Date: Fri, 2 Dec 1994 07:46:54 -0500 (GMT-0500) From: "Thomas W. Holt Jr." Subject: ELCA Statement on Sexuality (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 1 Dec 1994 23:08:52 -0500 From: DENLEWIS@delphi.com To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: ELCA Statement on Sexuality The December issue of The Lutheran magazine includes excerpts from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's latest document on human sexuality. Here are the statements dealing with gay men and lesbians: "In its traditional teaching the church has understood that God made human beings 'male and female' in the divine image, blessing them with the command to 'be fruitful and multiply.' "The church has also appealed to the Scriptures' explicit condemnation of homosexual activity. "In recent times ... many Christians have questioned the church's traditional teaching. They have argued that gay and lesbian persons are 'by nature' attracted to persons of the same gender. They have concluded it is neither right nor just for the church to require gay and lesbian persons to abstain from all sexual activity. "The issues at stake are important, complex and often deeply emotional. They pose basic biblical, theological and ethical questions. ... This church rejects the idea that is must at this time make a definite legislative decision concerning its teaching on and practice with gay and lesbian persons. ... Rather this church commits itself to continuing deliberation in the midst of this dilemma. This church will continue for now its current policy and practice in relation to gay and lesbian persons and will rely for its teachings on the social statements from its predecessor church bodies. "This church also recognizes that ... some of its teenage members will be struggling with their sexual orientation and the possibility that they may be homosexual persons. Parents, adult Christian friends, clergy and youth counselors must listen to and nurture these young persons with sensitivity, understanding and compassion." The magazine also published these statistics on ELCA membership, taken from a general social survey conducted by the University of Chicago National Opinion Research Center: 35% -- Married couples with no children 25% -- Single adults 24% -- Married couples with children 5% -- Single-parent families The remaining 11% includes related and unrelated people living together.