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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada following in the footsteps of the Anglican Church of Canada

Apr 6th, 2011 by

The Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are becoming increasingly intertwined, to the extent that they are adopting similar policies on homosexual clergy and the blessing of same-sex couples. Here are two motions due to be voted on by the ELCIC this summer:

2. Motion on Presiding at or Blessing Marriages
MOVED that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada in convention adopt the following policy statement:

It is the policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada that rostered ministers may, according to the dictates of their consciences as informed by the Gospel, the Scriptures, the Ecumenical Creeds and the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, preside at or bless legal marriages according to the laws of the province within which they serve. All rostered ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are encouraged to exercise due diligence in preparing couples for marriage. All rostered ministers serving congregations are encouraged at all times to conduct their ministry in consultation with the lay leaders in the congregation and with sensitivity to the culture within which the congregation serves.

3. Motion on Standards for Ordination and Consecration
MOVED that convention actions NC-1993-16 and NC-1989-96 be rescinded and that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada in convention adopt the following policy:

It is the policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada that sexual orientation is not in itself a factor which disqualifies a candidate for rostered ministry or a rostered minister seeking a call. Candidates and rostered ministers are in all cases expected to adhere to the qualifications and standards as set out in the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and of the synod within which they serve. Synods and congregations are expected to evaluate candidates for ordination or consecration and rostered ministers for call in accordance with a conscience informed by the Gospel, the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada

7 Responses to “The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada following in the footsteps of the Anglican Church of Canada”

  1. 1
    Muriel says:
    April 6, 2011 at 10:52 pm

    “according to the dictates of their consciences as informed by the Gospel, the Scriptures”
    This wording is used in both motions. Where does the gospel or scripture inform either of these motions? They actually go against what is very clearly spoken in the scriptures.

  2. 2
    Frank Wirrell says:
    April 7, 2011 at 9:43 am

    This should be a wake up call to all Christians. The enemy will continue his advance into all denominations and will use this soft and deceptive approach to pervert the Gospel and the general thinking of society will rapidly increase his inroads. Tragically we do not have genuine Christian leadership with many apostates holding the position of bishop with the result that many are led away from the truth. With these developments it is no wonder that many are turning to ISLAM. All these developments are carefully engineered by the evil one while so-called leaders are standing at the sidelines clapping.
    We need to pray for genuine conversion and repentance for these apostates and for us the strength to “STAND UP! STAND UP! for Jesus.

  3. 3
    Stephen says:
    April 8, 2011 at 9:26 am

    Does anyone know what convention actions NC-1993-16 and NC-1989-96 say? Or, where I could read them?

  4. 4
    Jack S. Pratt says:
    April 8, 2011 at 10:46 am

    I can understand when people say this is going against Scripture, but where exactly does it say anything about this in the Gospel? Jesus didn’t say anything about gay marriage, only about divorce. Are we talking about false prophets in this case?

  5. 5
    Henry Troup says:
    April 8, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    It took a bit of finding, but NC-1993-16 is the second part of this:

    National Convention 1993

    Resolution #2, presented by the Reference and Council Committee:
    That the ELCIC in convention endorse the Bishops’ statement on the ordination or certification of its homosexual members, ie. “A self-declared and practicing homosexual is not to be approved for ordination and, if already ordained, is not to be recommended for call.”

    The convention took this subsequent action:

    NC-93-16 That since this has been the practice of the bishops, and since it was reported to the National Church Council and received by the 1989 ELCIC convention without alteration, it remains the practice of the church.

    Note the word “practicing” above.

    I suspect that NC-1989-96 is the “reception” alluded to, and therefore exactly the same statement.

  6. 6
    Henry Troup says:
    April 8, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    #3 try http://www.elcic.ca/Human-Sexuality/Motions.cfm

    (A longer post vanished)

  7. 7
    John K says:
    April 8, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    Jesus did speak about sexual immorality (eg: Mat 15:19; Mark 7:21. He gave sexual immorality as a just reason for divorce (Mat 5:32; 19:9). Sexual immorality, in the context of first-century Judaism would have included all sexual immorality included in the Levitical law, including homosexual sexual activity. You will remember as well that although Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in the act of adultery in John chapter 8, he did tell her to change her behaviour and leave her life of sin.
    Any attempt to claim that Jesus might bless gay mariage, even through silence, is completely dishonest.

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