The battle for hearts and minds (and votes)

Shrimp here: The spin is in! You have to visit the goodsoil web site in their cover story they write, "In a response as nuanced as the resolution itself, the Church Council said, in part, "that the resolution contains inherently conflicting statements that may be read as being in conflict with the constitution and bylaws of this church".

Well, duh, the Church Council is in control of revisionists (remember the Recommendations 1, 2, and 3 were much more radical than anything the revisionist sexuality statement said). Council didn't nuance, read between the lines, they said, "We're really sorry, you are going to have to try again. Please come back with something that doesn't make us culpable in splitting the ELCA."

Here's the beginning of their spin. Read it and visit the site. And thanks to goodsoil for putting the Almen pdf up on the web! if they keep it up they are going to show everyone in all synods how to bring them up before a disciplinary hearing in a way that will stick!

ELCA News Service Misrepresents Church Council Decision

-- 2006-05-02

The ELCA News Service, among others, has stated erroneously that the ELCA Church Council found a Metropolitan New York Synod (MNYS) resolution to be in conflict with ELCA Church rules when the Council’s action clearly stated only that the MNYS resolution may be read as being in conflict.

Because the Church Council’s ruling was not definitive, it is important that Synod Assemblies continue to voice concerns regarding the relationship between the ELCA’s mission and its processes for discipline and candidacy. Your help is needed to bring this issue before your Synod Assembly.

At its April 1-2, 2006 meeting, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America responded to a MNYS request received last fall for an evaluation of a resolution the synod adopted at a special assembly on October 29, 2005. The resolution stated in sum that the MYNS would not disqualify a candidate for ministry in a committed same-gender relationship solely on the basis of the relationship. The MYNS said in the resolution that it would put that fact in the context of what was best for the mission of the synod and the church before rendering judgment.

In a response as nuanced as the resolution itself, the Church Council said, in part, "that the resolution contains inherently conflicting statements that may be read as being in conflict with the constitution and bylaws of this church" (emphasis added).

Go there (and take care!).