Top Lutheran Bodies Meet for Theological and Social Discussion
Despite differences in social theology and outlook, the top leaders of the two largest U.S-based Lutheran denominations gathered in St. Louis, Mo. to discuss topics on missions and outreach.
Despite differences in social theology and outlook, the top leaders of the two largest U.S-based Lutheran denominations gathered in St. Louis, Mo. to discuss topics on missions and outreach.
The March 29 meeting was part of the historic tradition between the five-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the 2.5-million-member Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). Twice a year, representatives from the two groups convene as the Committee on Lutheran Cooperation to discuss the works they share: disaster response, world relief, military chaplaincy, and various social-ministry capacities.
According to LCMS news, the president of LCMS, Gerald B. Kieschnick, reported on the denomination’s priorities for mission and higher education.
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“Kieschnick referred to “Ablaze!”—the convention-approved movement to tell 100 million people worldwide about Jesus Christ by 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation,” LCMS reported. “He said the Synod’s colleges and seminaries have been asked to help the effort by offering special courses equipping pastors and other professional church workers to provide mission leadership.”
Meanwhile, ELCA reported that their top leader, Presiding Bishop Rev. Mark S. Hanson, said the church sees itself as “enabling people to be in mission locally.”
"As I move around our church body, I think we're claiming the 'evangelical' in our name," Rev. Hanson said, according to ELCA.
The committee members also noted “similar approaches among their regional jurisdictions to train lay ministers,” LCMS news stated. “Working under the supervision of ordained clergy, the lay workers often serve in rural congregations and among ethnic populations that cannot afford a full-time pastor.”
The two church groups are nearly at polar ends on the theological spectrum. The LCMS, a national denomination established in 18>>, is one of the most conservative church-bodies in the nation. The Synod bans the ordination of homosexuals as clergy, and furthermore prohibits completely the ordination of females. Most other denominations known for conservatism – including the Southern Baptist Convention – allow females to be ordained for all positions except for the senior pastorate.
The ELCA meanwhile is much more liberal in the social and theological context: the denomination ordains women and celibate homosexuals and is now considering ordaining active homosexuals.
This January, the ELCA task force on Sexuality released their report on whether to ordain active homosexuals and bless same-gender relationships. The task force essentially recommended the church continue to walk together and hold onto already-established standards prohibiting the ordinations and blessings, but at the same time left room for dissenting members choose otherwise.
The ELCA’s sexuality debate was a main focus of a theological discussion held on March 29th as part of the CLC meeting.
During the discussions, LCMS representatives provided a response to the task force recommendations that said the LCMS sees Scriptural authority as the foundational issue on same-sex uniosn.
“The report does not speak clearly and authoritatively regarding homosexual behavior and the ordination of those who are openly involved in such behavior,” the LCMS response said. “This goes contrary to the historic and universal understanding of the Christian Church regarding what the Holy Scriptures teach about homosexual behavior as contrary to God’s will and about the Biblical qualifications for holding the pastoral office.”
