A lesbian became the first homosexual minister to be ordained since the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gave leeway to churches in disciplining pastors who violate a celibacy vow requirement.
Jen Rude, 27, was ordained on Saturday at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Chicago despite her refusal to take a vow of celibacy. She was installed on Sunday.
Under church policy, homosexual – and not heterosexual – ministers are required to make a vow of celibacy before they can be ordained. Although not currently in a relationship, Rude called the policy discriminatory.
Rude is the first homosexual pastor to test a resolution that urges ELCA bishops to refrain from disciplining pastors who are in "faithful committed same-gender relationships." The resolution was passed at a national assembly in August when members also rejected measures that would have allowed the ordination of non-celibate homosexual clergy.
More than 100 congregants witnessed Rude’s ordination and showed support for the lesbian pastor, whose father and grandfather are both Lutheran ministers.
"This is who we are and this is what we do," said Kathy Young, a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church, as reported by The Chicago Tribune. The congregation welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, according to its website.
"It's meaningful to me in the sense that my call is being affirmed not only by God but the people of God," Rude said.
Chicago bishop Wayne Miller did not try to block Rude's ordination but also did not attend the weekend ceremony. He met with the congregation last month to inform of the potential consequences of the ordination, such as expulsion, should the denomination choose to enforce the policy in the future, according to The Chicago Tribune.
"This does not imply any bitterness or any hostility. It's simply where we are right now," Miller told the local Tribune. "My goal is to keep people in the conversation, and I do not see this as an issue that should be dividing the church. I think it's one of the many places where difference of opinion can make the church stronger and healthier, as long as people stay at the table and keep talking."
Miller said he believes the celibacy policy should be lifted but also believes bishops should follow the church rule.
Despite the ordination, Rude's name will not be listed on the official rolls of ELCA clergy.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the largest Lutheran denomination, claiming 4.8 million members across the country.
Comments
Feet: you probably haven't seen me on this post, but many here know who I am. We will pray for you. In the meanwhile, google : The Word for Today radio program, and listen to some of the podcasts. They'll give you solid Bible teaching from Pastor Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. In addition, you can google the Calvary Satellite Network and look up the radio show called PAstor's Perspective. You may have a Christian Radio Station close to you where you can call th show and ask them questions. They will try to answer your questions directly from the Word of God, as close to the context intended as possible.
With regard to this lesbian minister, they are not only ordaining a woman to be over men in the teaching of a congreagation which the Apostle Paul clearly teaches is not the way God intended for teaching, and furthermore, she is a homosexual, which is condemned in the Bible as a sin just like adultery and fornication, bestiality and other sexual immorality is. This liberal congregation is a digrace, and should not be called part of the Body of Christ, because they are in clear open disobedience to the Word's teachings on these matters.
Peace be to you. I too hope the Holy Spirit will guide you in all Truth. But, remember, stay in the Word
Feetxxxl:
Have a good weekend.
No, my brain just wasn't connecting all the dots on the one I flagged. Howsomever, if Tom can get flagged then I suppose anyone can get flagged, someone around here has developed quite a trigger finger!!!
GMG...
Can you stop doing that. You're freaking me out. I know your not as rude and obnoxious as me, but when i see you getting flagged it makes me wonder if i've been a bad influence on you. LOL.
Oh, and I flagged myself because I mixed up my posts! :(
"as far as "one flesh" im not completely clear about its total meaning . my only understanding is that for anything to embrace and be of god it has to embrace and be of agapi love.............................1john4 "god is love." "
The Greek and Hebrew have different words for different kinds of love, for instance, there is love between sister/brother, mother/daughter, husband/wife, etc., and of course we know that we don't love everyone in our lives with the same kind of love. Well, agape love is the general, all encompassing, God- commands- us- to- love- each- other kind of love. That is not the same word as is used for the husband/wife kind of love, the "two shall become one" kind of love. So "love your neighbor", being agape love, does not denote the same kind of love as a husband/wife would have for each other. The husband and wife are to have a bonding of the spirit, soul and body, hence "two shall become one". This is totally different from agape.
There are two other issues addressed in our previous posts that you still haven't answered, I would still like to know your understanding of the ideas I presented there.
feetxxxl -- "im not sure what you are saying women were denied rightsfrom the onset of time............check out wikipedia womens rights. point is for society to embrace these levels of social conscious they have to evolve to certain level of awareness. the turn of the century man(1900) would have been unable to understand ethnic equality"
No, they weren't, they were guaranteed protection from the beginning of time, that was the plan. You understand the concept of authority, any company without a direct line of authority would go down the tubes in a flash due to no one having the ultimate decision making capability, and I might add, the responsibility for those decisions and their outcomes rests on the shoulders of the one carrying that authority. Well, God set up the chain of authority, and if man would follow God (the first authority) in His instructions, the woman would be the most loved, cherished, and enabled person on the face of the earth. We now have the capability of expanding our abilities outside the area of survival, our world is a much easier place now when it comes to the area of providing for our basic needs. Subjugation of women is the outcome of the sin in the Garden, not God's will. Remember, God provided a helpmate, not a doormat. You're not much of a helpmate if your God-given abilities are not treasured and utilized for the "two halves make a whole".
Feet--nope I can't remember but I do know that i belonged to the he-man woman haters club when I was quite young. Now look at me married for 21 years 4 kids and a dog. let me ask you do you remember learning to walk or talk or being taught how to use the potty as oppose to diapers or anything before the your 3 or 4 years. Most of us don't remember them years and according to those who study this stuff, this is when our personalities are formed. Interesting I thought.
Gods Blessing on ya
In Christ
Tom
feet...
"my only understanding is that for anything to embrace and be of god it has to embrace and be of agapi love.............................1john4 "god is love."
That is true...and it's that love that brought Jesus to this earth to die on the cross so that homosexuals, murderers, liars, coveters, etc, etc, could have a chance to be forgiven and come out of that lifestyle and live a life of overcoming, victory, and healing.
im not sure what you are saying women were denied rightsfrom the onset of time............check out wikipedia womens rights. point is for society to embrace these levels of social conscious they have to evolve to certain level of awareness. the turn of the century man(1900) would have been unable to understand ethnic equality.
as far as "one flesh" im not completely clear about its total meaning . my only understanding is that for anything to embrace and be of god it has to embrace and be of agapi love.............................1john4 "god is love."
feetxxxl - "gmg i misspoke when i said they were property..........................although their rights were subserviant to the husband, the control over the wife was very similar to what exists today in taliban communities, as far the husband dictating what a wife can do or not do."
In the OT times life was very primitive, which is very hard for us to comprehend. God endowed humans with the proclivities necessary to do the jobs he set for us to do. Men he made protectors, providers, etc. and gave them what they needed to do the job, women were childbearers, caretakers, etc. with what they needed for that. If a husband died, his brother was to marry the widow or she could not survive. God's provision for authority was God - prophets - priests - man - woman. He set it all up based on a logical sequence and gave to each what was needed for the job.
NT times were somewhat more "modern", but still Jesus listed the line of authority as Jesus - man - woman. You will remember that we are told "husbands, love your wife as Jesus loves the church, and gave His life for it". That is a tall order, and calls for a large love.
God made Adam a "helpmate", not a doormat. In NT times there were many women who had important significant roles, and Paul, who is said to be against women's rights, praised these women for their work. Even in OT times, there were many women used mightily of God, Esther is one great example. The problem is humankind, and it began in the Garden.
God made man and woman to be joined together to become one. Man is one half, woman the other, both different according to God's design, two distinct halves that together make a whole. This was His plan.
My last post addressed each of your issues from your post, I would appreciate hearing from you on these other issues.
tom
when was that period in your life when you were equally attracted to both men and women, and chose a heterosexual life.
gmg i misspoke when i said they were property..........................although their rights were subserviant to the husband, the control over the wife was very similar to what exists today in taliban communities, as far the husband dictating what a wife can do or not do.
below was is description of rights of women in 1848,. after the first convwention for womens rights it was 72 years before they were given the right to vote. the understanding of scripture played a pivotal role in society's willingmess to grant those rights.
Married women were legally dead in the eyes of the law
Women were not allowed to vote
Women had to submit to laws when they had no voice in their formation
Married women had no property rights
Husbands had legal power over and responsibility for their wives to the extent that they could imprison or beat them with impunity
Divorce and child custody laws favored men, giving no rights to women
Women had to pay property taxes although they had no representation in the levying of these taxes
Most occupations were closed to women and when women did work they were paid only a fraction of what men earned
Women were not allowed to enter professions such as medicine or law
Women had no means to gain an education since no college or university would accept women students
With only a few exceptions, women were not allowed to participate in the affairs of the church
feet please understand I think in this country everybody should be able to live under the current laws and without special privileges. I agree even to those in the gay community, however Homosexuality is a matter of choice and they should not have any more special rights or protection then anybody else and these laws should be enforced. This also means that they should be willing to accept criticisim for there actions just like everybody else. They are no different then anybody else, except when it comes to Christians and Christianity and then the really only difference is we are have repented accepted Christ as Savior and have been forgiven set free from the bondage of sin. Gods Blessing on you and yours
In Christ
Tom
how eloquent. how moving...like a hallmark channel Christmas movie. let me get a tissue.
but as moving and heart wrenching as that was, it still can't cover sin. because the same thing could be said about abortion too...or do you condone that as well? never mind...i dont want to know.
But you would make a great politician. "I did not have sex with that woman" "Define sex. is doing it orally considered sex since there was no penetration?" Walk the line, see how close you can come to hell and still keep your wings...mm mm.
Twist all you want...God's judgement is true and eternal.
God loves the homosexual...that's why He sent His son to die on the cross for their sin, and to draw them out of that lifestyle...