MEMORANDUM

To:                 The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
From:              Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
Subject:          Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Document
“Report and Recommendations on Ministry Policies”
Date:              February 22, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Grace and peace be with you, from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

It is with great disappointment and deep sadness that I share with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod these brief comments on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Task Force on Sexuality document “Gift and Trust” and the “Report and Recommendations on Ministry Policies.” The “Report and Recommendations” document recommends that the ELCA undertake a process that would result in the incorporation of “structured flexibility in decision making to allow, in appropriate situations, people in publicly accountable, monogamous, lifelong, same-gendered relationships to be approved for the rosters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.” The two documents were released February 19 by an ELCA task force and are expected to be considered by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August.

If this recommendation should be adopted by the Churchwide Assembly, it would constitute a change in the ELCA’s present position, which precludes “practicing homosexuals” from being included on its rosters. More importantly, it would constitute a radical departure from the 2,000-year-long teaching of the Christian tradition that homosexual activity, whether inside or outside of a committed relationship, is contrary to Holy Scripture.

As the ELCA Task Force Report itself states, “This church [the ELCA] does not have biblical and theological consensus on this matter.” It therefore concludes that the ELCA “must seek a common way to live and serve in the midst of disagreements” such as “the understanding of the nature of sin,” “the interpretation of the Bible,” “how the Bible guides our lives,” and “the level of disagreement the ELCA can bear.”

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has repeatedly affirmed the biblical truth and historical understanding of the Christian church that the Bible condemns homosexual behavior as “intrinsically sinful” and is therefore contrary to the will of the Creator and constitutes sin against the commandments of God (Lev. 18:22, 24,20:13; 1 Cor. 6:9-20; 1 Tim 1:9-10; and Rom. 1:26, 27).

Our prayer in the LCMS is that our gracious God will penetrate the lives and hearts of the leaders and members of the ELCA in the coming months as they discuss, debate, and determine the outcome of the task force report and its recommendations.

In the meantime, it behooves us in the LCMS, in a spirit of sincere humility, love, care, and concern, to continue to endeavor faithfully to honor Resolution 3-21A of the 2001 Convention of our Synod that while “we cannot consider [the ELCA] to be an orthodox Lutheran church body . we of the LCMS recognize that many of our brothers and sisters of the ELCA remain faithful to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and we resolve to reach out to them in love and support .”

God’s grace, mercy, and peace be with us all.

Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod

“Transforming lives through Christ’s love …  in time … for eternity …” John 3:16-17

Who didn’t see this one coming?  Robert Epstein, in the December 4, 2008 edition of the L.A. Times writes that the only problem with same-sex marriage is that it is too limiting.  See the article here.  There are many other types of legitimate partnerships that could use legal validation, he says.  “Many?”  To his credit, he does mention such options as polgyny, polyandry, group marriage and temporary marriage.  But why stop there?

There have been some misnomers out there that describe deaconesses as “nuns” or “mini-pastors.” This blog post hopes to develop a primer discussion of what a deaconess is and what she is not, and leave you to understand the important distinctions of both. In relation to what deaconesses are alongside any other offices, this will hopefully offer development of a healthy attitude, not only about deaconesses, but the Word of God demonstrated in these instruments of Christ’s mercy.

A DEACONESS IS NOT A NUN:

• A Deaconess reaches out into the community and congregation to the lost and suffering. She has no vows or oaths that she must take, apart from being in agreement and faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions (because it agrees with Scripture).

• A Deaconess is able to be married and carry on deaconess service. Again, no vows of celibacy or monasticism are required or encouraged. Likewise, a deaconess is not required or encouraged to be married, either, if she does not desire these things; so long as she acts in accordance with Scripture in propriety and obedience to the Sixth Commandment (which goes for all people, not just deaconesses!)

• A Deaconess knows the richness of our Lutheran theology, and is able to articulate and act, in mercy, on our confession of faith with grace and wisdom for the edification of the Church, especially to the ones who she has been charged to serve.

A DEACONESS IS NOT A PASTOR:

• The deaconess is consecrated (set apart for godly service), not ordained. Her service begins at the nave and door of the Church. While she does not preach or administer the Lord’s Supper, she can certainly prepare the Altar for the Sacrament prior to the Divine Service, but does not participate in the distribution of it.

• The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod upholds and respects God’s Biblical order of Creation. Woman was created as helper of man (Gen. 2:18). Deaconesses exemplify this and other expressions of God’s Word (Eph 5:25, 1 Timothy 3:12). This is to be understood as the inerrant Word of God truly freeing both men and women to be exactly who they are, in Christ Jesus, as the ultimate focus.

• Diaconal emphasis of service is on care, teaching and reaching out to women, children, and elderly

This primer hopefully brings clarity to some otherwise confused or misleading views. The most important aspect of deaconess service is giving all glory to God, and pointing others to our Savior, Jesus Christ. A deaconess serves as a “buffer”-many times between the world and the Altar and Font, where Jesus promises to be. While all children of God are called to bear witness to the Gospel and show where God is located, a deaconess is a leader and resource to those she serves, helping and encouraging all to works of mercy and compassion. Glory be to God for sending all laborers into His Harvest!

On May 15 the California Supreme Court ruled that the state’s marriage laws are discriminatory and that homosexual couples will be allowed to apply for marriage licenses and get married. What a tragedy that the state of California has further sanctioned a sinful sexual relationship.

“California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George wrote for the majority ‘In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognized that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation’” (Chicago Tribune, 5/16/2008 p. 19).

This is their definition of marriage: loving, long-term, and responsibility? Could not the families of the children evacuated from the polygamist compound in Texas describe their relationships as loving, long-term, and responsible? Would the relationship between father and step-daughter in Lolita be similarly described by some? What has made homosexuality a more acceptable sexual deviancy than pedophilia or polygamy?

According to the California any relationship that could be substantiated to the court as loving, long-term, and responsible should be given sanction to marry. Ironically, when divorce, abuse, and neglect are taken into account, more than fifty percent of traditional marriages wouldn’t qualify under this definition (with Hollywood couples giving us high-profile examples).

When we are confronted by the world we must not call a good thing evil and an evil thing good, but instead, call a thing what it actually is (Luther’s Heidelberg Theses, 21). We must call homosexuality what it is: sinful. Then, we can bring the gospel to our neighbors in this world as they trapped in this sin (as we ourselves are trapped in so many others). When churches and governments call an evil thing good and good things evil they have fallen out of their God-given callings and forsaken their neighbors, their brothers and sisters in Christ, and sentenced them to live continually in sin. We would no sooner allow our brothers and sisters to persist in the sins of stealing, murder, or adultery than we can sanction homosexuality.

This is to frame homosexuality together with all sins which consume this world and to place yourselves into the same boat as homosexuals and everyone who needs God’s law and gospel to set us free from sin and death. This is not a matter of elevating ourselves over our neighbor (this too would be sinful), but rather acknowledging that we, like them, need the grace of God won for us by Jesus Christ. It is also a matter of the church of God proclaiming His Word in its fullness and truth.

How then shall we live? Love your neighbor. Pray for them, share God’s Word with them, and seek to rescue them from all manner of sinfulness just as you yourself embrace and hold fast to the work of Jesus and the new life that you have in him.

Gary Chapman has gotten a lot of notoriety these last few years with his marital self help book, “The Five Love Languages.” According to him, the 5 categories of love languages are: Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch. He believes that we are programmed on some level to respond or want to receive love in one or more of these particular categories from our spouse. And, until we recognize what language we or our spouse “speaks,” we aught not be surprised when frustrations and deep marital problems arise.

On some level, you have to admit he is right. In the context of Western civilizations’ understanding of what we think we and our spouses should be doing to fulfill our notions of love, well, he’s nailed it. And to Chapman’s credit, he at least recognizes love as an action not founded on simple or waning romantic feelings. However, this can be misleading. Our overt actions are not the only glue to keeping our marriage in tact or devoid of problems. This would make us think that we are totally responsible; and whether you realize it our not, that’s a lot of pressure! An amusing case in point is Fox News’ latest headline suggesting, “Women, Want a Healthy Marriage? Marry Man Uglier Than You.” Well then, case closed-I guess that solves the divorce rate problem! If anyone concludes that taking responsibility for having a healthy marriage rests solely on choosing the less attractive spouse, they are diluting themselves. Now let’s get serious.

As Christians, we understand that God has brought husband and wife together (Mt. 19:6). The key to this understanding is God’s action. The free will between the man and woman surrounding the choice of their spouse and marriage should be, as the pastor says “not entered into inadvisably, lightly, etc. (Heb. 13:4)” because problems will come up! Do not rely solely on the betrothed, but seek others advice and wisdom of your spouses character. Also, the “one flesh” that is created by God between two people in marriage is just as He says; they become a new creation (Gen 2:24). The consummation and promise (this is not just referring to sex) of man and wife, is just like Christ’s consummation with His Church. It is, in the context of “the five love languages,” a fulfillment of all of them- but yet so much more. Where sinful man and woman lack, Christ ‘opens up his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing (Ps 145:16).’’ This is an intimacy that transcends any notion of physical gratification. Couples who are bound to the Church by Christ, have everything that they need! Meaning, a marriage whose spouses cling to Christ and His very present and continuous action (or ‘love language’) of Word and Sacrament, is fulfilled with the promise of life, salvation and the forgiveness of sins.

Among the many problems with Chapman’s book, is that he does not spend time talking about our true Identity; and from it, how our actions flow. A marriage certainly takes work and action because it is dealing with two sinful people. Consequently, desires can run amok and become unholy like greed and lust. Let us not fool our pious selves from thinking these things do not lead to grave and sad things like divorce. But even these things are not without reconciliation. When we receive and believe who we are in Christ, our actions are motivated by the Gospel in constant confession of our Lord. Our identity in Christ does not make us Christ, but leads us back to Him in repentance and to receive His holy absolution, which is true love, in Christ, that only He can give.

Spouses who regularly confess their sins and receive Christ in Word and Sacrament together, are as a threefold cord that is not quickly broken (Ecc.4:12). Our Lord’s language is the Word as the motivator for a healthy marriage.