Special to The Mississippi Link
The decision to accept sexually active homosexuals in monogamous relationships as clergy by one of America’s largest church denominations has caused a backlash by some traditional members. At St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church in Charleston, W. VA., the word Lutheran has been covered over and now simply reads ‘St. Timothy’s Church’ since the controversial provision was passed last week at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s convention.
“I asked that be done because I’m ashamed. I’m ashamed of what the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has done to a church I’ve loved for 40 years,” Pastor Richard Mahan told his congregation during last Sunday’s morning service.
According to Christian Today news service, St. Timothy typically has 300 to 400 members in attendance each Sunday. So the minister used the sermon to teach his congregants about homosexuality, adding that “We welcome the sinner, but we do not welcome the sin.”
Mahan told the Charleston Daily Mail, “I am not speaking out against the gay and lesbian community, but I am speaking out against the ordination of gays and lesbians as pastors and bishops and leaders of the church – and the blessing of same-sex marriages.”
Mahan’s stance had wide support by his congregation, who gave him a standing ovation during the service. The pastor urged the congregation to pray about what they should do next in response to the vote. Mahan said the vote could split the church and cause a number of individual congregations to abandon the ELCA.
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