NOW AVAILABLE: ELCA's Gay Marriage Resource

​The ELCA finally did it. Applauded by many ELCA leaders, an action that cements their defiance of the Great “I Am,” the God of the Universe, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has written official marriage tools for gay weddings in the ELCA. The resource even claims that "God joins this celebration." More on that later. 
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The ELCA posted the resources a few days ago calling it “Supplemental Resources for use within the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Service of Marriage.” (see here)

The ELCA News Service made the announcement saying, "The liturgical resources were developed based on action by the ELCA Church Council to implement recommendations from the 'Ministry to and with Same-gender Couples and Their Families' working group." ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton comments, "This is work that the church asked us to do. These are faithful and sensitive supplemental resources which can be used by all couples." (see here)
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Rev. Kevin L. Strickland, the ELCA director for worship formation and liturgical resources, is quoted in the same ELCA news announcement saying,
 
“These supplemental resources have been created to offer more inclusivity in language, pastoral care, and openness for all persons who seek to be married within this church,”
 
And,
 
“It has been said that marriage is a gift of God, intended for the joy and strength of those who enter it and for the well-being of the whole human family…It is my hope that these supplemental resources help point us as a church, in offering this gift for the whole human family.”
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Notice how the ELCA goes to great pains to minimize the fact that this is for same-sex marriages: "For all persons" and "can be used by all couples." Even in the content of the materials you can not find words like homosexual, same-sex and gay, but it was written in response to "the church" wanting a resource for gay weddings.

Here are some specific quotes from the resource that signify its real purpose:

• “If the couple made previous commitments before legal marriage 
  For name and name, that the love of Christ continue to deepen the commitment binding their lives together.” Page 10

 

• “If conflict among families or friends has accompanied the occasion
  For those who could not attend this wedding, that the love of Christ move us into ever-deeper expressions of community and forgiveness.
  
  For those who are married, those who long for marriage, those who struggle in marriage, and those who could not marry in the church, that the love of Christ give them peace, healing, hope, and compassion.” Page 11 

 

• “Spouse or life partner are other terms that may be used to signify both persons. Context, gender identity/expression, or common practice are among the factors that may suggest approaches to the language to be used.” Page 17

• “I, name, take you, name,
  to be my wife/husband/spouse/life partner,” Page 8

What is even more distressing is how the ELCA "speaks" for God in this same gender wedding resource. It says God celebrates gay marriages, how their marriage is a gift that points to Him and how they are married in God's sight. See below:

“God intends the gift of their marriage 
to be a source of comfort and joy for them,
and a blessing to all whom they encounter.
Their promises bear witness to God’s faithfulness.
Their love and care for one another, 
though human, finite, and flawed,
reflect God’s enduring mercy and steadfast love.
They love because God first loved them.” Page 2. 
 
“Your marriage brings you joy and serves the community by witnessing to Christ,
as you daily die to self-centeredness and rise to self-giving love.
God joins this celebration, pouring out the Holy Spirit
to bless your marriage with forgiveness, courage, and compassion.
The community joins God in rejoicing with you
and in promising to surround your marriage with joy and loving support.” Page 3
 
“The uniting of these two persons in heart, body, and mind
is intended by God for their mutual joy,
for the help and comfort they give one another in prosperity and adversity,
and that their love may be a blessing to all whom they encounter.” Page 3

“Acclamation A
The presiding minister addresses the assembly.
Name and name, by their promises before this assembly,
have joined themselves to one another and are married in the sight of God.
Those whom God has joined together let no one separate.” Page 8
 
And to no one's surprise, the ELCA can not help themselves but call God "mother."

​“Blessed are you, O God, mother of life.” Page 8 (see here)

The Bible makes it clear that God does not celebrate homosexual activities; He calls it sin. By saying that God approves of same-sex marriages, the ELCA has shown themselves to be a false teaching cult.  Warn as many people as you can and get out quickly. 
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