Perhaps with an eye on the Episcopal showdown over gay rights about to commence in Anaheim, Calif., the Rev. Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is pleading with his own church not to let its forthcoming debate become a “church-dividing” issue.
The ELCA, the nation’s largest Lutheran denomination, will discuss a proposal to allow openly gay ministers in the pulpit when their General Assembly meets Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis. For background on that proposal see here.
Hanson says: “As we approach the churchwide assembly, I am thankful for the thoughtful and respectful discussion at synod assemblies of the proposed social statement on human sexuality and the ministry policy recommendations. I am mindful, however, that we remain a church body that is not of one mind about these decisions, and that these continuing differences have raised concerns among some about whether we are headed toward a church-dividing decision.
I am writing to express my shared, heartfelt commitment to the church’s unity, and, even more, my deep confidence that this unity will not be lost. For this reason please join me in reflecting on the unity of Christ’s church that is the foundation both for our life together in the ELCA and our relationships with other Christians throughout the world.”
The debate over homosexuality has riven the mainline Protestant churches in recent years. Four dioceses and dozens of parishes have seceded from the Episcopal Church since it consecrated an openly gay man as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003. Last winter, they set up their own church. Similarly, more than 40 churches have left the Presbyterian Church (USA) — many for the more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church — as it engages in its own acrimonious, long-running debate over the role of gays and lesbians in the church.In other words, its easy to imagine the source of Hanson’s fears.
