Clergy — Exodus International Blog

ELCA Split Births New NALC Denomination

August 26, 2010 By Randy Thomas

The fallout from the denominational split over homosexuality continues. From New Lutheran Group Likely to Rise from Gay Discord (emphasis mine): ... As of early August, 199 congregations had cleared the hurdles to leave the ELCA for good, while another 136 awaited the second vote needed to make it official. In all there are 10,239 ELCA churches with about 4.5 million members, making it still by far the largest Lutheran denomination in the U.S. And the breakaway members gathering in Ohio will face their own challenges if they vote to start another denomination at a time when attendance at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Educate, Exodus Blog, Gay, Lutherans, Post-gay Tagged With: Church, Clergy, ECA, ELCA, Exodus, Exodus Church Association, Faith, Gay, God, Homosexuality, Hope, Identity, Lutheran, Lutherans, Marriage, news, Pastors, Prayer, Scripture, Sexuality

Some Thoughts On Church/Denominational Conflict

July 28, 2010 By Randy Thomas

This post was inspired by Matt Kaufman over at the Boundless Line. He wrote, in response to the ELCA decision, a good question (emphasis mine): ... When should you leave a church on principle -- not for personal reasons (which we've talked about elsewhere on this blog), but for reasons of its doctrines or practices? And a follow-up question: Have you ever had to wrestle with this decision? That is definitely a tough question with plenty of potential variables. In the 18 years I have been a Christian I haven't ever left a church on "principle" (when I have it has been for personal … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Equip, Exodus Blog, Exodus Church Association, Gay, Holy Spirit, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Lutherans, Post-gay, Religious Liberty, Sexuality, The Father Tagged With: Battles, Bible, Books, Boundless, Christianity, Christians, Church, Clergy, Counseling, Culture, ECA, ELCA, Encourage, Evolution, Exodus, Exodus Church Association, Forgiveness, Friends, Gay, God, Gospel, Grace, Guide, Heart, Homosexuality, Hope, Jesus, Lent, Life, Love, Lutheran, Ministry, Needs, Old Testament, Pastors, Pornography, Post-modernism, Public Policy, Relationship, Resurrection, Sacrifice, Scripture, Sexuality, Sin, Study, Support, Testimony, The Gospel, Truth, Victory, Worldview, Worship

“Non-Celibate Gay Ministers” Welcomed In Lutheran Church

July 26, 2010 By Randy Thomas

From the New York Times NYT (emphasis mine because I find it an interesting description): With a laying on of hands, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on Sunday welcomed into its fold seven openly gay pastors who had until recently been barred from the church’s ministry. The ceremony at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in San Francisco was the first of several planned since the denomination took a watershed vote at its convention last year to allow noncelibate gay ministers in committed relationships to serve the church. “Today the church is speaking with a clear voice,” the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Educate, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Lutherans, Post-gay, Religious Liberty, Sexuality, The Father Tagged With: Church, Clergy, Conference, ECA, ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Freedom, Gay, God, Grace, Heart, Holy Spirit, Homosexuality, Judgment, Life, Love, Lutheran, Men, Ministry, New York Times, news, Parent, Pastors, Prayer, Presbyterian, Protest, Relationships, Respect, Sexuality, Sin, Speaking, Truth, Unconditional Love

Rachel Maddow, Uganda & Me – Guest Post By Don Schmierer

December 3, 2009 By Randy Thomas

Rachel Maddow, Uganda & Me - By: Don Schmierer Never in a million years did I expect to see my face on MSNBC. But there I was, plain as day - white hair, tanned wrinkles, looking every bit the grandfather I am- in a photo posted on Rachel Maddow's show last night. Unbeknownst to me, she had decided to discuss a conference I spoke at in Uganda several months ago. As Ms. Maddow accurately recounted, I did go to Uganda last spring to speak at a conference about my book, An Ounce of Prevention: Preventing the Homosexual Condition in Today's Youth. In fact, I've been to Uganda many times … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around the World, Church, Culture, Educate, Exodus Blog, Featured, Gay, Homosexuality, Media Mentions, Post-gay, Television, Uganda Tagged With: Alan Chambers, Bible, Christians, Church, Clergy, Compassion, Conference, Counsel, EGA, Exodus, Exodus International, Family, Gay, Gay Community, Government, Healing, Heart, Heterosexual, Homosexuality, Identity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, news, Randy Thomas, Redemptive, Relationship, Relationships, Respect, Sexuality, Speaking, Support, Truth, Uganda

Don Schmierer Added to Letter Opposing Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill

December 1, 2009 By Randy Thomas

Don Schmierer has traveled all around the world and been to Uganda several times including this past spring. He just recently came back home after a few weeks of traveling and saw our email inviting him to sign the letter we sent asking Ugandan President to oppose the anti-homosexuality bill being presented there. Don's response was, "Yes, you can include my name in this very well written letter." We went ahead and sent the letter November 16th because we felt the timing was right to do so but are very happy to add Don's name to the document today. A little more about Don, Don is the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around the World, Church, Culture, Educate, Exodus Blog, Featured, Gay, Homosexuality, Lesbian, Post-gay, Sexuality, Uganda Tagged With: Alan Chambers, Around the World, Bible, Christians, Church, Clergy, Community, Compassion, Counsel, Exodus, Exodus International, Facebook, Gay, God, Government, Heterosexual, Homosexuality, Identity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Ministry, Randy Thomas, Relationship, Relationships, Sexuality, Support, Truth, Uganda, Youth

In Sexuality Struggles, Hold on to Biblical Truths

November 20, 2009 By Kirk Chambers

In sexuality struggles, hold on to biblical truths (published in the Orlando Sentinel November 1, 2009) It is troubling to watch more denominations and Christian leaders so easily turn away from biblical truths and principles. In recent months, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America voted to allow congregations to hire clergy involved in same-sex relationships, and now we are seeing the National Episcopal Church heading in that same direction ("SC Episcopal diocese to distance itself from national church over gay unions, other issues," OrlandoSentinel.com, Oct. 24). It is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Educate, Episcopal, Exodus Blog, Featured, Homosexuality, Lutherans, Media Mentions, Print Tagged With: Christians, Church, Clergy, Compassion, Episcopal, Gay, Heart, Kirk Chambers, Love, Lutheran, news, Orlando Sentinel, Relationship, Relationships, Sexuality, Truth

Exodus International Sends Letter Opposing Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill

November 16, 2009 By Randy Thomas

UPDATE: Scroll To End of Post for Updates Also posted on the main Exodus website as a press release. --- Begin --- Exodus International sent the following letter to Uganda's President Museveni regarding The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 currently being considered in the Parliament. The bill would criminalize and prosecute homosexual behavior and would require pastors, missionaries, health care providers and counselors to report those suspected of such behavior. Exodus International, along with its board members and broader network, opposes this legislation as it inhibits the global … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around the World, Church, Educate, Exodus Blog, Featured, Gay, Homosexuality, Lesbian, Post-gay, Uganda Tagged With: AIDS, Alan Chambers, Bible, Christians, Church, Clergy, Community, Compassion, Counsel, Exodus, Exodus International, Gay, God, Gospel, Government, Heterosexual, Homosexuality, Identity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Ministry, Pastors, Randy Thomas, Relationship, Relationships, Sexuality, Support, The Gospel, Truth, Uganda, Youth

Exodus Troubled by ELCA Vote to Affirm Same-Sex Relationships in Clergy

August 22, 2009 By Randy Thomas

From the Exodus Press Office August 21, 2009 Exodus Troubled by ELCA Vote to Affirm Same-Sex Relationships in Clergy Orlando, FL. Exodus International, the world's largest interdenominational ministry helping those conflicted by same-sex attraction to live a life that reflects the Christian faith, is troubled by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's vote today to allow congregations to hire clergy involved in same-sex relationships. Exodus says this is a clear move away from biblical teaching on sexuality and a disconcerting approach to this issue. The 559 to 451 vote came … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Exodus Blog, Gay, Lutherans, Post-gay, Press Releases, Publications Tagged With: Clergy, ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Ex-gay, Exodus Church Association, Exodus International, Gay, Jeff Buchanan, Nate Oyloe, Post-gay

Lutherans Vote to Condone Gay Clergy

August 21, 2009 By Randy Thomas

From the Star Tribune: Gay ministers will be allowed to lead parishes, representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted today in Minneapolis. The 559-451 vote marks a historic change for the 4.8 million ELCA members, including 830,000 in Minnesota. The vote repeals the ELCA's ban on gay clergy unless they agreed to remain celibate. The new position allows the installation of gay pastors but leaves the decision to call a gay pastor up to individual congregations and synods. Delegates heeded warnings not to react as the outcome was read, but onlookers in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Exodus Blog, Gay, Lutherans Tagged With: Christians, Clergy, ELCA, Gay

Evangelical Lutherans Vote on Gay Clergy

August 18, 2009 By Randy Thomas

From the Washington Post: The Evangelical Lutheran Church is the latest major denomination to wrestle with the question of gay clergy. The issue has divided the Episcopal Church, which last month voted to make gay people eligible for any ordained ministry, further threatening to split the worldwide Anglican Communion, of which it is a branch. And earlier this year, the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted against accepting openly gay pastors, although the margin narrowed compared with a 2001 vote. The issue has also roiled the United Methodists, which, after an emotional debate last year, voted … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bible, Church, Culture, Educate, Exodus Blog, Gay, Press Releases Tagged With: Anglican, Bible, Clergy, Episcopal, Exodus, Gay, Lutheran, One By One, Presbyterian, Scripture, Transforming Congregations

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ELCA Split Births New NALC Denomination

Some Thoughts On Church/Denominational Conflict

“Non-Celibate Gay Ministers” Welcomed In Lutheran Church

Rachel Maddow, Uganda & Me – Guest Post By Don Schmierer

Don Schmierer Added to Letter Opposing Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill

In Sexuality Struggles, Hold on to Biblical Truths

Exodus International Sends Letter Opposing Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Exodus Troubled by ELCA Vote to Affirm Same-Sex Relationships in Clergy

Lutherans Vote to Condone Gay Clergy

Evangelical Lutherans Vote on Gay Clergy

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