Letters

Lutheran, The, Nov 2000

Gay relationships-a sin?

The dialogue continues

'Although I like it when people tell me to celebrate my sin, it's not ultimately helpful-and definitely not what the church should be doing'

Whether my sinful desire is for too much money, the wrong sexual partner or revenge, and whether I was born with it or acquired it along the way, my need remains the same: forgiveness, healing and the hope of change in Jesus Christ. Although I like it when people tell me to celebrate my sin, it's not ultimately helpful-and definitely not what the church should be doing.

Peter J. Stadem

Blomkest, Minn.

In your news report on the ELCA Church Council (September, page 53), the lead paragraph makes no sense absent a shared understanding that, as of modern times, God no longer stands behind his variously stated warnings against sex outside the confines of a heterosexual marriage. God promises neither equal beginnings nor equal circumstances nor equal outcomes. Aside from grace and redemption, which are outright gifts, our lives come without entitlements, such as a fair chance at sexual expression, which God will fulfill.

Joe Hinrichs Jr.

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Regarding blessing of same-sex unions, Jesus indeed welcomed prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners. But he said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go therefore and sin no more:' He didn't say, "A blessing on your head."

Narice A. May

Avonmore, Pa

Is the church going to be a mirror, reflecting the whims of the times, or a lighthouse, warning of danger and providing guidance to a fallen world? Glen B. Keidel Jr.

Dornsife, Pa.

Thank you for the thought-provoking article "What about same-sex unions?" (September, page 36). The quote from Pastor Dennis Bux continues to disturb me: "God calls people into the vocation or calling of being gay or lesbian:' I don't believe God calls us into lifestyles against natural order. I'm divorced not because God called me to be but because of sin. Rather, God calls me out of the brokenness of my life and by grace, allows me to start anew.

Carol Hajicek

Baldwin, Wis.

Dottie Ludwig expresses a sensible attitude toward homosexuals (September, page 53). A lesbian who had changed her lifestyle said God hadn't changed her genes. God had changed her attitude. The church is not to change God's word to please people but to use God's word to change people.

Sarah Ryerson

Mankato, Minn.

I'm a heterosexual 75-year-old retired ELCA pastor. Thirty years ago when I had trouble counseling same-sex committed unions, my district president wisely sent me to a meeting in the gay community for a week. We studied Scripture every night to seek God's will. That's where I had a breakthrough from my homophobic interpretation of Scripture. If the literalists are going to take over our beloved church, we'll have to condone murder (Leviticus 20:9) and change our stance on slavery, divorce and women in ministry. Please don't let that happen.

Conrad G.Ide

Pittsburg, Kan.

Many pastors conduct a service of blessing for animals. We can't do likewise for humans? Incongruous?

John E. Moren

Davis, Calif.

The ELCA needs to come to a decision soon-no matter how difficult, painful or costly it will be. And it will be all of those. It seems there are two irreconcilable options: 1 ) Homosexual behavior is just one more example of God's wonderful variety in creation, and the church must celebrate and defend it. 2) Or homosexual behavior is just one more example of the effect of sin in our broken world, and it grieves God's heart to have people call it good. In that case, the church must do all it can to bring compassion, hope, help and healing to all of fected by it.

Jeffrey J. Blain

Fond du Lac, mss.

God's house is divided-and a house divided cannot stand. Unless this issue can be resolved in a manner that's reconciling and affirming of all people involved, then the Lutheran church will cease to have any relevance to God's people in this day and age.

A. Bryant Martin

Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Living single

Thank you for Debra K. Farrington's article, "The single way" (September, page 22). It's frustrating as a single adult to be greeted in church by a reaction of, "We're glad you're here, but we don't know what to do with you:' Worse still is being ignored. We're losing a lot of young single people partly because we're not letting them know they're valued.

Bob lerien

Gettysburg, Pa.

Thank you for affirming that the single life is itself a gift that helps us live out our individual callings.

Francesca Norsen

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Female dergy chagrined

I read with chagrin the article, "What women clergy care about" (September, page 8). As a female pastor, I'm dismayed and puzzled that spirituality and morality rank in the bottom tier of concerns. All the categories were, more or less, social ministry concerns. They're valid and important. But why did the authors choose to not include things such as evangelization, worship life and fidelity to Scripture as possible concerns? Was this only a "social concerns" survey? Or is there more to the story than was presented?