Lutheran church and homosexuality
What About Homosexuality?
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This pamphlet is intended to help Christians respond some questions about homosexuality. The church recognizes this as both a significant challenge and, more importantly, as an opportunity to speak the truth in love, reaching out with the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What does God utter about homosexuality in His Word, the Bible?
The Lord teaches us through His Word that homosexuality is a sinful distortion of His desire that one man and one lady live together in marriage as husband and wife. God categorically prohibits homosexuality. Our church, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, has declared that homosexual behavior is “intrinsically sinful.” Why does our church take this position?
We read in God’s Word the following statements about homosexuality:
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. … Do not defile yourselves by any of these things” (Lev. , 24).
“If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have pledged an abomination…” (Lev. ).
“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relatio
Readers of The Lutheran realize the ELCA has been involved in a learn of human sexuality with specific reference to homosexuality and whether homosexual people should be ordained as pastors. Pastors and others received a thorough examine, Background Essay on Biblical Texts, as part of the ELCA’s study.
Members of some congregations contain not had the opportunity to read this learn, or they may hold been turned off by its length and detail. But even for those who do read it, I share some insights that I have not seen in this review . I will also seek some questions to ponder as you consider the biblical texts, leaving you free to draw your own conclusions.
I am in no way involved in the process for determining the ELCA’s position or policies on the issues before the church. My purpose is to notify and invite reflection on the subject of homosexuality and the church today, while not trying to persuade anyone toward any conclusion on the issues at hand.
In dealing with biblical texts, it is easy to read into or out of them what one wants to find. Therefore, different and conflicting interpretations of the texts often occur, which is well demonstrated in the study mentioned. I will deal b
Resources for the LGBTQIA+ Community
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ELCA social statement on human sexuality
Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust expresses ELCA teaching on human sexuality. A social statement is a training and policy document that assists us in thinking about and discussing social issues in the context of faith and community. This statement was adopted in and provides guidance on matters like marriage, family and same-gender relationships.
LGBTQIA+ voices and ministries in Living Lutheran
We are a church that values and encourages diverse voices and lively dialogue.
Find articles authored by LGBTQIA+ church leaders and stories about ministries that affirm people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in Living Lutheran magazine and on
Evangelical Lutheran Worship Service of Marriage:
Supplemental Resources
This marriage service supplement offers inclusive language for all cou
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod affirms traditional stance on LGBT issues, compassion for LGBT people
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod overwhelmingly passed a resolution reaffirming its traditional, biblical stance on gender identity and sexual orientation, while also calling for churches to “minister compassionately” to people who identify as LGBT.
At the LCMS’ 67th Regular Convention in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, Resolution A, titled “To Encourage Synod to Develop Resources to Aid Congregations and Schools regarding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues,” passed with % of the vote.
Among its points, the resolution reaffirmed “the biblical truth that God created humanity as male and female” and commended people who “continue to stay chaste and decent lives in repentant faith” in spite of “same-sex attraction and gender identity confusion.”
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It also condemned “acts of abuse” against LGBT individuals and called upon churches to "minister compassionately” to people regardless of
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