Tag Archives: Lutheran Church

Via the Independent: Thousands of people have resigned from the Lutheran church in Finland after its Archbishop said he rejoiced “with my whole heart” following the government vote to legalise same-sex marriage. According to Finland’s YLE, between the time that the vote went through on Friday and midnight on Saturday almost 7,800 people had resigned from the church using an …

The above-named religious groups have filed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to uphold Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage. Via the Associated Press: The religious groups urged the Supreme Court on the basis of tradition and religious freedom to uphold a state’s right to disallow gay and lesbian couples to wed. “Legal uncertainty is especially burdensome for religious organizations …

Eleven states have filed a brief with the Tenth Circuit Court in support of Utah’s defense of its ban on same-sex marriage. The states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma and South Carolina. Notably there were 16 states that signed on to the pro-Defense of Marriage Act and pro-Prop 8 briefs before the Supreme Court. Those …

From an agreement between Boy Scouts USA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod comes a version of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod will respect the membership standard of the Boy Scouts of America, including the stipulation that membership in Scouting may not be denied to a child on the basis of sexual attraction alone, and the …

Over fifty Christian leaders representing dozens of groups have signed a joint letter urging the Boy Scouts to maintain their ban on gay members. We strongly support the Boy Scouts of America current prohibition on open homosexuality and retaining it without revision. Nearly 70 percent of BSA troops are hosted by churches and religious institutions. Upholding traditional morality is vital …

The Mormon Church, the Southern Baptists Convention, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Orthodox Jewish Union, and a sect of the Lutheran Church have filed a joint Supreme Court brief against the overturn of Proposition 8.  Chris Johnson reports at Washington Blade: The brief offers three major reasons for why the Supreme Court should uphold Prop 8, which the court …

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Anglican Church have agreed to unite in “holy battle” against the civil equality of LGBT Americans. The Christian Post reports: The cooperation between the two denominations is a reason for joy at a time when “there is a widespread failure to recognize the biblical teaching regarding the creation of man and woman and their …

“In Great Britain, Christians are now effectively second-class citizens, judged ‘unfit’ to care for foster children. If they are unfit to foster children, logically they are also unfit to adopt, and possibly as one British lawyer suggested to the press, unfit to parent their own children, too. Could it happen over here? Yes. We see the first steps of the …

The Lutheran Church of Sweden voted today to allow gays to marry in the church. The decision, which is based on a proposal from the church’s governing board, means that the Church of Sweden will conduct wedding ceremonies for both heterosexual and homosexual couples. The proposal was approved by 176 of 249 voting members. The decision comes just three days …

The St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Charleston, West Virginia has blocked out the word “Lutheran” from their sign after the national denomination elected to allow openly gay clergy. “I asked that be done because I’m ashamed,” the church’s pastor, Richard Mahan, told the congregation later Sunday morning. “I’m ashamed of what the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has done to …

The Evangelical Lutheran Church voted today to allow individual congregations to bless same-sex marriages. “I’ve been a life-long member at Redeemer Lutheran Church [in Atlanta], and I was never comfortable asking my church to bless my relationship,” said Bob Gibeling, who is at the assembly. “This offers great hope to me that when I find a future life-long partner, my …

“The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction. Reaffirm the great Lutheran heritage of allegiance to the truth and authority of Scripture. Turn back from distorting the grace of God into sensuality. Rejoice in the …

The Swedish parliament has been presented legislation that will allow gays to marry in civil ceremonies or in the Lutheran Church, which until 2000 was the official church of Sweden. “The main proposal in the motion is that … a person’s gender will no longer have any bearing on whether they can marry. The marriage law and other laws concerning …