P → Q

from Midwest Conservative Journal by The Editor

Action? Say hello to consequence:

The latest casualty of the long-running Protestant conflicts over the Bible and homosexuality is a massive network of social service agencies that work in areas ranging from adoption to disaster relief.

The theologically conservative Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod announced this week that direct work with its larger and more liberal counterpart, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has become “difficult if not impossible,” because of doctrinal differences, including the 2009 decision by liberal Lutherans to lift barriers for ordaining gays and lesbians.

“We recognize that this is a difficult issue. It’s complicated,” said the Rev. Herb Mueller, first vice president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, based in St. Louis. “We’re trying to take a nuanced and caring approach to all of these situations that’s also faithful to what the Bible teaches on these issues.”

The Rev. Donald McCoid, an ecumenical officer for the Chicago-based Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said, “we are deeply concerned about the ministries of care that may be challenged by the recent action of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.”

The split has already started.

The only immediate announced break was for the Missouri Synod to stop its practice of training military chaplains with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The president of the Missouri Synod, the Rev. Matthew Harrison, said in a statement that the decision, effective next year, was based on the ELCA decision on gay ordination, and on the military’s plan to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell,” policy.

And is likely to widen since Missouri Synod Lutherans has these troubling things called theological standards.

The Missouri Synod theology committee said members of its denomination should examine whether joint cooperative agencies:

- Adopt operational principles “alien or contrary” to Scripture.

- Hire staff or a leader “whose lifestyle is scandalous or openly and unrepentantly sinful.”

- Have board members overseeing an agency who “become conflicted because of differing beliefs.”

- Have leaders or staff who advocate policies “contrary to the Christian faith.”

The committee used its most direct language to discuss the future of its corps of chaplains who work outside of the military, in nursing homes and hospitals, and on college campuses, among other assignments.

“The ELCA’s current theological course presents serious theological challenges to any continued cooperation in endorsement procedures,” according to the Missouri-Synod report.

Although they’ll probably be accused of hurting the “poor” or something, one can only applaud the LCMS. Putting people’s souls at risk is a serious matter. And working closely with a church whose teachings are diametrically opposed to your own completely cuts the ground out from under what you claim to believe.

Funny how some churches don’t seem to understand that.