On Friday, June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot ban same-sex marriages. In writing for the majority in the 5-4 ruling, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said, “Under the Constitution, same-sex couples seek in marriage the same legal treatment as opposite-sex couples, and it would disparage their choices and diminish their personhood to deny them this right.”
As a result of the Court’s decision, we at Feast of Victory Lutheran Church have started an on-going discussion on homesexuality and same-sex marriage. Specifically, we are addressing three questions:
- Will we accept same-sex weddings in the Feast of Victory church building?
- Will we authorize our pastor to perform same-sex weddings (whether in our church building or not)?
- Will we hold same-sex marriage to the same level of acceptance, blessing and recognition as heterosexual marriage?
To answer these questions and still be faithful to our Lord, we seek the guidance of Scriptures. The links below will take you to articles written by respected Lutheran theologians.
The Old Testament on Homosexuality
written by Terence E. Fretheim, an Old Testament scholar and the Elva B. Lovell professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary.
The New Testament On Homosexuality
written by Walter F. Taylor, Jr., the Ernest W. and Edith S. Ogram Professor of New Testament Studies and director of graduate studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio.
What Does the Bible Really Say About Homosexuality?
written by David Lose, President of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia