Luther's explanation of the 8th commandment encourages us not only not to bear false witness against our neighbor but also to defend our neighbor, speak well of them, and "put the best construction on everything".
The respective press offices of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) did just that.
The two sides met February 8 in Chicago to discuss the LCMS's ending of their cooperative ministries with the ELCA. They're opting out because the ELCA approved partnered gays in the ministry.
At their 2010 convention, the LCMS passed a wordy 15-page document--"Principles for Cooperation in Externals with Theological Integrity"--which basically asserts that the ELCA is so far gone down the road of perdition that good self-respecting people can no longer find any way of doing good with them.
How did the respective head offices spin the recent meeting? LCMS: "LCMS, ELCA reps discuss cooperation." ELCA: "ELCA and Missouri Synod leaders continue conversations together."
Photo: ELCA News Service
It's time to shake the dust off of our feet, John.
Posted by: Riz | February 20, 2012 at 11:39 PM
You ought to drop in on the conversation at ALPB some time. It's mostly LCMS, with a few arch-conservative ELCA-ers thrown in.
Yikes!
Posted by: John Petty | February 23, 2012 at 09:36 AM