ISSUES IN SOCIETY: HOMOSEXUALITY

A Statement from The Office of the President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63122
United States of America

One can hardly pick up a newspaper or a news-magazine, or flick on the television news, without reading or hearing something about "gay rights." What should our church's response be to this issue in our society?

At the Pittsburgh convention last summer, our Synod adopted a very well-worded resolution calling on the church to develop a plan for ministry to homosexuals and their families. I would encourage you to acquaint yourself with this resolution. It offers a very clear Scriptural statement on homosexuality, while at the same time adopting a caring attitude toward those persons struggling with homosexuality. Clearly rejecting homosexuality, the resolution states that homosexuality is intrinsically sinful, pointing to clear statements from Holy Scripture condemning homophile behavior in Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26-27, and 1 Cor. 6:9. The application to the present debate in society is obvious. We look with increasing concern on the efforts of a militant and well-organized pro-homosexual lobby to influence public policy to accept homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle.

As this happens, we must guard against becoming so filled with fear that we fail to recognize the ministry opportunities which here present themselves to us. Words of Law must be followed by clear words of Gospel to those who are led to repent of their homosexual lifestyle. Here our church must provide support and counsel. This is the intent behind the resolution our Synod has adopted. The resolution calls on our Synod to reach out with the "redeeming love of Christ, which rescues humanity from sin, death, and the power of Satan." I have requested that some of our Synodical boards start working on developing a ministry plan to homosexuals. Our goal must be pastorally to minister with the love of Christ to those hurting people who are trapped in a lifestyle which is destructive physically, but even more tragically, is destructive spiritually.

"Repent, and believe the Gospel" remains our Synod's message to a culture which increasingly seems bent on sexual self-destruction. To those who are drawn by the Spirit of God, we have a wealth of comfort and strength, not ours, but the strength of the Lord who said to the penitent woman, "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more." It is this rich Word of the Gospel which we want to share with all. As we seek to reach out in ministry to hurting individuals and their families, may God bless and be with us as we seek faithfully to address this issue.

From: The President's Newsletter, April 1993, p. 4-5