Speak Compassion

This is a big decision for the nations largest mainstream evangelical denomination. The decision was 55% for and 45% against. Here is a passage from the article.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) passed a resolution at its annual assembly urging bishops to refrain from disciplining pastors who are in “faithful committed same-gender relationships.”

The resolution passed by a vote of 538-431.

“The Church … has just said ‘Do not do punishments’,” said Phil Soucy, spokesman for Lutherans Concerned, a gay-lesbian rights group within the church. “That is huge.”

This decision shows the importance of our visibility. It also shows the importance of nonviolent resistance and how it soften hearts, as it has in this denomination. I actually know the person who introduced the amendment. She goes to my church. The amendment doesn’t lift the ban but stops the witchhunt against gay pastors, while the assembly works to bring the rest of the church to the point where the ban will be lifted.