More on Metro NY Synod

Here is a letter Pastor Rob, who often comments on this blog, wrote:

Dear Bishop Bouman,

Grace to you and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have just received word that your synod will have a special assembly to discuss matters pertaining to the ordination of practicing gay/lesbian clergy. My prayer is that this assembly will not decide to bless what Scripture clearly rejects.

I am aware that you and I are on opposite sides of the fence. I agree that there will come a time when orthodox Christians and revisionists will have to part company, as many are now doing vis-a-vis LCMC and other church affiliations. Yet there is more at stake here than simply a parting of the ways if the synod you serve decides to move in the direction of ordaining practicing gay/lesbian clergy.

First, consider that blessing gay and lesbian clergy who practice homosexual sex will be a defacto recognition of same-sex unions and the blessing thereof, which Recommendation number 2 prohibits. You will be going against Scripture, and therefore making the case that Scripture ought not to be the final authority over matters of faith and life. This would be a violation of the Lutheran Confessions, as well as 2,000 years of Christian teaching on sexuality. Your synod would put itself outside the pale of Christianity, and would be apostasizing itself. As bishop, you are called to work in such a way that this does not happen. I urge you now to take up that calling and help put a stop to this slide towards a different faith than the one handed down by the saints.

This leads me to the second point, an issue that I realize is not at all palatible, but nonetheless necessary for us to discuss. We need to consider that any move towards blessing same sex unions and allowing for the ordanation of practicing gay/lesbian clergy would mean placing a stumbling block before our brothers and sisters in Christ and leading them to damnation. Remember the word of Christ, "If anyone causes one of these little ones to stumble, it would be better for them to have a mill stone tied around their necks and be thrown into the sea." If the Synod acts to overturn the measures adopted at the National Convention, it will be leading others to their eternal doom.

Brother, please consider these things. I realize that you will not agree with much or all of what I have written. Yet you must know that the ramafications of your syonds activity will have wide ranging repercussions that go far beyond the splitting of the church. What your synod does or does not do will have eternal consequences upon the souls of all people, no matter what their sexual preference.

You and your people are in my prayers. The Lord guide your conversation, and bring you to a conclusion that is pleasing to the Christ and will bring true redemption to the lives of those to whom we witness.

Peace in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Robert Buechler, Pastor

Trinity-Bergen/Faith Lutheran Parish

Starkweather, ND

This was printed with permission...thankfully we do have orthodox pastors in the ELCA still.

---Katie