ELCA services attack ‘bound consciences’ of
those who uphold Biblical teaching on sexuality
Lutheran CORE Connection, November 5, 2010
Services receiving persons in same-sex relationships as Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pastors have included attacks on the “bound consciences” of those who uphold Biblical teaching on sexual behavior.
Even though the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly committed the ELCA to “respect the bound consciences of all,” recent worship services receiving the new ELCA pastors have included “confessions” stating that holding the traditional teaching of the Christian Church on sexual ethics is sinful.
ELCA officials claim that holding a traditional understanding of Biblical teaching on homosexual behavior is still an acceptable perspective within the church body. If so, these synod services do not show respect for the “bound consciences” of those who hold what the ELCA claims is a recognized and faithful perspective on Scripture.
In leading or authorizing these “confessions,” ELCA synod leaders imply that they believe that those who
uphold traditional Christian teaching are persisting in “sin” and in need of correction.
The Sept. 18 “Rite of Reception” service of the St. Paul (Minn.) Area Synod opened with the Rev. Herbert Chilstrom, former presiding bishop of the ELCA, leading the congregation in a “confession” that recounted the sins of the ELCA regarding its former teaching and practice about same-sex sexual relationships. Chilstrom has been a longtime vocal advocate of change in ELCA teaching and policy.
“We have dishonored faithful covenants and withheld from families the respect that they deserve. We continue to debate the worthiness of sanctioning couples whose unions are legally recognized and whose lives are intrinsically rooted through the longstanding fidelity of bonds of parenthood,” Chilstrom said. “We have used Scripture as a tool of discrimination. . . . We have encouraged violence, promoted invisibility, and rewarded lies,” the congregation responded using words printed in the order of service.
“We have seen an oppressive policy overturned. We have witnessed the removal of twin yokes of censure and expulsion. We have seen joy on the faces of synod officials who are now released to do the work of the gospel,” Chilstrom said.
The Sierra Pacific Synod’s “Rite of Reception” service, July 25 in San Francisco, Calif., included a similar “confession.” Synod Bishop Mark Holmerud began the service by “confessing” the sins of “our church” against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons.
“Our church of the reformation has been too long captive to bias and misinformation,” he said.
The bishop then read a litany of the church’s sins including: “We have not respected the gift of sexuality . . . We have not honored faithful and loving promises, marriages, and covenantal relationships. We have not acted quickly enough for some who have died and have not made it to this day. . . . We have betrayed fellow members of the body of Christ because of cultural prejudice. We have misused Scripture as a tool of discrimination. We have forced celibacy upon too many . . . We have promoted invisibility and dishonesty. . . . We have intimidated and disciplined, censured and expelled.”
The “Rite of Reception” services have also included elements that many Lutherans would find offensive or even heretical. Many have pointed to these services as examples that demonstrate that some of the practicing gay and lesbian persons being received as ELCA pastors and some synod bishops may deviate from Biblical and traditional expressions and understandings of the Christian faith.
Biblical language for God – including the word Lord and the Triune name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, – was removed from parts of liturgies. Both synods included options for the Lord’s Prayer that included calling God “Mother” rather than “Our Father.”
The Minnesota service began the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father Mother God in heaven.” The California service included as one of the options for the Lord’s Prayer, a prayer from the “goddess rosary” that begins, “Our Mother who is within us.”
Video of the services is available online. Internet links to the services are provided on Lutheran CORE’s blog.