ECLA Pastors Consider Costs of Staying, Leaving Denomination

Conservative members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are considering options after the denomination decided on Friday to allow non-celibate homosexuals and lesbians to be pastors.

By Charlie Butts – OneNewsNow

During debate on the question, Pastor Marshal Hahn of Iowa said he would stand on the Bible, but did not take arguments for or against homosexual leadership personally. “This is not about me. It’s about the church. It’s not about fear,” Hahn contends. “It’s about faith — to remain faithful to our Lord, faithful to our commitment, faithful to one another.”

Darin Easler left the ELCA because of its previous ban on homosexual clergy and joined the extremely liberal United Church of Christ. He was present for the vote. “I’m also aware of those who are really in pain because of the things that have taken place and the decisions that have been made, and feeling their place in the church is shifting and the painfulness that they are feeling, even as we’re feeling a sense of joy,” Easler says.

Karl Moyer is pastor of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He spoke against the measure, stressing the Bible condemns homosexual practices — and that, he stated, should be the factor in determining the policy. “For us to say one thing and to do another costs our church integrity, credibility, and our ability to evangelize in the future,” he adds. (Listen to audio)

Some pastors are confident they will leave the denomination — but the question remains, where will they go? Biblically solid representatives plan to meet in Indianapolis in September to determine their options.

(Source: OneNewsNow)

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