The vote to approve a much-debated social statement that acknowledges, among other things, the validity of same-sex relationships that are "chaste, monogamous and lifelong" came down to one vote on Wednesday evening.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America churchwide assembly is meeting through Sunday in Minneapolis. Here's coverage of Wednesday's vote by the Star Tribune and the ELCA News Service here and here.
Supporting and dissenting groups issued statements reacting to the vote: Lutheran CORE (not happy) and Lutherans Concerned (happy).
Btw, a vote is scheduled for Friday on the proposal to repeal an ELCA ban on gay and lesbian ministers from leading churches unless they promise to be celibate.
This is just appalling. If Luther, the late German Christian protester, would still be here…where the denomination “Lutherans” derived from, he would be stunned and completely disappointed in this horrible abomination to the Word of God and the Gospel. I totally am against this election. When God created “man” he created Adam and Eve, NOT Adam and STEVE!!! Hello people. This is a direct form of disobedience to God. And this is happening in a Church, a denomination that professes to know the Word of God???? Please, God will have to deal with you guys…and it won’t be pretty.