Send in the Clowns

ISN'T IT RICH?
ARE WE A CHURCH?
ME HERE AT LAST ON THE GROUND,
YOU IN THE LURCH.
SEND IN THE CLOWNS.

ISN'T IT BLISS?
DON'T YOU APPROVE?
ONE WHO KEEPS TEARING AROUND,
ONE WHO CAN'T MOVE.
WHERE ARE THE CLOWNS?
SEND IN THE CLOWNS.

JUST WHEN I'D STOPPED OPENING DOORS,
FINALLY KNOWING THE ONE THAT I WANTED WAS YOURS,
MAKING MY ENTRANCE AGAIN WITH MY USUAL FLAIR,
SURE OF MY LINES,
NO ONE IS THERE.

DON'T YOU LOVE FARCE?
MY FAULT I FEAR.
I THOUGHT THAT YOU'D WANT WHAT I WANT.
SORRY, MY DEAR.
BUT WHERE ARE THE CLOWNS?
QUICK, SEND IN THE CLOWNS.
DON'T BOTHER, THEY'RE HERE.

ISN'T IT RICH?
ISN'T IT QUEER,
LOSING MY TIMING THIS LATE
IN MY CAREER?
AND WHERE ARE THE CLOWNS?
THERE OUGHT TO BE CLOWNS.
WELL, MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

La Crosse synod backs sexuality proposals
Can you make any sense of this? Do you think people even know what they are voting on? Why are people voting on TFR recommendations, or are they?
“Connie Scharlau would like to see full equality in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America extended to everyone, including individuals who are gay and lesbian.

But the Arcadia, Wis., church member, said Sunday that opinions of all members have to be respected and many of people aren't as "off-the-charts liberal" as she is.

"I think it's important for all of us to be civil and keep that discussion going. There are honest differences of opinion," said Scharlau, who is one of several members who will represent the local synod at the ELCA's Churchwide Assembly in August in Orlando, Fla.

"If we're going to move ahead, we have to change hearts and it doesn't happen by hitting people over the head," Scharlau said.

Synod members, including Scharlau, voted Sunday, 174 to 39, with one abstention, to support a resolution from the national Church Council that would uphold the church's policies banning blessing ceremonies for same-sex unions and ordination for individuals engaged in such relationships.

They also voted 195 to 15 to support a resolution calling for individuals, synods, congregations and organizations in the church to work together to find ways to "live together faithfully in the midst of disagreements."

A third resolution from the Church Council, which suggests that if a congregation or synod believed a gay or lesbian person in a committed relationship should be ordained, it would have to go to the church's Conference of Bishops to seek an exception to church policies, also was narrowly supported, with

114 voting yes and 103 no.

Scharlau said the third resolution isn't very satisfactory to people on either side of the issue, "so it's probably a good compromise."

The Church Council's recommendations, which will go before voting members at the national gathering, replace recommendations released in January by a ELCA task force.

The task force also recommended continuing the bans on both same-sex unions and on allowing individuals in such relationships to serve as lay or ordained ministers, but suggested the church could refrain from disciplining pastors or congregations who in good conscience approved gay and lesbian people for ministry. Unlike the Church Council, it did not offer a specific process.

La Crosse synod members also approved a resolution opposing a resolution before the Wisconsin Legislature that would amend the state's Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman out of concern that the wording in the amendment could limit the civil rights of citizens in civil unions, domestic partnerships or same-sex marriages.

A resolution calling on the ELCA to ask the president and Congress to establish civil unions for same-sex couples to afford them the same legal rights as married couples was defeated.

The Rev. Rebecca Larson, executive director of the ELCA Division for Church in Society, who participated in the Assembly as a resource person, said even though members disagree she doesn't believe the ELCA will split over the sexuality issues.

The discussions in the ELCA are similar to those occurring in other denominations and in society, she said.

"The clear message the task force had was that people wanted the task force to find a way for people to stay together in dialogue," she said. "People want to be church and move forward together."

PROOF I DIDN’T MAKE THIS UP