Contact: Jennifer Fedor, Concerned Women for America, 202-488-7000 ext. 126

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- At a recent meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), the decision was made that the ELCA would ignore the Bible's unequivocal condemnation of homosexual behavior as sinful and permit openly homosexual clergy to pastor ELCA churches.  This has stirred up tension between the ELCA and other more Biblically sound factions within the Lutheran denomination. 

In a statement, Gerald B. Kieschnick, president of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), noted, "This goes contrary to the historic and universal understanding of the Christian Church regarding what the Holy Scriptures teach about homosexual behavior as contrary to God’s will and about the Biblical qualifications for holding the pastoral office." 

Matt Barber, Policy Director for Cultural Issues with Concerned Women for America (CWA), said, "The word apostasy is a strong one.  It shouldn't be used lightly.  Unfortunately, the ELCA's decision to endorse the sin of homosexuality, which Scripture clearly calls an 'abomination to God,' represents nothing short of apostasy. 

"We're witnessing a growing trend within certain liberal sects of Christendom wherein leftist church leaders are pushing new-age, Bible-ala-carte spiritualism.  The mindset is, 'If God's Word doesn't comport with my view on morality, then I'm right and God is wrong.  He needs to get with the program.  Murder pre-born children with abortion – Sure why not?  Celebrate sexual deviancy?  No problem.' 

"This is America, and people are generally free to say and do what they want," continued Barber, "But if a formal church collective such as the ELCA is going to call itself Christian, the least it can do is honor the Bible, not rip out and trash the pages it doesn't like.  There's nothing Christian about that."

Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women’s organization.