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Lutherans Form Breakaway Denomination


Lutheran Churchx390 (Screengrab) | Advocate.com

Conservative critics of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted Friday to form a new congregation, triggered by the church’s decision last year to allow gay clergy in committed relationships.

According to the Associated Press, “The overwhelming voice vote by members of the Lutheran Coalition of Renewal created the North American Lutheran Church, a tiny denomination of churches formerly affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, headquartered in Chicago.”

Even as 199 congregations have left the ECLA, and 136 await final approval, with more than 10,000 churches and 4.5 million members, it remains the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States. It is the largest Protestant denomination to allow gay pastors in relationships into its ranks.

According to the AP, the concern over gay pastors represented the outgrowth of broader concerns about departure from scripture, such as the elimination of male pronouns like “Father” and “Son” in favor of “Creator” and “Savior.”

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Joseph
    Date posted: 8/30/2010 2:38:25 PM
    Hometown: Montgomery, AL

    Comment:

    What? No snide comments about the Advocate's irresponsible editing? Really, folks, how can you people ignore the misuse of "pronouns" when the words "Father" and "Son" (as well as "Creator" and "Savior") are clearly NOUNS? I mean, seriously. Why aren't there any calls for someone to be fired over this gross negligence? Could it be that people are ignoring a few insignificant errors in favor of the story's overall benefit? Wouldn't that be a nice change of pace around here? (Honestly, when I saw the "pronouns" matter in the final paragraph, I really expected most of the comments to be about that error. I was pleasantly surprised that people were commenting on the meat of the article.)

  • Name: James
    Date posted: 8/30/2010 8:21:15 AM
    Hometown: Burlington, Iowa

    Comment:

    Don't lose sight of the larger story here. The ELCA is reaching out to gays by becoming more inclusive. The ELCA is now largest protestant denomination that can now be considered an ally. Sure, there are dissenters, and the movement has cost the ELCA congregations, members, and financial support. But the dialogue between mainstream Christianity and gays is definitely moving forward.

  • Name: David
    Date posted: 8/30/2010 3:12:24 AM
    Hometown: Indianapolis

    Comment:

    Screw them! Who needs them anyway? I'm getting tired of all this religion crap. If they hate us that much then they can go to hell. Self rightous sons of bitches. Who cares what they think? We're better off without them.

  • Name: Joseph Bennett
    Date posted: 8/29/2010 9:04:08 PM
    Hometown: Soddy Daisy

    Comment:

    By the way, the "breakaway" groups concern over inclusive language is absolutely rediculous. To this Christian, who God is and how God functions in todays world, is more important than the title we chose to adress God by. It is my understanding that the Father is the Creator and the Son is the Savior.. Where's the real problem here, and what's the issue? I don't get it!

  • Name: Joseph Bennett
    Date posted: 8/29/2010 8:54:14 PM
    Hometown: Soddy Daisy

    Comment:

    I applaud the ELCA for allowing partnered gay Pastors to minister in their congregations. Let those who disagree with such a corageous decision leave the ELCA and form their own denomination founded and based on hatred and bigotry. This is not the first time in church history that bigoted hatemongers decided to split from their denominations to form their own group so that they could continue in their ignorance, and it won't be the last.

  • Name: Scott
    Date posted: 8/29/2010 2:36:43 PM
    Hometown: Houston

    Comment:

    They could join the Missouri Synod, which has long been the conservative wing of the Lutheran donomination. Maybe they figure splitting off to themselves will get them more publicity. Not for long.

  • Name: d
    Date posted: 8/29/2010 11:40:49 AM
    Hometown: raleigh

    Comment:

    This IS Great News! Let the hateful congregations split and let the positive loving congregations grow and benefit from this. It's how Churches Change! It's a good thing! You know just like the Republicans are becoming Nazi's just before they die out from a lack of old, white hateful men. IT'S A GOOD THING!

  • Name: Menachem
    Date posted: 8/29/2010 9:47:11 AM
    Hometown: Brooklyn

    Comment:

    Isn't this what Protestants have done since Martin Luther broke with the Catholic Church? They "breakaway" in "Protest" of this or that. This is what they're all about.



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