The majority of Anglican leaders demanded that the US Episcopal Church unequivocally bar official prayers for gay couples and the consecration of more gay bishops to undo the damage that North Americans have caused the Anglican family.

After a tense six-day meeting, the leaders said that past pledges by Episcopalians for a moratorium on gay unions and consecrations have been so ambiguous that they have failed to fully mend "broken relationships" in the 77 million-member Anglican Communion.

The Episcopal Church, the U.S. wing of world Anglicanism, must clarify its position by Sept. 30 or its relations with other Anglicans will remain "damaged at best." The debate erupted in 2003 when Episcopalians consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

Let's get this straight, Gene Robinson (forget he's gay for one minute), is a BISHOP (meaning in charge of pastors), admits he has a relationship outside of marriage and it's OK?! Please, regular people can see through that problem and I am willing to make the jump that the Episcopal church will slowly die out like all the rest of the mainline denominations.

Anglican traditionalists believe gay relationships violate Scripture and they have demanded that the U.S. church adhere to that teaching or face discipline. Funny thing is, Episcopals (some not all) will use the same passages to support their case.

Supporters of ordaining gays believe biblical teachings on justice and inclusion should take precedence.

The convention rejected proposals for a churchwide liturgy for gay partners. However, a small number of US dioceses have moved toward developing local prayers and some dioceses have allowed priests to conduct the ceremonies privately.

The advocacy group Integrity, which represents Episcopal gays and lesbians, accused the leaders of bigotry, and urged Episcopalians to lobby their bishops to reject the demands.

Anglican leaders called on all sides in the conflict to end their lawsuits and recommended the creation of a pastoral council and a special vicar to oversee the minority of conservative U.S. dioceses and parishes that feel they cannot accept Jefferts Schori's leadership. Among the goals of the plan is to create an alternative so U.S. parishes stop affiliating with overseas Anglicans — a violation of communion tradition.

Sanctity of Marriage Lost in Lutheran Church

Another gay minister plays by his own rules.

We've all heard the stories of the gay minister popping up here and there. They found out they were gay and everyone accepted them for who they were. Well, I'll go out on a limb and say, 'fine, you want to play that game fine'.

Struggling with homosexual tendencies is one thing, but when is it OK for Christian ministers to be gay AND to have a gay partner? The same people who are supposed to uphold the sanctity of marriage are themselves acting against it. I can imagine how the spirituality of these congregations are thrown for loops cause their leaders/shepherds run amok with heresy.

Southern Baptists issue doctorate to woman then fire her.

Let me get this straight, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary provided theologian Sheri Klouda with her doctorate, provided her with a teaching position, and later fired her for being a woman. I guess somebody with a lot of money feels women (in this case woman) are incapable (based on the Bible I'm sure) to teach theology and/or original languages.

I can't help but note a hint of hypocrisy going on, not only with SBT but throughout evangelical denominations in general. You'll also note the progression of this whole 'females in ministry' debate. Before, women couldn't teach anything, then they could teach kids. Before women couldn't teach men, and then recently they could teach in Bible Colleges and even seminaries. Now, women can't teach theology and original languages.... Sorry if this sounds strange, but clearly the 'paradigm' shift will slowly move to accept women as suitable teachers.
In my opinion, if the Lord bestows the spiritual gift of teaching to a woman there's nothing in Scripture preventing her from doing so and nothing a church committee can determine that trumps the gift of God.

You know, this debate kinda sounds like, among other examples, a bit like the Jehovah Witnesses? Right now they won't allow blood transfusions--many have died. In the past they wouldn't even allow vaccinations! Of course that changed as time moved on, one expects the same to occur with blood transfusions (maybe even birthdays). I surmise so will this topic of women in ministry/teaching.

One bit from the article that caught my eye was the last paragraph. "Sheri Klouda is not a pastor, she has not been ordained or licensed, she does not perform ministerial duties. She is a professor, for heaven's sake," Wade Burleson said. "The same institution that conferred her degree and hired her has now removed her for gender. To me, that is a very serious, ethical, moral breach."

This brings up a very good point. Why would you grant a degree to someone if they can't teach anywhere? Is that not theft by the institution, taking the money from students when they know very well they'll never have opportunity to get at job? If women can't be ordained/teach then why on earth do denominations take their money in Bible Colleges and Seminaries?

To further complicate the matter, many women who can't get ordained here move to mission work overseas. Funny thing is, in the mission field they act as ministers in the absence of men performing the normal duties of ordained male ministers with full blessings from denominations. However, once they come back to the 'cultured' first world nations with the 'we know better here' attitude, they are relegated to backbenchers.

Your thoughts? Further discussion to be held in the Pomo Forum.

Some shuffling in the RC church. Edmonton archbishop to lead in Toronto. Monsignor Thomas Collins, now Archbishop of Edmonton, has been named by Pope Benedict to lead the archdiocese of Toronto.

HERE WE STAND

The ELCIC is in a crisis of faith. The same sex blessing issue is only one symptom of that which divides us.

At the heart of the crisis is a false gospel that is a departure from the historic teaching of Christianity as stated in the Book of Concord which Lutherans understand to be a faithful interpretation of Holy Scripture.

We remain in full accord with the ELCIC’s confession of faith as stated in Article II of this Church’s constitution. Therefore we must reject any new teaching that contradicts, the Scriptures, the theology of the Lutheran Church, our constitution and the teaching of the Christian Church both today and throughout time.

1. The Word of God

(John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Peter 1:16-21)

We confess: “…the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, through which God still speaks, and as the only source of the church’s doctrine and the authoritative standard for the faith and life of the church.”

(ELCIC Constitution Article II Section 3)

We also subscribe to: “…the documents of the Book of Concord of 1580 as witnesses to the way in which the Holy Scriptures have been correctly understood, explained and confessed for the sake of the Gospel.”

(ELCIC Constitution Article II, Section 4)

We reject any interpretation of the Scriptures which would forbid the use of our intellects, and we equally reject any interpretation of Scripture which would subordinate Scriptures to reason, experience, or culture. We also reject the notion that Scripture is not the Word of God but only contains the Word of God.

2. Law and Gospel

(Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21, Romans 1:16-19, Matthew 5:17-20)

We believe God’s Word comes to us as law and gospel. The law judges our sin and the gospel pronounces forgiveness of sins. The law maintains its function in ordering society and driving us to Christ. Because each of us is still both saint and sinner it is still necessary to preach both law and gospel even to those who believe.

We reject any teaching which would void the law, leading to a false understanding that we are no longer sinners in need of repentance.

3. The Trinity

(Matthew 28:18-21, Luke 10:21-22, John 3:31-36, John 16: 4b-33)

We believe, teach and confess the historic understanding of the Triune God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We reject the false teaching that the naming of God as Father is a human construct to be understood on the analogy of human fatherhood that designates God as male.

We reject the notion that the Trinitarian name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is inherently oppressive to human beings in general or women in particular; or that substituting other triadic terms is adequate. The Word of God is silenced among us whenever the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is ignored, minimized, marginalized, suppressed, or altered in the church’s preaching, praying, baptizing and confessing.

4. Creation and the Image of God

(Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Leviticus 18:22, Mark 10:6-7, Romans 1:27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)

We believe that God created all things and that his purpose in creation was for good.
This includes his creation of humanity in his own image as male and female. Therefore human sexual fulfillment is to be found within a proper relationship to God and creation as expressed in marriage, which is a relationship between one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others.

Any other expression of sexual relationships beyond human male – female relationships is itself an assault on creation.

Therefore we reject any teaching that runs contrary to God’s created design.

5. The Uniqueness of Christ

(John 3:16-21, John 14:6, Acts 4:12., Rom. 10:16-17)

We believe that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. The gift of salvation is given by grace through faith to all who believe in Christ.
We reject any teaching which says that salvation comes without repentance, and without belief in Christ (Augsburg Confession Article XVII).

We also reject any teaching which says that all religions lead to salvation.

6. Christian Inclusivity

(Mark 8:34-38, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11, Galatians 5: 13-24, Ephesians 4:17-5:20)

We believe Jesus Christ invites and welcomes all people to receive forgiveness of their sins and calls us to follow Him in a renewed and changed life.

We reject any teaching that would turn Christ’s welcome into a false gospel which allows people to do whatever they please.

Quotes from Martin Luther:

“Moreover, the Word of God must undergo the most shameful and spiteful persecution and blasphemy; it is contradicted, perverted, misused, and misinterpreted.”

“They believe that one should not frighten people or have them worried but always encouragingly speak about grace and the forgiveness in Christ. And so they say, ‘Listen, you are an adulterer, use prostitutes, are miserly or commit other sins? Only believe and you are saved. You do not have to fear the law. Christ has fulfilled all.’ They may be nice Easter-preachers but they are terrible Pentecost-preachers for they do not preach the sanctification through the Holy Spirit. Because Christ wants us to have not only forgiveness of sins but also that we stop sinning.”