August 25 - Smaller Lutheran Church Bodies Reaffirm Bible's Stance on Homosexuality

The heads of the second and third largest Lutheran bodies in the United States spoke out Monday against the recent actions of the largest and affirmed their Bible-based belief that homosexuality is sinful.

"To view same-sex relationships as acceptable to God is to place cultural viewpoint and human opinions above the clear Word of God," commented the Rev. Mark Schroeder, president of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

"The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, along with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and other smaller Lutheran synods, maintains and upholds the clear teaching of the Bible that homosexuality is not in keeping with God's design and is sinful in God's eyes," he added.

On Friday, the chief legislative body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted 559-451 to approve a resolution allowing gays and lesbians in “life-long, monogamous, same gender relationships” to be ordained.

Opponents of the statement had argued that adopting the statement would constitute abandonment of Scripture, as the Bible does not support homosexual behavior. Supporters, however, said the document maintain that it is consistent with the biblical command to care for one's neighbor and build trusting relationships.

Following the conclusions of last week’s biennial assembly, WELS’s president acknowledged that it is the Church's responsibility to show love and compassion to sinners. But he emphasized that this is not done by condoning or justifying the sin, but by calling the sinner to repent and by assuring the sinner that there is full forgiveness in Jesus Christ.