Living Theology in
the Metropolitan
Volume 9, Number 1
Spring 2004
The Vocation of the Laity
Though it was one of the last things I really wanted to do, I
felt obligated to argue for traditional Christian sexual ethics at two
“dialogues” or “debates” sponsored by the Northern Illinois Synod and the
Central/Southern Illinois Synod in November 2003. The task was made easier by the presence of
Martha Stortz as a debate partner. We
are friends of long standing, which made any lapse into angry exchange very
unlikely. The situation was helped by
the scrupulously fair “refereeing” of Troy Hedrick, another friend of long
standing. No hissing against or applause
for either presenter.
The following text contains the most persuasive case I can
make for faithfulness to our traditional Christian teaching on sexuality. I offer it to Let’s Talk, a journal that
I have followed and admired from afar.
The journal represents a posture of openness in a synod that seems to
have made up its mind. But I know there
are many in the Chicago Metro Synod who are committed to the kind of
perspective I articulate. I hope this
essay strengthens their resolve to resist the church-splitting changes that are
being proposed by many in the ELCA.
Further, I hope this essay stimulates the latter group to think again,
because they simply have not made the required overwhelming case for change in
teachings of such duration and universality.
Robert
Benne, Director
Website
roanoke.edu/crs
Why
the ELCA Should Uphold Traditional Christian Sexual Ethics
Robert Benne