LUTHERAN RESPONSES TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

I don’t have enough finger on my hands to count the supposedly “Christian responses to last week’s Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage.  From Catholic bishops, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the president of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, to name just a few, have (predictably) publicly registered their strong opposition to the Supreme Court decision to affirm the right of all Americans to enjoy the rights and benefits of civil marriage.

Our own denomination has joined the public debate as well.  In lieu of a longer article, I am simply putting into your hands three very different responses:

1.       ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s Statement (June 30, 2015) 
2.       A Response from ReconcilingWorks (formerly Lutherans Concerned)
         to Bishop Eaton’s Statement (July 1, 2015)
3.      A Statement by the Missouri Synod President Matthew Harrison.

I invite you to judge for yourself whether the SCOTUS decision constitutes a threat to the free exercise of religion or not.  Knowing that we at Bethel are somewhat divided over the matter at hand, I wish to remind you that our unity does not come from agreeing with one another, but from standing together by the foot of the cross of Jesus, united by our need for forgiveness and grace.

Yours in Christ,
Pr. Gabi