BruceChris
04-15-2009, 07:29 PM
And I'm going to be there, as an *agitator*. :whistleblower: I got them to send me a prospectus for their convention.
They're REALLY dancing around the issue(s) of gay people, and relationships. That is probably a good sign. While they're praising God's gift of human sexuality, with occasional warnings about sin, they're refusing to support or oppose either side. Plenty of wiggle room.
From their Executive Summary of their statement on human sexuality, they say, in part,
http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Proposed-Social-Statement/Executive-Summary.aspx
"It is only within the last decades that this church has begun to understand in new ways the need of same-gender oriented individuals to seek relationships of lifelong companionship and commitment as well as public accountability and legal support for those commitments. This has led to differing understandings about the place of such relationships within the Christian community. Disagreements exist in this church and in the larger Christian community about whether marriage is also the appropriate term to use to describe similar benefits, protection, and support for same-gender couples entering into lifelong, monogamous relationships."
I choose to believe that we are making progress here. . :applause: . :agree:
You may notice that they said *orientation*, and not *choice*.
Peace and Love, Bruce Chris
They're REALLY dancing around the issue(s) of gay people, and relationships. That is probably a good sign. While they're praising God's gift of human sexuality, with occasional warnings about sin, they're refusing to support or oppose either side. Plenty of wiggle room.
From their Executive Summary of their statement on human sexuality, they say, in part,
http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Proposed-Social-Statement/Executive-Summary.aspx
"It is only within the last decades that this church has begun to understand in new ways the need of same-gender oriented individuals to seek relationships of lifelong companionship and commitment as well as public accountability and legal support for those commitments. This has led to differing understandings about the place of such relationships within the Christian community. Disagreements exist in this church and in the larger Christian community about whether marriage is also the appropriate term to use to describe similar benefits, protection, and support for same-gender couples entering into lifelong, monogamous relationships."
I choose to believe that we are making progress here. . :applause: . :agree:
You may notice that they said *orientation*, and not *choice*.
Peace and Love, Bruce Chris