August 22, 2009

Grace Peace and Blessing in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

On Friday, August 21, 2009 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted to allow homosexual pastors to shepherd their flock and to allow the blessing of same-sex unions. The Bishops, Pastors, Administration and Laity of The Lutheran Orthodox Church,(LOC) a church in valid Historic Apostolic Succession hereby condemns the actions of the ELCA for allowing practicing homosexuals to pastor Christian congregations. Allowing individuals who are actively and blatantly violating the simple truths laid out in Holy Scripture to serve in any capacity of church leadership is an outrage and anathema to sound Biblical foundations.

Furthermore, we find it most distressing that the ELCA, one of the largest Lutheran synods in the world, and who's Presiding Bishop is the president of the Lutheran World Federation would permit an action so contrary to Scripture. As Ministers of Christ we are supposed footstep followers of Jesus Christ and are sworn to uphold the tenants of our faith. What is even more distressing is the likelihood that the world at large will be misled into believing that the ELCA speaks for all Lutherans, which it certainly does not. It is our contention that the leaders of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have failed miserably in their obligation as Christian leaders by not standing firm to Biblical standards. Instead they have kowtowed to secular social pressures, conforming to a misled society's so-called standards of normalcy and political correctness. By their actions which are so contrary to Holy Scriptures, they have become as blind guides leading the blind and have forfeited their eternal souls to the pit. Those who so blatantly violate the Biblical standards they swore to uphold when they were ordained have no place in the pulpit teaching God's Word. How can a homosexual pastor expound on Scriptural truths such as taught by the Apostle Paul in Romans chapters 1 and 2 and remain in good standing in a congregation? How can a church as a whole allow one to preach in it's pulpits knowing that the one they ordain openly violates that which he or she is sworn to uphold? It is our position that any church that permits this conduct, openly or otherwise cannot be considered a Christian church in good standing. How can a same sex couple stand before the altar and seek the blessings of The Church when Scripture itself condemns their very act as one contrary to nature?

We find it very sad that the ELCA, with such a large worldwide presence, a presence that could have and should have stood for what is true, proper and chaste, a force that could have stood firm for Biblical truths, guarding and guiding the flock entrusted into their care has turned their denomination into a mockery and a sham, now being nothing more than whitewashed graves- pure on the outside, but inside full of dead men's bones. It would be more fitting if the ELCA stood for The Evangelical Liberal Church in America and dropped the name Lutheran, which the ELCA is no longer, in the eyes of this Lutheran ecclesiastical body.

The Lutheran Orthodox Church has had a long standing policy of not proselytizing among other Lutheran bodies for members. However, we can no longer consider the ELCA as a Lutheran body, nor do we consider the ELCA as a Christian body which upholds sound Biblical doctrines. Therefore, we rescind our policy of non-proselytizing among ELCA members and congregations so that we may reach out, extending a hand to those true Christians who believe the Scriptures for what they say, and reject false, man- made doctrines and we seek to welcome them into a new Christian home where they may find comfort in a sound Biblically based setting.

Resolution: For drifting so far from sound Biblical doctrines, doctrines which have for more than 2000 years kept the church pure and clean in the eyes of The Lord, and for allowing those who openly engage in behavior so blatantly condemned in Holy Scripture, we The Lutheran Orthodox Church, a Church in valid Apostolic Succession do hereby denounce in no uncertain terms the actions of the majority of the voting members of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as anathema and so far deviated from the truths as found in Holy Scripture, and so far removed from the teaching of Martin Luther, that we can no longer consider the ELCA as a Christian body or a Lutheran ecclesiastical body.

Whereas, the worldly attacks against sound Biblical Doctrines, and Christianity in general is so intense today, even destroying whole denominations and ripping apart the church at its very core, the world must not succeed in its attack against Biblical Doctrines, and the Church MUST remain firm against all attempts by Satan and his minions to mislead even the elect. The ELCA has again, failed miserably in guarding the flock entrusted into her care by so blatantly ignoring the sound principles as laid out in Scripture.

Whereby we the Lutheran Orthodox Church do hereby send an open invitation to those members of the ELCA who find most distressful the apostasy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, to affiliate with The Lutheran Orthodox Church, a Lutheran Church which, although imperfect, seeks to adhere to the truths found in the Holy Scriptures and will never relent to political and social pressures to accept falsehoods and lies as truth.

Whereas we offer prayer to Almighty God that The ELCA repent and seek His forgiveness for what they have accepted as proper, but which so painfully and obviously is a machination of Satan.

Whereas we believe that God created a fundamental difference between male and female and that this distinction and difference between male and female were part of His Divine Plan designed for the human race. Therefore, by this plan, heterosexuality was created by God for the coming together as one flesh between man and woman. And that this intimacy between man and woman was confined to the context of marriage. Therefore, we will not ordain nor allow to pastor our congregations any person who engages in any sexual relationship outside the context of marriage, whether heterosexual or homosexual.

Whereas, Our Lord Jesus Christ set an example of reaching out to all who sin to gently bring them back into a proper relationship with God The Father, The Lutheran Orthodox Church will continue to minister to all persons in a gentle and loving manner as befitting in The Lord Jesus Christ with the goal of reuniting the sinner with the entire Body of Christ.

Respectfully Submitted on Behalf of The Council of Bishops, Administration, Executive Officers and laity of The Lutheran Orthodox Church incorporated.

The Most Rev Dr Samuel Guido
President, CEO, LOC Inc
Presiding Bishop
The Lutheran Orthodox Church, Inc.

Rev Dr Randy Wagoner, DD
Vice President, LOC Inc.
Archbishop
LOC Diocese of New England

Rev Dr Sandra Guido
Secretary-Treasurer, LOC Inc.
Archbishop
LOC World Headquarters

Rev Richard Wagner
LOC Diocese of Eastern Carolina

Rev Garland Byers
LOC Diocese of Western Carolina

Rev Bradley Varvil
LOC Diocese of Seattle

Rev Kent Wheeler
LOC Diocese of Oklahoma

Rev Dr Michael Layne
Archbishop
LOC Diocese of Eastern Indiana

Rev Dr Andrew McMenamin
Archbishop
LOC Diocese of Virginia

Rev Mike Byus
LOC Diocese of Seattle

Rev Dr Heidi St Michael
Archbishop
Co-Director of Chaplaincy Services
LOC World Headquarters

Rev Dr Steffan St Michael
Archbishop
Co-Director of Chaplaincy Services
LOC World Headquarters

Most Rev Dr James Groover
Archbishop
LOC Diocese of Eastern Pa

Rev Sherry Groover
LOC Diocese of Allentown

Rev Jerry Hemmingson
LOC Diocese of So Calif.

Rev Robert Viancourt
Archbishop
LOC Diocese of Ohio

Rev Dr Charlton Courtney
Archbishop
LOC Diocese of Central Pa

Lutheran Orthodox Church