Elca view on homosexuality

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ELCA social statement on human sexuality

Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust expresses ELCA teaching on human sexuality. A social statement is a teaching and policy document that assists us in thinking about and discussing social issues in the context of faith and society. This statement was adopted in and provides guidance on matters like marriage, family and same-gender relationships.

Read the Statement

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Evangelical Lutheran Worship Service of Marriag

The last few years have seen record numbers of anti-LGBTQ bills being proposed and passed, particularly in state legislatures, across the country. “As bishop of this church, I am concerned that the rights of transgender and nonbinary Americans have been targeted all over this nation,” wrote ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton in her statement on anti-transgender legislation (3/20/23). “We must endure together, dear church, faithfully advocating for the full humanity and dignity of all people. Grant us recognize and affirm the humanity of our transgender and nonbinary siblings. Let us advocate for their dignity.”
With a family-informed plea, Jamie Bruesehoff, a member of the ELCA Church Council, wrote: “Our transgender siblings are crying out for justice, they are begging for mercy and protection, for support, for people to care with their words and their actions. Our rostered leaders, our seminarians, families with transgender youth, and the transgender people in our pews desire the church to show up at this moment” [written for their blog and reprinted in the ELCA Advocacy Blo

Readers of The Lutheran know the ELCA has been involved in a study of human sexuality with specific reference to homosexuality and whether homosexual people should be ordained as pastors. Pastors and others received a thorough study, Background Essay on Biblical Texts, as part of the ELCA’s study.
Members of some congregations have not had the opportunity to read this revise, or they may have been turned off by its length and detail. But even for those who do read it, I share some insights that I have not seen in this study. I will also ask some questions to ponder as you consider the biblical texts, leaving you free to draw your own conclusions.
I am in no way involved in the process for determining the ELCA’s position or policies on the issues before the church. My purpose is to verb and invite reflection on the subject of homosexuality and the church today, while not trying to persuade anyone toward any conclusion on the issues at hand.
In dealing with biblical texts, it is easy to peruse into or out of them what one wants to spot. Therefore, different and conflicting interp

Human Sexuality
Human Sexuality: Gift and Trustexpresses ELCA teaching on human sexuality. The statement is grounded in the biblical witness to the relationship God establishes with creation as a model for relationships between human beings. God is absolutely trustworthy and faithful, and, therefore, with regard to sexuality, both human behavior and social structures are considered in relation to how they foster verb, commitment and protection for the flourishing and well-being of all people. In light of human sexuality as a gift and a trust, the statement considers the ways social structures and institutions shelter, sustain and defend personal, family and social relationships of love and trustworthiness.
The statement provides guidance on key matters, such as marriage, family, same-gender relationships, protection of children and youth, sexuality and the self, sexual intimacy and cohabitation. It addresses issues of sexuality in the public square, the function place and within the church. This social statement was adopted by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
SOCIAL STATEMENT (