From the ELCA News Service:
A discipline hearing committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) ruled Feb. 7 that the Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling be removed from the ELCA clergy roster effective Aug. 15, 2007. Schmeling, who reported to his bishop that he is in a committed relationship with another man, is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Atlanta.
In case you are thinking, "Finally, someone is standing up for traditional values and enforcing the will of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly," read on:
The text of the decision indicated that the committee was nearly unanimous in its concern that "Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline" and "Vision and Expectations: Ordained Ministers in the ELCA" "are at least bad policy, and may very well violate the constitution and bylaws of this church." The committee said it was specifically concerned with a sentence in "Definitions and Guidelines" that states: "Practicing homosexual persons are precluded from the ordained ministry of this church."
The committee said that if it was relieved of that requirement, it would find "almost unanimously that Pastor Schmeling is not engaged in conduct that is incompatible with the ministerial office, and would find with near unanimity that no discipline of any sort should be imposed against him."
The committee "respectfully" suggested that, through normal legislative processes, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly initiate a process to:
+ reconsider and revise "Definitions and Guidelines," removing language that specifically precludes practicing homosexuals from the ordained ministry
+ reconsider and revise "Vision and Expectations," removing specific prohibitions against homosexual sexual relationships
+ reconsider and revise the policy on reinstatement to the ELCA clergy and professional lay rosters to permit immediate reinstatement of persons who have resigned or have been removed from the rosters of the ELCA solely because they entered into a loving, lifelong partnership with another person of the same sex that is mutual, chaste and faithful. Normally people who seek reinstatement to the official rosters must wait at least five years.
And, further, note that this year's Churchwide Assembly will end August 11, four days before Schmeling's termination date of August 15.
As my husband said when I read this info to him last night, this is a set up.
Sigh. And I am a voting member this year. And I hoped that the issue of ordaining practicing homosexuals would not be the focus of yet another assembly.
Click on the title!
---Katie
1 comment:
Your husband is correct. This was coming, and now it is here. The ELCA leadership has made it crystal clear with regards their intent.
It is time to speak to your friends at the LCMS and have them warm your pew up for you.
The only positive I see out of all of this is that the fog of "illusion" must be gone. My people, who have been on the fence with regards leaving the ELCA are now ready to march together out of this denomination and into another one. Again, there can be no doubt about the leadership, their intent, and their hold on the power structures of the ELCA.
It is time to go. However, there are two things to keep in mind. First, those who choose to leave the ELCA are not the ones causing the problem. It is not they who are the schizmatics. They are not the ones calling on people to abandon Jesus and the Gospels for a watered down version of truth that is more amenable to the culture at large.
Secondly, those who leave are not looking for the perfect church. That is an impossibility in this life. However, they are looking for a better denomination than the one in which they currently exist. One that stands for the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. That is out there in a number of forms.
Peace in the Lord to you and all who continue this fight. In my opinion, the Lord has placed the ELCA under his judgment, and therefore no reform will be possible at this time. The worst is yet to come.
Rob Buechler, Pastor
Trinity-Bergen/Faith Lutheran Parish and Lakeview Lutheran Church
Starkweather,ND
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