tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post2957971794426230540..comments2024-03-23T12:05:23.537-05:00Comments on The Wild Reed: On Gay Issues, ELCA Elects to Embody a Living, Growing FaithMichael J. Baylyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-53486865779983836702009-08-31T22:02:03.709-05:002009-08-31T22:02:03.709-05:00My friend Katie McCartan had this to say about the...My friend Katie McCartan had this to say about the ELCA action recently. She is business woman, successful creator of family--wife, mother of 6 grown men, grandmother--life-long Catholic, reflective woman.<br /><br />"I followed the recent proceedings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America with a great deal of interest. I was so impressed with their thoughtful and prayerful decision to allow gay pastors in committed relationships to continue with their ministry. I know it was a difficult choice to make and was not without strong opposition. But what a wonderful Christian decision they made. I can't help but feel that if we Christians really believe both Jesus and his Father are about love and understanding for all of His creatures, then He is smiling down on this group. Bravo!" <br /><br />I can't help but feel that the Holy Spirit is telling us something.Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00135199120788030871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-62579598359398903832009-08-24T14:12:58.416-05:002009-08-24T14:12:58.416-05:00James,
Thanks for sharing your perspective on wha...James,<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your perspective on what you think religion is all about and your theory as to why I remain in the Church. I find neither particularly convincing. (The "univocal" view of truth implied in your comment is especially problematic, as James Carroll notes <a href="http://thewildreed.blogspot.com/2009/08/james-carroll-on-catholic.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.)<br /><br />I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-62024215990909406822009-08-24T14:00:52.204-05:002009-08-24T14:00:52.204-05:00Sorry, Jason, but I have a hard time taking your c...Sorry, Jason, but I have a hard time taking your comment seriously. If I did, I would have to believe that you take <em>everything</em> in the Bible to be literally true. Thus Christians would be opposed to - and refrain from - charging interest, eating pork and shrimp, wearing garments of mixed fabrics, etc, etc. <br /><br />All such practices are defined as "abominations" in the Bible. And yet the reality is that Christians do all these things today. Why aren't you railing against these clear examples of "disobedience" to the "Word of God"?<br /><br />Finally, I think you need to read the "more nuanced response" at the end of my post to the type of (disingenuous, some might say intellectually bankrupt) argument that you're putting forward. <br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-32640699120800896572009-08-24T12:39:27.716-05:002009-08-24T12:39:27.716-05:00This is just appalling. If Luther, the late German...This is just appalling. If Luther, the late German Christian protester, would still be here…where the denomination “Lutherans” derived from, he would be stunned and completely disappointed in this horrible abomination to the Word of God and the Gospel. I totally am against this election. When God created “man” he created Adam and Eve, NOT Adam and STEVE!!! Hello people. This is a direct form of disobedience to God. And this is happening in a Church, a denomination that professes to know the Word of God???? Please, God will have to deal with you guys…and it won’t be pretty.jasonbradyuthttp://www.vacationrentalsco.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-23437748173472291212009-08-24T11:31:31.957-05:002009-08-24T11:31:31.957-05:00Well, if the ELCA is serious, why did they not als...Well, if the ELCA is serious, why did they not also institute gay "marriages" in their church? If gay relationships are a blessing now, why no marriage? Does it make sense to require heterosexual ministers to be either married or single while allowing gay ministers to have a live-in unmarried partner?<br /><br />--<br /><br />Michael,<br /><br />Religion is all about *truth*, not about where you were brought up or what you "feel." If you do not believe the essential truths taught by a religion, your integrity demands that you leave it for the religion that you DO find true. Because what does everything else matter if a church does not teach the truth? As for "Catholicism's rich and diverse intellectual, spiritual, and social justice tradition," liberal Protestants with whom you seem to agree on almost everything have no qualms about using this tradition themselves. In fact, liberal Anglicans see themselves as carrying that tradition forward in consonance with the modern world. <br /><br />So why not become an Episcopalian? I suspect it is because you will then have nothing to "struggle" against as a "victim" of ecclesiastical prejudice. But sincerely, the only thing worth struggling against in Christianity is sin. God bless.James C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-43959767465950140982009-08-23T23:23:55.901-05:002009-08-23T23:23:55.901-05:00Michael,
Don't worry too much about Technolo...Michael, <br /><br />Don't worry too much about Technology. He also left comments about this at the Box Turtle Bulletin, and according to William Lindsey, he left comments at another website. I'm not sure I'd waste time or energy on trying to deal with someone who would actually go out of his way to condemn this on multiple blogs! <br /><br />As for the decision itself, the ECLA did a good thing in my own opinion. It'd be nice to see more denominations follow. Unfortunately, I think the Catholic Church is still a long way from doing what the ECLA did. But who knows where the Holy Spirit will lead us? We just have to keep trusting that God will lead us in the right direction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-29595244952960079532009-08-23T15:15:25.044-05:002009-08-23T15:15:25.044-05:00Technology, I saw that you left the same comment a...Technology, I saw that you left the same comment at an article on the Clerical Whispers blog. You obviously have strong feelings about this issue.<br /><br />But you seem not to understand completely what the ELCA just chose to do. As the article at Clerical Whispers to which you responded stated clearly, Lutherans had ALREADY allowed gay people to serve as clergy.<br /><br />This decision is to permit gay clergy in lifelong committed partnered relationships to minister.<br /><br />In what sense is either of those decisions dangerous?<br /><br />And do you really think that gays do not already serve as clergy--in all churches?William D. Lindseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246026074693891965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-14513413336602354682009-08-23T13:59:54.158-05:002009-08-23T13:59:54.158-05:00Hi Anonymous,
Roman Catholicism is the faith tra...Hi Anonymous, <br /><br />Roman Catholicism is the faith tradition in which I was born and raised, and which I feel called to use my gifts and talents to reform and renew.<br /><br />I am drawn and inspired by the Church's unifying and reconciling mission in the world. I also appreciate and am drawn to Catholicism's rich and diverse intellectual, spiritual, and social justice tradition, and its potential to develop and evolve further - clearly, for example, with regard to its understanding of human sexuality. <br /><br />What keeps me here is this potential and the related need of the Church, my sense of calling to do what I can to embody and facilitate this growth and evolution (and thus unity and reconciliation), and the nurturing and inspiring relationships I have developed with individuals, groups, and communities within the Roman Catholic Church who similarly feel called to the work of reform and renewal.<br /><br />Finally, Anonymous, perhaps you might find <a href="http://theprogressivecatholicvoice.blogspot.com/2009/02/in-what-sense-are-we-progressive.html" rel="nofollow">this article</a> helpful in understanding where I'm coming from and why I stay.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-44812277636468391252009-08-23T12:24:42.332-05:002009-08-23T12:24:42.332-05:00Michael,
With all due respect, if this move is so...Michael,<br /><br />With all due respect, if this move is so impressive, why don't you become a Lutheran? Why cling to the Roman Church? What is distinctive about the RC church that keeps you within Her fold? What do we have that Lutherans don't?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-79109252334211009972009-08-23T08:18:17.094-05:002009-08-23T08:18:17.094-05:00Actually, I think for growing numbers of Christian...Actually, I think for growing numbers of Christians, <em>not</em> accepting gay people for who they are and allowing them to do things like serve as clergy, is what's confusing.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-453784052239215502009-08-23T04:49:13.021-05:002009-08-23T04:49:13.021-05:00This is quite a dangerous decision. Allowing homos...This is quite a dangerous decision. Allowing homosexuals to serve as clergy will confuse a lot of people.Technologyhttp://www.technologyslice.com.aunoreply@blogger.com