ELCA–from Rod
Ever heard of Neuhaus’s Law? It’s Father Richard John Neuhaus’s observation that “Wherever orthodoxy is optional, it sooner or later will be proscribed.” This news from Father Neuhaus’s old communion, the mainline Evangelical Liberal Church of America (ELCA), seems to me to be a pretty good example of Neuhaus’s Law in action. Excerpt:
The country’s largest Lutheran denomination officially bars openly gay people from the ministry. But in a move that advocates for gays are hailing as a step toward changing that policy, the denomination is urging bishops to refrain from disciplining gay and lesbian clergy members who are in committed same-sex relationships.A resolution to that effect was passed last weekend in Chicago by delegates to the biennial meeting of the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
Church officials said it did not signal a change in policy. But they said a denomination task force is completing “a social statement,” or theological document, on human sexuality, to be discussed in 2009, and the resolution allows bishops to hold off, in the interim, on taking action against gay and lesbian ministers in their jurisdictions.
Robert Tuttle, counsel to the Bishop of the Metropolitan Washington synod, said, “What it changes is that it gives bishops some cover who want to exercise discretion to not bring charges.”
Those who support the ordination of openly gay and lesbian people hailed the vote.
“Full inclusion and acceptance is still down the road, but the dam of discrimination has been broken,” said Emily Eastwood, executive director of Lutherans Concerned/North America. “The church is on the road to acceptance.”
Does anybody — no matter where you stand on homosexuality and religion — doubt that she’s right in that last prediction? Within 10 years, the ELCA will vindicate Neuhaus’s Law. Watch.
