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Top ELCA Leader Confirms Homosexual Marriages Allowed in Denomination

9/21/2012

5 Comments

 
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America officially allows homosexual marriages, so says the “number two man” in the denomination, David Swartling.  At the 2012 Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly it has been reported that, “(I)n response to a query from the floor of the assembly, Secretary of the ELCA David Swartling, at the assembly as the representative of the national church, said that the marriage of same-gender couples in states where that was legal was neither endorsed nor precluded by ELCA policy. Marriage in those circumstances was at the discretion of pastors and congregations.” (read here)

One of the duties of the Secretary of the ELCA is to “prepare interpretations, as necessary, of the Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”  (read here)  So the Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, David Swartling, is the highest authority in the ELCA when it come to interpreting ELCA policy.  He says the ELCA allows the performing of homosexual marriages. 


An Executive Director of a gay rights advocacy organization responded to Secretary Swartling's statement this way, “The clarification by Secretary of the ELCA Swartling is a benchmark of the position that ELCA policy takes nationally on the subject of pastors and congregations marrying same-gender couples where that is legal." (see here)  What the Executive Director says is true.  There should be no doubt that this is the ELCA's official stance.  Do not allow anyone to tell you otherwise.

The media even confirms this.  The Santa Fe New Mexican news site reported, in an article this summer, “Today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America allows ordination of clergy in same-sex relationships. Blessings of same-sex marriages — and marriages in states where they are legally permitted — are performed.” (read here)

This is important information because people continue to be given conflicting messages about the ELCA's position on gay marriage.  One reader shared with me his concern about leaders trying to lessen or diminish the impact of the ELCA’s 2009 actions, stating, “ . . . ELCA bishops continue to tell congregations that the ELCA has not approved gay marriage taking place in its congregations.”

Do not be fooled.  ELCA policy allows gay marriages in states where it is legal.

5 Comments
Kathy Suarez
9/21/2012 12:00:45 pm

I think there is very little left to say. The die is cast. The ELCA has joined in ending the concept of the family as it has been known in Jewish and Christian tradition for -- how many years? 4000? I don't know. Abraham and Sarah lived around 2000 B.C., I think. There are many churches named "Holy Family." What does that mean now for the ELCA? This is a moment in history....

Reply
rhema link
9/21/2012 11:31:16 pm

Another predictable problem for a Bible-spurning denomination: it's hard to keep the congregant-mollifying propaganda consistent.

Speaking of moribund, member-hemorrhaging churches, now that we're 9 months into 2012, when do we suppose the ELCA will release its membership losses [ http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Resources/Stats.aspx ] for 2011? Was the position of member tallier eliminated in the latest round of budget cuts? Maybe the ELCA has given up tracking the massive emigration of members who want to be fed bread instead of stones.

Reply
Jeffrey Silleck
9/22/2012 02:52:17 am

If this were such a righteous decision, wouldn't the ELCA be more proud and forthright in making it? This is similar to the way in which this organization slowly and by stealth allowed a pro-choice position to overwhelm the pro-life stance of Christian tradition. Sometimes the method is revealing of the content: what is done in darkness.....

Reply
gayle
2/2/2013 03:58:02 am

NO PROBLEM -GOD WILL GIVE US OVER TO OUR DEBASED MINDS AND THOSE 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same BUT ALSO APPROVE OF THOSE WHO PRACTICE THEM. Romans 1:28-32

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,[d] unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Reply
Kathy Suarez link
2/2/2013 04:29:44 am

Am I the only one noticing this? The passage is from Romans -- Chapter One, yet. This is Luther's Book. His "Light in the Tower" moment.

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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
  • ELCA Exposed News
    • on The Bible
    • on Homosexuality & Sex
    • on Universalism & Hell
    • on Goddess/Mother God/Gender Neutral Lang.
    • on Israel
    • on Abortion
    • on Social Media (ELCA Wolves Blog)
    • on Radical Hospitality and Prophecy
    • on Transgenders and Drag Queens
    • on Social Justice & DEIA
    • on Gospel Reductionism / Antinomianism
    • on Called to Common Mission & "Christian Nationalism"
    • on Other Critical Issues
  • Responses to ELCA
    • The Bible vs. ELCA
    • Churches Respond
    • Pastors Respond
    • Exposed Quotes
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  • Exposed Blog
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  • Support
  • More
    • About & Contact
    • Help and Advice on Leaving ELCA
    • Important Information
    • Church Produced Info
    • ELCA Vault
    • Readers' Comments
    • ELCA Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber
    • ELCA Colleges
    • ELCA Seminaries
    • Want to Know Jesus?
    • Exposing the ELCA Newsletters & Important Websites
    • Submit Tips