A Big Victory for “Gay Christians” in The Evangelical Lutheran Church but Could fracture the Denomination

For gay and lesbian members of the Evangelic Lutheran Church in America who interested to join the ministry; can do so after a vote on Friday at national meeting in Minneapolis .

The vote now allow for openly gay and lesbian to become lay leaders and minsters if and its a big if they are in long term relationships. This vote follow another vote that allows non celibate gay and lesbian to  hold ministry and layman posts.

The ELCA will also issue a statement on human sexually that includes marriage is between a man and a woman; which goes counter to the voted actions  of the church leadership.

Previous votes  in these subjects would always go down in defeat in the last 12 years.

Bishop Mark S. Hanson the leader of the nearly 5 million denomination, doubts a schism will develop because of the vote. We had”very thoughtful engagements” between thoses are pro and anti will not leave the church.

The schism had led about 100 churches  to leave The Episcopal Church in the last 5 years; after  the denomination approved and installed V. Gene Robinson as the Bishop of New Hampshire diocese .

Earlier this year the Episcopal Church voted to lifted a ban on gay bishops and create same-sex liturgies.

“I do not believe that human sexuality for us as Lutherans defines the church,” Hanson said.”Therefore, human sexuality should not be the occasion to divide the church.”

Supporters says the policy, is voluntary, believes all Lutherans should be accepting to gays.

We fully believe the church will be a better place and a better student for its mission if it is fully inclusive,” said Phil Soucy, a spokesman for Goodsoil, a coalition of gay rights groups in the church. “Christ did not discriminate.”

Conservatives fear that the vote would drive them away because the church is moving away bibical tennents to a secular  cultural norms.

“A church ought to be focused on Jesus Christ and not voting on whether the Bible applies in terms of how humans are to live in a sexual relationship,” said the Rev. Mark Chavez, director of Lutheran Coalition for Reform.

LA Times

Gov. Sanford go away

It’s been lousy two weeks for the family of Governor Mark Sanford. Last week the Governor admitted to his affair with Argentine Maria Chapur  to the public.  And his wife’s cutting remark to him (which he rightly deserved.)

But in an interview with the Associated Press; Sanford the player talked about the other instances of flirting and hitting on other women over the years. He calls Chapur is soul-mate. Sanford now will work on falling in love again with his wife.(What does that mean? Will work on falling in love again with his wife. Bizarre! Most people would say they are working on their marriage.)

It doesn’t look good  for Sanford. What worse he’s telling all of his business. Allapundit at Hot Air wonders how to keep Governor Sanford  away from recording devices. “His aides seriously need to start steering this guy away from microphones before he ends up telling us which positions he and Maria tried.”

Meanwhile, members of the South Carolina Republican Party leadership are calling for the Governor to resign. Sanford had considered resigning  but went against it with support from his spiritual adviser.  Newspaper editorial throughout South Carolina has called on Sanford to resign. Bloggers across the country (including this one awaits the departure).

The problem was created  by pols who didn’t resigned. Barney Frank, despite the discovery and arrest of his former assistant who ran a prostitution ring out of Frank’s DC home over 25 years ago. Today he’s chair of the Financial Service committee.  Senator Vitter of Louisana who admitted using prostitution service  and phone records revealed the affair.  Vitter is still in office.  Last month Senator John Ensign admitted to having affair with a campaign staffer who is the wife of his personal assistant. The mistress and her husband are accused  of  blackmail.

Of course the most successful serial adulterer former President William Jefferson Clinton. Clinton survived the various sex scandals including Jennifer Flowers to Monica Lewinsky and lying under oath. Clinton popularity in economy help thwart the impeachment and served his full term.

Will Sanford listen to the call to resign. I doubt it. One can only hope.

Michelle Malkin

AP via Houston Chroncle

Hot Air

We guys think with the wrong head again: Gov. Mark Sanford falls

We men have a problem: We like thinking with the wrong head. Case in point Governor  Mark Sanford (R) of  South Carolina admitted today of have affair with Argentinian woman.  Sanford announced today after spending several days with his mistress. She has not been Identified.

The governor had just returned  from Bueno Aries when a reporter from The State newspaper confronted Sanford at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. The governor fled to  his plane to fly back to Columbia.

Sanford’s wife initially said she didn’t know where went on Father’s Day. The governor’s staff said he went hiking along the Appalachian Trail to clear his head. That turn out not be true.

Sanford had apologized to the People of South Carolina, his wife and kids, his staff and his mistress.

Sanford was touted as potential  candidate to run for President in 2012. The announcement come  behind fellow Republican Senator John Ensign who himself admitted to have an affair with campaign staffer which is alleged to extort thousand of dollars from Ensign, to keep the affair hush.

Sadly another family in ruins. A wife won’t able to trust a man again. Kids don’t have a role model to look up to.

Ladies, some day a female politician may slip and fall, guys don’t gloat when it happens. We still lead them a million to one.

Because we still think with the wrong head.

AP via My Way News

The State