Minneapolis church votes to leave ELCA over gay-friendly policies
Thursday, October 01, 2009 at 9:06 am
- 2 Comments
A Minneapolis church voted to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the largest Lutheran denomination in the country, because the church voted in August to allow openly gay and lesbian clergy. After a 96-percent vote in favor, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church decided Sunday to leave the denomination, according to Minnesota Public Radio.
In August, ELCA members voted to allow gay and lesbian pastors in life-long relationships to lead congregations. Churches that disagree with that decision are under no obligation to follow the ELCA vote. Despite that, a number of churches have left the denomination in the seven weeks since the vote.
St. Paul’s plans to join the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), an association of 179 congregations created by the WordAlone network over opposition to LGBT inclusion in the church, but will need a second vote in three months to make the split from ELCA permanent.
Since the ELCA assembly in Minneapolis last month, 10 churches nationwide have joined the LCMC.
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Comment posted October 2, 2009 @ 8:38 am
Taking the advice of the Pharisee Gama lie, a teacher of the Apostle Paul, “Be careful, these Christians you are fighting may led you to fighting God” Acts 5: 34-39.
When people make the “Affirmation of Faith” that God has called them into the ministry of Jesus Christ, the accountability of this bond mediates between the chosen person, male or female, and God. Not me! 40 years, my walk with our Lord and on very rare occocasions, I have encounter heterosexuals males and females whose so-called “Bond to Pastor Ship” has become a great disappointment for mankind and our Lord. For homosexual males and females making the claim to pastor ship I beg you. “Wait on the Lord Jesus Christ” and discover His true meaning for your precious life.
Comment posted October 2, 2009 @ 6:09 pm
It’s not quite true that the Word Alone created LCMC. Actually, there was a split in Word Alone between those who advocated leaving the elca and creating a new denominational structure, and those who wanted to stay and try to reform the elca. while the split has not always amicable, Word Alone has come to support congregations leaving the elca.
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