St. Mark Lutheran welcomes gays, lesbians

[William769]

St. Mark Lutheran Church on Nov. 20 announced at two worship services that it welcomes all people in the Salem community, including lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people.

The downtown Salem church is the first Lutheran congregation in the city to obtain Reconciling in Christ status, said St. Mark Pastor Charles Mantey. The church is among few local religious groups to publicly support the LGBT community, Mantey said.

The Reconciling in Christ designation is administered by Lutherans Concerned/North America, a Christian ministry, which recognizes Lutheran churches that welcome LGBT people of faith.

Members of St. Mark voted 62 to 1 by anonymous ballot Oct. 30 to become a Reconciling congregation.

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20111126/NEWS/111260315/St-Mark-Lutheran-welcomes-gays-lesbians?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs

[xchrom]

1. Awesome. nt

[johnnypneumatic]

2. does that mean they will perform same sex marriages?

it doesn't say in the article. Seems like they would mention it if they truly welcome us.

[William769]

3. Maybe this link will help you.

http://www.lcna.org/mm/what-do-lutheran-churches-say

[johnnypneumatic]

4. not really

the fact that some Lutheran churches will doesn't mean they all will, or that this one will, or that it is really welcomed. Lots of churches welcome LGBT people but don't support same sex marriage. Lots of other churches "welcome" gays to "cure" them.

[William769]

5. It's pretty clear your mind is made up no matter what is said.

Go in peace.

[johnnypneumatic]

6. how funny you are so quick to judge without knowing

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

[CreekDog]

7. are you quoting the bible to that poster?

and what is the point of quoting that to the poster?

[johnnypneumatic]

8. yes, it is Matthew 7, the NIV translation

I listed reasons why I felt the link the poster gave didn't really answer the question. Yet, instead of addressing that, his first impulse was a personal attack on me. From other threads here, I know that the poster is a Christian, so I was pointing out how unchristian he was being.

As it turns out, this church is in Salem Oregon, not Salem, Mass. as I first thought. Oregon has a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage, so the church can safely welcome gays without having to deal with the issue of same-sex marriage.

[Sub Atomic]

9. "so I was pointing out how unchristian he was being."

What nonsense were you spewing just a few short posts ago about 'judging lest ye be judged'?


:rofl:

[William769]

11. It's called hypocrisy.

I sure would like to know where the attack is that I made.

I have not responded to the poster yet for the simple fact I am waiting on information.

Yes Oregon does ban same sex marriage, but it cannot ban holy unions. I have contacted the Church personally & am waiting on a response to see if they perform holy unions. Instead of making assumptions I have taken it to find out the facts. I prefer to see the good in people not the bad.

This is a video from the Bishop of the ELCA which this Church is a part of "it gets better"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJOhjLXJmaY&feature=player_embedded

This will probably be perceived as an attack also but some people can't see the forest because of the trees.

[johnnypneumatic]

13. no, I quoted Matthew 7

maybe I should have identified it before and put it in quotes.

you misquoted it, it is:

Matthew 7
Judging Others
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

if you call quoting the bible "spewing nonsense" then that is your opinion.

Quoting the bible is a common technique to make a point. I felt that William769 made an unjustified judgement of me, so I responded in a way he might think about. Taking this quote from the Christian New Testament into account, would you say that judging others is Christian, or unchristian?

[Sub Atomic]

10. And welcome to my Buddy List.

:hi:

[johnnypneumatic]

12. well, I have always been on your side while others weren't

[William769]

15. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=191490&mesg_id=191691

[William769]

14. I just received a call from the Pastor of St. Marks Lutheran Church.

I asked him about if he would perform Holy Unions for same sex couples & he responded he has not been asked to perform any as of yet but would certainly be delighted to do so.

I also asked him about ""welcome" gays to "cure" them" & his response was whats to cure?

I hope that this will now remove any doubt on this Church's motives.

If you feel you cannot take my word on this, this is a link to their website with the phone number of the Church. Feel free to call then yourself. http://stmarksalem.org/

Peace to all.

[johnnypneumatic]

16. sorry, I did not see this, but I did call him myself on my own

I was very busy yesterday and couldn't get back to this thread until now.

[johnnypneumatic]

17. I called and talked to Pastor Mantey

Tuesday 11-29-11
I just called and talked to Pastor Charles Mantey and asked him a few questions.
He was very nice and helpful and we had a pleasant conversation. I didn't record it so I'm writing it down as close as I can remember.

-I asked him: what is your church's policy on marriage equality?
They can't do it now, because of the state law, but will be glad to do it when the law changes. There have been no requests from members yet.

-Do you say being gay is a choice or are we born that way, if it was a gift from God?
He said yes, it was a gift from God.

-If a family in your congregation had a 14 year old boy who said he was gay, but the parents wanted to make him hetero, what would you do? Council the parents or the boy, or try to change the boy?

He said he would try to council the parents and not try to change the boy.

-If a child from your congregation was being bullied in school, what would you do?
I don't remember if he said he would council the child, but I think he would help in any way he could.
-Would you talk to the school? Use your influence to get them to do something?
Yes he would be willing to talk to the school.

So, I give them credit, my feeling was very positive, I would say this church would be a very good one to go to if you are LGBT and Lutheran.