The Heresy Hunter

From the Christian Post this sad story:

While facing debates over ethical issues, including homosexuality, Lutherans from around the world were encouraged to stay in communion around their common
faith.

At the Lutheran World Federation's 60th anniversary service on Sunday, Church of Sweden Archbishop Anders Wejryd told hundreds of attendants that the different practices of the churches on several matters should not threaten the communion of Lutheran churches, according to an LWF press release.

...Although Jesus had shed light on Scriptures it was up to the members of the communion to interpret them, based on the hermeneutical principles and “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith," he added.

...The archbishop’s comments come in the midst of an eight-day meeting of the LWF Council (the group's main governing body) where Lutheran churches were encouraged by LWF’s general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, to discuss issues of marriage, family and sexuality among other topics.

Church representatives from Africa were vocal in their opposition to same-sex “marriage.”

"If God had wanted people from the same sex to have relationships he would have created Adam and Adam, not Adam and Eve," said Satou Marthe, a woman delegate from Cameroon, according to Ecumenical News International.

The European Lutheran churches called for a "profound theological study on marriage, family and biblical hermeneutics," according to LWF. And the North American conference said there is a need to "identify social, political, cultural and interfaith factors” that shape perspectives on these issues.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America had issued a three-part series of studies on human sexuality in recent years out of a mandate by the 2001 Churchwide Assembly. Responses from congregants around the country are expected to help shape ELCA's statement on human sexuality, including such issues as same-sex marriage and the consecration of homosexuals.

...The Lutheran World Federation does not have a stand on the issue of homosexuality yet.

The Church of Sweden – the largest Lutheran church in the world – had announced last week that marriage should be reserved for heterosexual couples but that the church would give blessings to same-sex couples in committed, faithful relationships, according to Ecumenical News International.

In my opinion any Lutheran church that even thinks the matter of homosexuality is a matter of debate has no business calling itself Lutheran.