ELCA sexuality report on page 1 of New York Times

Tamar Lewin wrote the article, "Lutherans to decide whether to sanction homosexual unions" which appeared on page A1 and and A13 of the New York Times, a newspaper not known for its religious articles. Of course, that was October 1993; Ms. Lewin reported that the group had been studying the problem for four years, which would take it back to, let's see, 20 years ago, 1989. If you've been following the painful story, where the majority of the members of ELCA was nibbled and sniggled to death by a tiny minority who volunteer for these long battles, you know that the final decision was made this past August.

She also said "The draft statement does not specifically recommend that the church allow homosexual marriage. Instead, it asks the 5.6 million Lutherans, who will be deciding the church's position over the next two years, to consider whether the church should recommend lifelong abstinence for homosexuals, tolerate homosexuality or affirmatively bless unions between people of the same sex . . ." but that it didn't recommend the first choice because that might harm gay and lesbian people and their families. She also said the draft affirmed traditional marriage, which I don't think the later drafts did--not sure they even mentioned male and female, husband and wife.

Lutheran congregations are pulling out and reforming in a variety of organizations--
Word Alone, Lutheran Core and Lutheran Churches in Mission for Christ. Some Lutheran pastors and laypeople caught on very early creating these groups back in the early 90s. Some ALC congregations never joined ELCA back in 1988 merger with LCA and formed a small nationwide synod, and their numbers continue to grow and grow.

So if your church/denomination is going down this road, just get out now. Twenty years of talking, negotiating, compromising, and scripture twisting will get you where ELCA is now, divided and divorcing. The leadership of UALC (Upper Arlington Lutheran Church) has promised we will be leaving ELCA--but, as you can see, these things do take time.

Link to digitized article.