I am very sad. I just read this article, which outlines Lutheran CORE's plans to leave the ELCA and the LCIC to form a new Lutheran church body, the NALC.
They claim that they are focused on the Bible, and that both the ELCA and LCIC are not. This is obviously untrue, since scripture is one of the most important facets of Lutheran life. We as students of theology and people of faith rely on Scripture, reason, experience, and tradition to make decisions about our beliefs and practices.
My scripture says, "Love your neighbor."
My reason tells me to love my neighbor.
My experience has included loving my neighbor.
My tradition has been to love my neighbor.
We are to love as God has loved us. We are to build one another up in love. We are to think first of the needs of others, and secondly of the needs of ourselves. I am unsure how to further express how obvious it is, then, that the general assembly vote was meant to build up those members of the LGBT community who sought Lutheranism as their way to God. The intention of the GA was not to alienate those who are uncomfortable (at the very least) with the idea of the ELCA community including the LGBT community.
Though I understand that just as much as it is my right to feel so strongly for this inclusion, it is their right to feel so strongly against it, I cannot support their reasoning. I cannot imagine that our God would want to split her people apart in this way. We sing, in a traditionally Lutheran hymn, "Let us build a house where love can dwell, where all can safely live." We hope, in that same hymn, "that the love of Christ shall end divisions." I am unsure, then, how splitting from the ELCA and LCIC is ending divisions.
And I have some aggression, I'll admit. "Get the hell out!" I've said. "Good riddance!" I've said. Is that merely because there's no convincing the Lutheran CORE? Is it because I'm so tired of arguing? Is it because I'm so deeply hurt by this chasm that has opened in the Church I call my home, that I'm using my anger as a defense mechanism? I think it might be. I think that I'm so devastated that members of my ELCA, my beautiful group of people who believe what I do, have suddenly ceased to believe what I do, that I can't even pretend to want them to stay.
When the general assembly voted, I celebrated. Oh, did I celebrate. It was cause for days of tears of joy. And it is not that the celebrations are over -- this has changed, for the better, the ELCA forever. But it has also scarred many ELCA members, and for that I also weep.
What do you think? How do you feel?
They claim that they are focused on the Bible, and that both the ELCA and LCIC are not. This is obviously untrue, since scripture is one of the most important facets of Lutheran life. We as students of theology and people of faith rely on Scripture, reason, experience, and tradition to make decisions about our beliefs and practices.
My scripture says, "Love your neighbor."
My reason tells me to love my neighbor.
My experience has included loving my neighbor.
My tradition has been to love my neighbor.
We are to love as God has loved us. We are to build one another up in love. We are to think first of the needs of others, and secondly of the needs of ourselves. I am unsure how to further express how obvious it is, then, that the general assembly vote was meant to build up those members of the LGBT community who sought Lutheranism as their way to God. The intention of the GA was not to alienate those who are uncomfortable (at the very least) with the idea of the ELCA community including the LGBT community.
Though I understand that just as much as it is my right to feel so strongly for this inclusion, it is their right to feel so strongly against it, I cannot support their reasoning. I cannot imagine that our God would want to split her people apart in this way. We sing, in a traditionally Lutheran hymn, "Let us build a house where love can dwell, where all can safely live." We hope, in that same hymn, "that the love of Christ shall end divisions." I am unsure, then, how splitting from the ELCA and LCIC is ending divisions.
And I have some aggression, I'll admit. "Get the hell out!" I've said. "Good riddance!" I've said. Is that merely because there's no convincing the Lutheran CORE? Is it because I'm so tired of arguing? Is it because I'm so deeply hurt by this chasm that has opened in the Church I call my home, that I'm using my anger as a defense mechanism? I think it might be. I think that I'm so devastated that members of my ELCA, my beautiful group of people who believe what I do, have suddenly ceased to believe what I do, that I can't even pretend to want them to stay.
When the general assembly voted, I celebrated. Oh, did I celebrate. It was cause for days of tears of joy. And it is not that the celebrations are over -- this has changed, for the better, the ELCA forever. But it has also scarred many ELCA members, and for that I also weep.
What do you think? How do you feel?