One day after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Task Force on Human Sexuality made its report, Rev. Matthew Harrison of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) weighed in with a statement that had clearly been prepared in advance of the report's release. (Harrison is the Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care.)
Harrison is a candidate for presidency of the LCMS and nothing serves his candidacy more than bashing the ELCA, which is why it was a smart move for Harrison to get to the front of the line with his prepared statement. Good luck on your candidacy, Rev. Harrison!
The LCMS worries constantly about the ELCA. They seemingly can't get us out of their heads. We're "apostates" and "heterodox," dontcha know, and shouldn't even really be called "Lutheran."
This has been going on for well over a hundred years. The Fritschel brothers, Sigmund and Gottfreid, for whom Fritschel Hall at Wartburg Seminary was named, crossed swords with the LCMS back in the late 1800's. They made this reply to them, one that remains appropriate to this day:
We have learned from the sad experience of many years, what it means to be numbered with your opponents, and to be compelled to resist you...Do unto us as you like, and as much as the Lord Jesus will permit you to do. But do not expect that your persistence will, in the end, weaken us and make us yield to your demands. In the strength of our Lord Jesus we will patiently bear whatever wrong you may do to us, continuing to pray for you and to recognize you as our nearest brethren in the faith. We will always be ready for peace and fraternal conference and understanding with you and without ceasing will we make supplication for this end.
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