Lutheran Dissidents Mull a Separate Future

Sadly, some within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ("ELCA") continue to froth at the mouth and have conniptions over the ELCA's recent decision to allowed partnered gay clergy and to provide recognition and support for same sex couples, although marriage is reserved for heterosexual couples. It continues to amaze me that these folks hold a few Bible passages that arguable condemn homosexuality to be sacrosanct while many others - such as the ban on divorce stated in the Gospels - are completely ignored. These Bible literalists are certainly disingenuous when it comes to demanding compliance with Scripture. I guess a literal application is fine when your ox is not being gored, but as soon as these folks have it impact them personally, they throw literalism out the window. Why does the word hypocrisy spring to mind? Here are some highlights from Beliefnet:

*

The dilemma for conservatives in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America could be summed up in the familiar refrain from The Clash's punk-rock tune: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" The answer seems to be: Yes -- and no. Many conservatives are deeply unhappy that the ELCA, the nation's largest Lutheran denomination, voted in August to lift its ban on noncelibate gay and lesbian clergy. The 4.8 million-member church also voted to allow congregations to "recognize, support and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships."

*
Conservatives say the ELCA's confessions -- or statements of faith -- clearly call for fidelity to Scripture, which clearly condemns homosexuality. So, next week (Sept. 25-26), a conservative network of clergy and lay Lutherans plans to gather and hatch plans to "reconfigure" Lutheranism in North America.

*
The leaders of Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Reform) are not encouraging fellow believers to bolt from the ELCA for a more conservative denomination, but neither do they want to remain part of one that has "fallen into heresy," they say. Thus, CORE is laying plans for a "free-standing synod" that would include current members of the ELCA along with others that have exited, or plan to exit, from the denomination.

*

"There are lots of congregations that are going to leave, lots of traditionalist congregations that are going to stay, and lots that have already left," said Ryan Schwarz of Washington, a member of CORE's steering committee. "We want to create a churchly structure that gathers all those categories." About 1,200 people have registered for CORE's summit in Indianapolis, according to organizers. Participants at the Indiana meeting are expected to draft bylaws for their new organization, develop fiscal plans and begin reaching out to other "compatible" denominations.
*

The free-standing synod, should the idea be accepted, would hire and train its own clergy, redirect donations from ELCA headquarters to CORE, plant churches and support missionaries, Chavez said. Some members will disassociate from their local (geographic) synods and stop participating in the ELCA's biennial assemblies. But others who are part of conservative synods that are not expected to hire gay and lesbian clergy may choose to remain part of the ELCA, he added.
*

There is some precedent for a free-standing synod; one of the ELCA's synods is home to Lutherans of Slovakian descent, not regional like the other 64. There was similar talk of creating a free-standing synod about a decade ago, when the ELCA approved a full communion agreement with the Episcopal Church, said the Rev. Michael Cooper-White, dean of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. The issue at that time was differing views on the authority of bishops, he added.

*

For now, they are taking a "wait and see" approach to the new synod, said ELCA spokesman John Brooks, and still consider CORE members part of the national church. "We're interested in seeing how a free-standing synod takes shape, it's really hard to know," he said. "We've had groups formed within the ELCA gathered around certain topics or issues as long as the church has been around. We're hoping that people will recognize that (the ELCA) is much more than one topic, one issue, one decision."

*
Meanwhile, some conservative Lutherans think a free-standing synod plan doesn't go far enough. Robert Benne, director of the Center for Religion and Society at ELCA-affiliated Roanoke College in Virginia, said conservatives should strike out on their own.