Wayne D's Blog

May you live in interesting times, can be either a curse or a statement of hope. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) has been following a halting path over the ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for clergy for a number of years, wrapped up in this has also been a discussion on the blessing of same sex unions. At the Eastern Synod convention in 2006 the assembly voted to allow a “local option” on the blessing of same sex unions. The National Convention of the ELCIC in 2007 overruled the Eastern Synod to maintain the status quo. No one expects the issue of the treatment of gay and lesbian members of the church to go away. Now one congregation in the Eastern Synod has decided to take a bold step and call an openly gay candidate to minister to their congregation. Where will this action lead? With an Eastern Synod convention coming in July 2008 and a ELCIC National convention in 2009 there are surely interesting times ahead.

I asked a learned friend of mine to comment on where he thought these actions might lead, his thoughts follow. I encourage everyone to leave comments, but I will delete comments that are disrespectful or inflammatory.

Throughout the history of the Lutheran presence in North America we have gravitated to, and represented our interests in, different synods. Early immigration followed distinct European interests and language was one of the primary dividing factors between Lutherans. Over the years we have seen that language is not the only divisive force. Opposing, strongly held points of view have divided Christian denominations in North America over issues of slavery, segregation and civil rights, and the ordination of women, to name a few. Today, Lutherans, and others are working through the issue of same sex blessings and the inclusion and ordination of people of non-heterosexual orientation.

It is not a bad thing to have strongly held views. Many would say that a lot of children today would benefit from parents who had more strongly held views. But judgmentalism and exclusion are not the Christian destination of strongly held views. Jesus had strongly held views that led him to inclusion and restoration, not condemnation; but he was much better at discerning the will of God than any of us ever will be.

So how do we as people of God reconcile our opposing, strongly held views. Neither side of the argument wants to be wrong, neither side wants to compromise. These positions are understandable and sadly human. Lionel Ketola just may show us a new solution. Educated at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Saskatoon during the 1980s, Lionel's ordination path was halted for fourteen years when he came out to his bishop. According to Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (www.elm.org) Lionel recently completed an internship and has now been called as associate pastor to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Newmarket, Ontario (ELCIC).

The people of Holy Cross are putting feet to their strongly held views and by 'pushing the envelope' seem certain to bring this issue to a head. There is little doubt in the writer's mind that motions both for and against will be prevalent at the next convention of the Eastern Synod as well as the next National convention of the ELCIC. What will be the result?

Should two or three more churches follow Holy Cross it seems to me they would be in a position to declare themselves a distinct Lutheran body and then perhaps enter into synodical relations (friendly or not) with other Lutheran bodies. Perhaps they would be the Open Lutheran Church in Canada (OLCIC). Looking at an even bigger picture, our Anglican friends are in the middle of their own turmoil over the same issue. Perhaps we will see a redrawing of synodical lines on a multi-denominational basis – that certainly casts a new light on ecumenism!

Why don't I sound worried? In spite of the worst efforts of us petty and often idiotic humans to control and browbeat each other, the Holy Spirit keeps the church alive. Where we can only see impasse God sees opportunity. What we hear as the last, dying toll of the bell God hears as the fresh ting of new beginnings. When we declare something dead and gone forever, God says, “OK, now let's start something fantastic”. God's church will never die. So be it. Amen