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Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Two area churches are defecting from ELCA over gay clergy issue
by John Gessner
and Jeff Achen
Thisweek Newspapers
Hosanna! Lutheran, the Lakeville mega-church that made headlines this month with its pending decision to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, isn’t alone.
Community of Hope in Rosemount, which was launched in 2002 by four local congregations, ended its ELCA affiliation on Nov. 1.
According to the St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA, those were the only of its churches to pull out as of Nov. 12.
But the action that preceded the defections – the ELCA’s August decision to allow ordination of gay clergy people living in committed relationships – continues to stir debate.
“Our church is still in the midst of the conversation,” said the Rev. Kent Claussen Gubrud, senior pastor of Christus Victor Lutheran in Apple Valley.
Per Nilsen, senior pastor of Community of Hope, said the ELCA Churchwide Assembly’s edict wasn’t the only reason his church board voted to cut ties. He said there is a lack of evangelical focus on the part of the ELCA.
In addition to the decision on gay clergy, the assembly voted to develop a process for religious blessing of committed same-sex relationships.
“For us, there was concern about the utilization of Scripture, a disconnect between an orthodox reading of Scripture and an unorthodox reading,” said Nilsen, whose church was launched by four Dakota County congregations: Prince of Peace in Burnsville, Shepherd of the Valley in Apple Valley, Easter in Eagan and Hosanna!
He said the defection will allow Community of Hope to “align ourselves with other like-minded Lutheran churches.”
“All people are welcome to worship at Community of Hope,” said Nilsen, a former associate pastor at Prince of Peace. “Fundamentally, sexuality is a gift from God and is to be expressed in a marriage relationship, and that is between one man and one woman.”
Prince of Peace’s church board concluded in September it won’t call a homosexual pastor in a committed relationship, reaffirming a 2004 position statement, according to the Rev. Jeff Marian, senior pastor. But the board won’t pursue a congregational vote to leave the ELCA.
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