Changes

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) officially holds to a liberal and subjective view regarding Scripture. It states that "God inspired the Bible’s many writers, editors and compilers", the mention of the latter entities indicating that it hold to the revisionary Documentary Source Hypothesis. It also seeks to "interpret Scripture by listening to the living Jesus in the context of the Church". As expressed, this holds that that the writer’s culture or personal experience or [[bias]] may have have resulted in "his missing what God was saying or doing, or that God now is saying or doing something new."<ref>What do Lutherans believe about the Bible?</ref>  

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) officially holds to a liberal and subjective view regarding Scripture. It states that "God inspired the Bible’s many writers, editors and compilers", the mention of the latter entities indicating that it hold to the revisionary Documentary Source Hypothesis. It also seeks to "interpret Scripture by listening to the living Jesus in the context of the Church". As expressed, this holds that that the writer’s culture or personal experience or [[bias]] may have have resulted in "his missing what God was saying or doing, or that God now is saying or doing something new."<ref>What do Lutherans believe about the Bible?</ref>  

As regards homosexuality, the ELCA affirms "... that gay and lesbian people, as individuals created by God, are welcome to participate fully in the life of the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America." However, "The ELCA has no policy on the blessing of same-sex unions", and states, "It is the policy of the ELCA that all single rostered people, including those who are homosexual in their self-understanding, are expected to abstain from sexual relationships." <ref>http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/New-or-Returning-to-Church/Dig-Deeper/Homosexuality-and-the-ELCA.aspx</ref>

As regards homosexuality, the ELCA affirms "... that gay and lesbian people, as individuals created by God, are welcome to participate fully in the life of the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America." Nevertheless it stated, "The ELCA has no policy on the blessing of same-sex unions".

 

Previously, it was the policy of the ELCA that "all single rostered people, including those who are homosexual in their self-understanding," were "expected to abstain from sexual relationships." <ref>http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/New-or-Returning-to-Church/Dig-Deeper/Homosexuality-and-the-ELCA.aspx</ref> However, on August 21, 2009, the ELCA voted 559 to 451 at its convention in Minneapolis, Minn., to allow sexually active gays in a "committed relationship" to be ordained.<ref>Sara Shookman ''Lutherans to allow gay clergy'', Gray Television, Inc (Aug 23, 2009)</ref>

===Evangelical Presbyterian Church===

===Evangelical Presbyterian Church===