A House Divided

There's an interesting Albert Mohler editorial over at Crosswalk, entitled The Church That Cannot Make Up Its Mind, discussing a recent report by a committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) on the charged issue of homosexuality and marriage. Look for this issue to blow up at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August 2005 when the report is formally presented to the assembly. Mainline denominations are split down the middle on this issue with little ground for long-term compromise, and "face the very real prospect of schism over issues of sexuality." SSM is a wedge issue, but it also signals a "far deeper divide in these churches over basic issues of doctrine, biblical authority, confession, and ecclesiology." Nice to see other denominations struggle over doctrine for a change.

Comments

[Nathan]

Somehow, it looks like the schism in these moderate Protestant denominations over "basic issues of doctrine, biblical authority, confession, and ecclesiology" is a lot more problematic than it is in the LDS Church. Look at how Mormon versions of these disagreements are framed: "The Brethren" versus "_____" (fill in the blank of the dissenting group). It's always clear, no matter who the objector is, that the core structure of the Church is a lot more cohesive in mind and faith than a lot of these churches that are splitting down the middle.

[Dave]

I'd agree, Nathan, and to the extent there are disagreements between members of senior LDS leadership, they go to great pains to keep those disagreements from being disseminated or discussed in public.

[mark]

good point Dave