Washington, USA - On Wednesday, leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approved a "social statement on human sexuality" - a precursor to Friday's expected vote on a proposal to allow pastors in committed same-sex relationships to serve as clergy in individual congregations of the country's largest Lutheran denomination.
The 34-page document attempts to create a theological framework allowing for disagreements within the ELCA over homosexuality and the scriptural view of other matters of human sexuality.
Here are a few excerpts from the social statement:
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"This social statement addresses the question: how do we understand human sexuality within the context of Jesus' invitation to love God and love our neighbor?"
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"We in the ELCA recognize that many of our sisters and brothers in same-gender relationships sincerely desire the support of other Christians for living faithfully in all aspects of their lives, including their sexual fidelity. In response, we have drawn deeply on our Lutheran theological heritage and Scripture. This has led, however, to differing and conscience-bound understandings about the place of such relationships within the Christian community. We have come to various conclusions concering how to regard lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships, including whether and how to publicly recognize their lifelong commitments."
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"This church also acknowledges that consensus does not exist concerning how to regard same-gender committed relationships, even after many years of thoughtful, respectful, and faithful study and conversation. We do not have agreement on whether this church should honor these relationships, uplift, shelter and protect them, or on precisely how it is appropriate to do so."
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"Regarding our life together as we live with disagreement, the people in this church will continue to accompany one another in study, prayer, discernment, pastoral care, and mutual respect."