For Immediate ReleaseAugust 26, 2009
Concordia Theological Seminary Responds to Actions at ELCA ConventionFORT WAYNE, IN (CTS)
‹As Christians in an ever-changing world it is imperative that we be ready with a response when those changes are contraryto God's word. The Rev. Dr. Dean O. Wenthe, President, ConcordiaTheological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, stresses that we must also make that response with clarity and charity. A video of Dr. Wenthe's response to actions at the recent convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) may be found at the seminary's website, www.ctsfw.edu<http://www.ctsfw.edu/> .³
Concordia Theological Seminary, with the Christian church throughout history, confesses the sanctity of marriage as a union between a man and a woman God's gift of marriage at creation is a beautiful and abiding blessing upon all of humanity. Similarly, we believe the living and healing voice of Jesus through His prophets and apostles Sacred Scripture when He calls us to fidelity in marriage and warns about the harmful and destructive impact upon human beings when adultery, promiscuity, or homosexuality are practiced. In departing from two thousand years of Christian teaching and practice as well as challenging the majority of present day Christians, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has exhibited sectarian behavior that saddens a large spectrum of the Christian community.We pray that the Lord will strengthen those who remain faithful to His healing Word and recall those who have so tragically abandoned that Word and its healing and absolving Truth. Please also consult President Kieschnick¹s address to the ELCA ChurchwideAssembly as posted on the LCMS Website at www.lcms.org<http://www.lcms.org/> .² (Dean O. Wenthe, President, Concordia Theological Seminary, August 25, 2009)
###The mission of Concordia Theological Seminary is to form servants in Jesus Christ who teach the faithful, reach the lost, and care for all. For additional information on educational opportunities and events at CTS please e-mail PublicRelations@ctsfw.edu or phone 260-452-2100.
HT: Rev. Matt Harrison
Words for the Wise
3 hours ago
many Lutherans do not know that Martin Luther claims the fall of Sodom and Gomorra was primarily due to the Homosexual act. I am concerned with what was done because it disrupts our Apostolic Creed which states “THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH” by means of building of the foundation of Apostles and Prophets for one baptism , one faith, one hope, and one body. The question is can sin or moral sin exist in the body when it is Holy and the answer is yes. The statement Holy does not mean that the body can not house sin. Christ warned against it continually and gave us a parable of the wheat and tares to confirm that sin can be among our body. Paul had to chastise a congregation because of the sexual immorality in its members. So to say what was done was ordained by God can be in error. To measure the correctness simply ask: Is the act of homosexuality sin? Is it a sin against the spirit? Now as does the action or continued practice of homosexuality manifest the Holy Spirit or does in manifest the flesh. If it is sin and does not build the spirit and does not manifest the Holy Spirit do we want that action to guide us toward the living Christ? God has ordained his Sheppard’s to watch over his sheep and there is a responsibility to be examples to our daily walk of life this is not saying that all ministers are or should be sinless but rather that their words are that of God through them. In other words, what the church allows on earth the same will be allowed in heaven. Therefore allowing practicing Homosexuals in a relationship guide us in the way of the Lord is to say God will bless the act in heaven. I personally disagree with that thought on the basis of scripture, life long theologians for thousands of years and my own spirit who is guided by the Holy Spirit as a Christian.
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