Pastor Roger W. Rapp of the St. Paul Lutheran Church agrees that it is important to listen to differing opinions. And local congregations always have been open to all people, regardless of lifestyle choices.

"We in the Lutheran church are really trying hard to be respectful of differing opinions, and in the respect of differing opinions, we grow and journey together," Rapp said.

"We live together in a very opinionated church. If we stay together, we are more likely to avoid a split and learn from those who differ from us."

Rapp added that there are many Evangelical Lutheran Church of America churches that say all are welcome.

"(They) state openly that all are welcome, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation," he said. "As far as local congregations, we've always been open to all people. People are people."

But although local Lutheran congregations appear open to the same-gender relationship issue, at least one other local congregation disagrees.

The Rev. Hume W. "Skip" Reeves of The Church of St. Peter, Apostle and Confessor says the debate will split the Lutheran church apart.

Reeves was a former member of St. Mark's Episcopal here before splitting to form The Church of St. Peter last year, separating from the Episcopal Church.

The split was in large part due to the same issue: allowing same-gender relationships within church leadership.

"I was hoping that they would kind of learn a lesson from the Episcopal Church," Reeves said. "The church has conformed itself to the culture instead of trying to reform the culture into the vision of God's culture.

"It looks like they're moving in the same direction that the Episcopalian church did. They'll pay a huge price for that."

Read it all.

Filed under: * Religion News & Commentary • Other Churches • Lutheran • Sexuality Debate (Other denominations and faiths)

1. Phil wrote: “We live together in a very opinionated church. If we stay together, we are more likely to avoid a split and learn from those who differ from us.” Oh, the naivete. August 27, 1:35 pm | [comment link]

2. Harry Edmon wrote: Why anyone would split from TEC to the ELCA is beyond me.  The problems are almost as bad, and the ELCA has no international community like the AC to try to hold it in line.  They certainly don’t care what the LCMS thinks! August 27, 2:03 pm | [comment link]

3. Sarah1 wrote: I agree with Harry Edmon.  I am always surprised when people leave ECUSA to go to another mainline denomination.  I don’t love anything enough to go through again what we are going through in ECUSA. August 27, 2:25 pm | [comment link]

4. robroy wrote: “If we stay together, we are more likely to avoid a split and learn from those who differ from us.” Reminds me of the dufflepods (or monopods): Be careful of the water, it’s powerful wet. August 27, 2:29 pm | [comment link]

5. Randy Muller wrote: If we stay together, we are more likely to avoid a split….” ‘Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.’ August 27, 3:10 pm | [comment link]

6. Veronique wrote: It’s not clear from the article, but Fr. Reeves did not go to an ELCA church.  The Church of St Peter, Apostle and Confessor, in Cheyenne Wyoming, is an Anglican church, part of CANA.  It is surprising the article doesn’t mention it; they just say “another local congregation”, which most will assume would be of the same denomination they’re talking about. If I’m not mistaken, this Fr. Reeves is the brother of Fr. Frank Reeves, rector of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Southlake, TX, one of the two liberal parishes in the diocese of Fort Worth. August 27, 3:12 pm | [comment link]

7. Harry Edmon wrote: Thanks for the clarification.  TEC -> AC (or TEC -> LCMS) makes much more sense than TEC -> ELCA August 27, 3:30 pm | [comment link]

8. Wilfred wrote: The Sheep are nervous in Wyoming, especially in the vicinity of Roger Rapp’s church. August 27, 9:47 pm | [comment link]

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