Rev Bill

Many mainline denominations — including the Presbyterian Church (USA) of which I am a member — are struggling these days with the issue of ordaining those involved in same sex relationships.

One Lutheran denomination — the ELCA — approved a measure last week that opens the door to ordaining those involved in “chaste same sex relationships”. Apparently the measure passed by the slimmest of margins — and may have been taken at a time when many delegates at the convention may not have been present.

The same day the vote was taken, a tornado touched down near the building where the vote took place. Some saw this as a “message from God” — but what the message was depended on what side of the issue you agreed with. Supporters of the vote saw it as “a fresh wind of God’s Spirit” — those against it as “a word of condemnation”.

Either way you interpret the vote and event, the issue of how the church relates to homosexuals does not seem to go away. I still believe that the church needs to reach out to — show God’s love to — and minister to homosexuals. This is what Christ calls us to do. I also still believe that homosexuality is a sin and not part of God’s plan for us — and those who are practicing homosexuals do not need to be ordained to positions of leadership.

You can read an article about the ELCA vote — the tornado — and reactions to both — here.

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