World's Lutherans Debate Homosexuality, Critical Issues
While facing debates over ethical issues, including homosexuality, Lutherans from around the world were encouraged to stay in communion around their common faith.
At the Lutheran World Federation's 60th anniversary service on Sunday, Church of Sweden Archbishop Anders Wejryd told hundreds of attendants that the different practices of the churches on several matters should not threaten the communion of Lutheran churches, according to an LWF press release.
"All we do in our churches and in our entire lives can and should be related to justification as a gift from God that is to be humbly received and lived by, in faith," he said. "A true interpretation of the Bible does not only bring people to understand the rules and contents of the Bible but it brings them to Jesus."
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Although Jesus had shed light on Scriptures it was up to the members of the communion to interpret them, based on the hermeneutical principles and "looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith," he added.
The archbishop's comments come in the midst of an eight-day meeting of the LWF Council (the group's main governing body) where Lutheran churches were encouraged by LWF's general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, to discuss issues of marriage, family and sexuality among other topics.
Church representatives from Africa were vocal in their opposition to same-sex "marriage."
"If God had wanted people from the same sex to have relationships he would have created Adam and Adam, not Adam and Eve," said Satou Marthe, a woman delegate from Cameroon, according to Ecumenical News International.
The European Lutheran churches called for a "profound theological study on marriage, family and biblical hermeneutics," according to LWF. And the North American conference said there is a need to "identify social, political, cultural and interfaith factors" that shape perspectives on these issues.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America had issued a three-part series of studies on human sexuality in recent years out of a mandate by the 2001 Churchwide Assembly. Responses from congregants around the country are expected to help shape ELCA's statement on human sexuality, including such issues as same-sex marriage and the consecration of homosexuals.
While Noko urged for dialogue among member churches on the controversial issue, African and Asian regions felt there was too much emphasis on issues of sexuality and not enough on pornography, child prostitution, and violence in the marriage and family.
The Lutheran World Federation does not have a stand on the issue of homosexuality yet.
The Church of Sweden – the largest Lutheran church in the world – had announced last week that marriage should be reserved for heterosexual couples but that the church would give blessings to same-sex couples in committed, faithful relationships, according to Ecumenical News International.
The Council meeting, which concludes Tuesday, is taking place in Lund, Sweden, where the government is taking steps toward allowing gay marriage. Sweden already recognizes civil unions between homosexual couples.
