ELCA Churchwide Assembly calls sexism and patriarchy sins, condemns white supremacy

[guillaumeb]

Last edited Thu Aug 15, 2019, 09:56 PM - Edit history (1)

From the article:

The social statement — titled “Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action” — was approved by the ELCA’s Churchwide Assembly with 97% of the vote Friday morning (Aug. 9) on the last full day of the denomination’s triennial meeting at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee....

She ( the Rev. April Larson, the first woman bishop in the ELCA) said the statement offers an alternative way for the country to see Christianity’s view of women. That’s needed, she said, at a time when “the predominant Christian way to talk about gender puts men and women in a hierarchy.”....

It calls on the ELCA to act to end gender-based violence, to encourage women and girls to pursue ministry and leadership roles in their congregations, to use “gender-inclusive and expansive” language for God and to address inequities in pay and hiring both inside and outside the church.

To read more:

https://religionnews.com/2019/08/09/elca-names-sexism-and-patriarchy-as-sins-condemns-white-supremacy-at-lutheran-churchwide-assembly/

Edited to add:
ELCA is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

[abqtommy]

1. My name is not Claire Voyant

and I dislike acronyms that I'm not familiar with. According to a quick search ECLA is an acronym of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I provide this service at no charge and will send thoughts and prayers that you will change your evil ways... (just kidding) This IS a good move on the part of the ELCA, (membership 4 million), thanks.

[guillaumeb]

2. It is long overdue, but a good start.

I should have identified the acronym, and I will edit to do so.

Thank you.

[littlemissmartypants]

3. One of the things that used to

Drive me insane when I first got here, damned acronyms! They still drive me crazy, just not as much. It seems that with the disappearance of many long time, original members, I don't see them used as frequently.

I'm surprised thoughts and prayers hasn't been reduced to TAP.

Claire Voyant

[abqtommy]

4. Sometimes I speak out and sometimes I don't.

Thanks for giving us TAP! How about Acronym Lovers Unite/ALU? I think I use humor to take the edge off some of my comments. It's sure not because I think I could make a living at it!

[littlemissmartypants]

5. Humor helps.

Swami says, "Everyone needs a Daily Ridiculous Moment."

Here's a funny for you. I used to think noob was an acronym. Thankfully, I figured it out.

[pansypoo53219]

6. proud to be a lapsed lutheran.

[guillaumeb]

8. Now that is an ambiguous reply.

Well done.

[pansypoo53219]

10. i think i am a brownist. reading a 1891 encyclopedia set.

church is too early.

[Act_of_Reparation]

7. Great. Problem solved!

So now that there's no patriarchy or white supremacy anymore, what are we going to do with our time? Talk about religion?

[guillaumeb]

9. The first step in a journey.

Often the hardest.

[Act_of_Reparation]

11. First step, eh?

Pretty sure we figured out sexism and racism were shitty before the ELCA got around to addressing it in 2019.

[guillaumeb]

12. But this "we" is not the leadership of the church.

Often there is a gap between religion as it is practiced and religion as it is taught by the clergy.

[Act_of_Reparation]

13. In my line of work, one is not rewarded for arriving late.

[guillaumeb]

16. An excellent point.

But it is still necessary to arrive at the desired place.

[AtheistCrusader]

15. In agile business practices, there's a concept called 'maximize the work not done'.

It means, cutting unnecessary 'journey's' out entirely before resources are wasted on it.

No point reforming a thing that isn't needed.

[guillaumeb]

17. What is "needed" depends on who is speaking.

Some need the illusion of insight.

[Major Nikon]

14. Who are these people again?

And for each one of them how many dozens of Christian groups are working diligently on the exact opposite?

So yeah, the problem has been solved among the very small segment that was never that much of the problem to begin with.

[trotsky]

19. Such a low bar, too.

"Religious group finally takes an official position that patriarchy ain't so great."

WOWEEEE

[Major Nikon]

20. They don't even go that far

They are just condemning certain negative symptoms of the patriarchy without saying anything about the cause found in the very doctrines they still support. When they start to contradict the actual verses that allow others in their club to discriminate, there might be a “counterpoint” worth reading.

[trotsky]

18. And the Wisconsin and Missouri Synods?

Should we mention their positions on patriarchy?

Or will you only allow favorable religious positions to be discussed?

[guillaumeb]

21. This particular article was limited to the matter here.

It was not presented as "the definitive discussion of patriarchy in the Church".

[trotsky]

22. But yet still on topic.

I'm sure you know that those synods are notoriously misogynistic. It's part of their religion.

[guillaumeb]

23. Misogyny is an integral component of patriarchy.

I am certain that you know that.

[trotsky]

24. And both are integral components of multiple religions.

I am certain you want to ignore that.

[guillaumeb]

25. Your "certainty" is refuted by my actual posts.

But I understand the narrative you seem to prefer.

[trotsky]

26. No, your opinion doesn't refute anything.

You don't really understand how this works, do you?

[guillaumeb]

27. This line of yours is getting very old,

and always easily refuted.

[trotsky]

28. What line?

Your opinion is not fact, guillaumeb. This is obvious to everyone but you, apparently.

The fact is that your religion has been intricately tied up with patriarchy since it began. All the Abrahamic religions have. I understand it's your opinion that your religion is pure, perfect, and good, and that it can never, ever inspire anyone to do anything bad, but that's simply not the case. Your religion is a hodgepodge of good and bad ideas, many of them poorly stated/recorded/copied/translated. Giving the whole thing the veneer of supernatural truth as you try to do is very dangerous - and that has been the primary reason I have opposed your efforts in this forum. I understand this bothers you, and thus it's why you treat me so poorly. But I'm not going to stop opposing your agenda, because it hurts people.