Michelle Steiner, Seminary Graduate, MAPL"
(see here)


ELCA pastor Alex Raabe shared a similar pro-premarital sex sentiment to the Naked and Unashamed crowd tweeting:
Picture

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​
6 Comments
Didaskalos link
4/21/2017 07:09:36 am

One phrase at the outset of the ELCAnites' we're-still-busy-enthroning-ourselves-as-god manifesto explains everything we need to know (so we don't have to read the rest of the sententious, sin-excusing tripe and the list of pretend pastors who've proudly approved it):

"We are ELCA Lutherans . . ."

ELCAspeak translation: "We are Ersatz 'Lutherans'."

What's the next God-dishonoring debauchery ELCA clerics are planning to peddle to their denomination? More importantly, are you, ELCA member, going to stick around as the descent into total turpitude speeds apace?

It bears repeating to the dwindling contingent of confessional Christians who haven't yet left the ELCA:

"Is “avoiding conflict” the most important thing? Not when the great inheritance you were going to pass on is being frittered away.

"Your grandchildren need you to prepare a future for them. Don’t sit among the comfortably numb. Salvation is at stake.

"Jump, Lutheran, jump!"

http://crossalone.us/2006/Hedgehog/HedgehogFall2009.pdf





Reply
John
4/21/2017 09:12:30 am

Less than 8 years after declaring heresy, the ELCA has now inclusivized these 155 ministers of grudge & groin. And because of the ELCA's infamous quota policies, say hello to your new controlling interest, ELCAnites. Or say goodbye to the ELCA, like we did. You have nothing to lose but the lies.

Reply
Didaskalos link
4/24/2017 08:42:09 am

The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15: "abstain from . . . fornication."

Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6: "Flee fornication.'

Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5: “..fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints."

Today's ELCA warmed-over Gnostics: "Bible? C'mon, people, who reads or heeds that dusty old book anymore? We're evolved. We're opening Fornicators 'R' Us chapters in every ELCA church we can worm our way into."

Give Martin Luther the last word: "It is the nature of all hypocrites and false prophets to create a conscience where there is none, and to cause conscience to disappear where it does exist."

Reply
Robert Kitchen
4/26/2017 10:06:47 am

Thanks for the biblical references and the words of Luther. In this year of the Reformation's 500 celebration, it needs to be heard. Those of us who left the ELCA in 2010 (or were then thrown out by our bishops) are not surprised at the ELCA's slippery slope. RDK

Dave from Minnesota
4/21/2017 12:47:52 pm

Why did some sign Anonymous? Isn't the whole point of signing a petition is to show your support for that cause?

I see there are 7 youth leaders signing a petition calling for free sex. If your church's youth leader is calling for this, you may want to check your insurance and make sure you have good coverage for sexual abuse lawsuits.

Reply
Dave from Minnesota
4/21/2017 12:53:32 pm

I randomly checked one of the above and he is the high school youth minister at the Edina Community Lutheran Church in Minnesota. At first I was thinking that this could cause some concern for some of the church members, but then I saw their web site has a fairly large section promoting homosexual causes. I'm guessing traditional morality isn't an issue for them.

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    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  
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