"People certainly recognize that what happens within the Anglican community will be held up either as an example of overcoming your differences or what can happen when you divide," said Dr. James Childs, a professor of theology and ethics at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Bexley.

"People see the debate and wonder, 'Is this a world unraveling? Is this a disruption of the natural order? If we affirm this in the church, are we moving toward chaos?' The answers remain to be seen."

The governing body of his own denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is not immune. A February announcement that a popular gay minister at Atlanta's oldest Lutheran church was being removed because he has a partner has renewed discussion about gay clergy members.

The matter is unresolved and is expected to be a focus of a meeting of the Lutherans in August.

The notion that the issue is escalating for many denominations, and that it may lead to unprecedented fracturing of churches, is well-founded, conservative Christians say.

"Individual Christians, Christian families, organizations and entire denominations must decide whether to affirm God's word or not," said Melissa Fryrear, director of gender issues for Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian organization.

"The Bible is clear on sexual behavior: It is between one man and one woman, only in marriage. There is no middle ground, and there are no loopholes."

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion) • Same-sex blessings • * Religion News & Commentary • Other Churches • Lutheran

1. robroy wrote: Galatians 3:28 does not say “neither homosexual nor heterosexual”. That ludicrous jump is taken by the homosexual advocates. Unfortunately, if you take that inference, what is to stop taking any and all adjectives placed in the same specious line of reasoning: “neither wife beaters, nor non-wife beaters” so wife-beating is OK, “neither ped0philes, nor adult-o-philes” so ped0philia is OK, etc. Now, I am NOT equating homosexuality with these other sins, but I am saying the the misuse of Gal 3:28 is patently silly in the discussion. That is called logic. June 21, 4:26 am | [comment link]

2. Tikvah wrote: Text out of context is pretext. T June 21, 7:18 am | [comment link]

3. Charles Nightingale wrote: What does baptizing a eunuch have to do with blessing same sex unions or same-sex behavior? June 21, 5:35 pm | [comment link]

4. Katie My Rib wrote: Dr. Childs was in charge of the ELCA Task Force on Human Sexuality through the 2005 Churchwide Assembly.  The majority report on matters of homosexuality issued by that group resulted in the Church Council recommending that the Assembly approve allowing clergy in same-sex relationships to stay on the clergy roster on a case by case basis.  This was defeated by the Assembly.  But as the article states, the issues could come up again, in a much more damaging form, at the Churchwide assembly that will take place in Chicago this August.  Those who wish to see what the Lutheran revisionists have in mind should check out the website http://www.goodsoil.org. June 22, 12:55 am | [comment link]

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