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What do Lutheran Churches Say About Marriage?
These Lutheran denominations allow for marriages of same-gender couples to be performed:
As of 2009, pastors may preside over same-gender marriages where they are not prohibited by civil law. Here are some relevant excerpts from the ELCA social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust:
"Recognizing that this conclusion differs from the historic Christian tradition and the Lutheran Confessions, some people, though not all, in this church and within the larger Christian community, conclude that marriage is also the appropriate term to use in describing similar benefits, protection, and support for same-gender couples entering into lifelong monogamous relationships.”
(page 18 of printed version, emphasis added)
"We further believe that this church, on the basis of the bound conscience, will include [the following] understandings and practices within its life as it seeks to live out its mission and ministry in the world: . . . . On the basis of conscience-bound belief, some are convinced that the scriptural witness does not address the context of sexual orientation and committed relationships that we experience today. They believe that the neighbor and community are best served when same-gender relationships are lived out with lifelong and monogamous commitments that are held to the same rigorous standards, sexual ethics, and status as heterosexual marriage. They surround such couples and their lifelong commitments with prayer to live in ways that glorify God, find strength for the challenges that will be faced, and serve others. They believe same-gender couples should avail themselves of social and legal support for themselves, their children, and other dependents and seek the highest legal accountability available for their relationships."
(pages 19–20 of printed version. emphasis added)
In July 2011, delegates of the 13th Biennial ELCIC National Convention approved the following policy statement:
"It is the policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada that rostered ministers may, according to the dictates of their consciences as informed by the Gospels, the Scriptures, the ecumenical creeds and the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, preside at or bless legal marriages according to the laws of the province within which they serve. All rostered ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are encouraged to exercise due diligence in preparing couples for marriage. All rostered ministers serving congregations are encouraged at all times to conduct their ministry in consultation with the lay leaders in the congregation and with sensitivity to the culture within which the congregation serves."
From the ELCIC Social Statement on Human Sexuality:
This church affirms marriage as a covenant of fidelity—a public, lifelong commitment between two people in a personal and sexual union. God, the source of all love, is active in marriage, offering encouragement, forgiveness, healing and blessing. The two spouses bear the primary responsibility for living out their vows and in recognizing God’s activity in their relationship. The church’s supportive role is expressed through community, prayer, worship and pastoral care.
Through the course of the Bible, the understanding of marriage changed as the people of God sought to faithfully follow the word of God given to the prophets of their age, and the new word given by Christ to the apostles. Similarly, the understanding of marriage has changed through the course of history, and as various expressions of church sought to engage local societies. While honouring marriage theologically and liturgically, the Lutheran tradition has long acknowledged that civil authorities have a significant role to play in the administration of marriage. The Lutheran tradition also acknowledges there may be diversity in practice for “ceremonies or ecclesiastical practices that are neither commanded nor forbidden in God’s Word.”
In a spirit of prayer and learning, Christians continue to have their perspectives on family and marriage challenged by Word and Sacrament. This includes God calling us and prodding us toward a faithful life in all circumstances. Traditionally, marriage has meant a commitment of one man and one woman. The church now faces the reality that same-sex couples can be legally married in Canada and in some other countries. Marriage provides community support, including legal protections for spouses and children; this support and protection are a need for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
Our church is conflicted on how to acknowledge covenants of fidelity made by same-sex couples. While acknowledging same-sex couples is troubling to some members of this church, failure to acknowledge these covenants of fidelity is troubling to others. At this moment in time, this church is being called in the spirit of St. Paul (Galatians 2) to respect and to allow space for varied understanding and practices.
We pray for the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit as we seek to support couples who enter into a lifelong commitment of fidelity to one another in marriage.
Since May of 2009, same gender couples same-sex couples have been included in the “institute and concept of marriage.”
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What do Lutheran churches say?
These Lutheran denominations allow for same-gender marriages to be performed:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
As of 2009, pastors may preside over same-gender marriages where they are not prohibited by civil law. Here are some relevant excerpts from the ELCA social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust:
“Recognizing that this conclusion differs from the historic Christian tradition and the Lutheran Confessions, some people, though not all, in this church and within the larger Christian community, conclude that marriage is also the appropriate term to use in describing similar benefits, protection, and support for same-gender couples entering into lifelong monogamous relationships.” (page 18 of printed version)
“We further believe that this church, on the basis of the bound conscience, will include [the following] these different understandings and practices within its life as it seeks to live out its mission and ministry in the world: . . . . On the basis of conscience-bound belief, some are convinced that the scriptural witness does not address the context of sexual orientation and committed relationships that we experience today. They believe that the neighbor and community are best served when same-gender relationships are lived out with lifelong and monogamous commitments that are held to the same rigorous standards, sexual ethics, and status as heterosexual marriage. They surround such couples and their lifelong commitments with prayer to live in ways that glorify God, find strength for the challenges that will be faced, and serve others. They believe same-gender couples should avail themselves of social and legal support for themselves, their children, and other dependents and seek the highest legal accountability available for their relationships. (pages 19–20 of printed version)
See the full text of the ELCA social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust
Evangelical Lutheran church in Canada (ELCIC)
In July 2011, delegates of the 13th Biennial ELCIC National Convention approved the following policy statement:
It is the policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada that rostered ministers may, according to the dictates of their consciences as informed by the Gospels, the Scriptures, the ecumenical creeds and the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, preside at or bless legal marriages according to the laws of the province within which they serve. All rostered ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are encouraged to exercise due diligence in preparing couples for marriage. All rostered ministers serving congregations are encouraged at all times to conduct their ministry in consultation with the lay leaders in the congregation and with sensitivity to the culture within which the congregation serves.
From the ELCIC Social Statement on Human Sexuality:
From This church affirms marriage as a covenant of fidelity—a public, lifelong commitment between two people in a personal and sexual union. God, the source of all love, is active in marriage, offering encouragement, forgiveness, healing and blessing. The two spouses bear the primary responsibility for living out their vows and in recognizing God’s activity in their relationship. The church’s supportive role is expressed through community, prayer, worship and pastoral care.
Through the course of the Bible, the understanding of marriage changed as the people of God sought to faithfully follow the word of God given to the prophets of their age, and the new word given by Christ to the apostles. Similarly, the understanding of marriage has changed through the course of history, and as various expressions of church sought to engage local societies. While honouring marriage theologically and liturgically, the Lutheran tradition has long acknowledged that civil authorities have a significant role to play in the administration of marriage. The Lutheran tradition also acknowledges there may be diversity in practice for “ceremonies or ecclesiastical practices that are neither commanded nor forbidden in God’s Word.”
In a spirit of prayer and learning, Christians continue to have their perspectives on family and marriage challenged by Word and Sacrament. This includes God calling us and prodding us toward a faithful life in all circumstances. Traditionally, marriage has meant a commitment of one man and one woman. The church now faces the reality that same-sex couples can be legally married in Canada and in some other countries. Marriage provides community support, including legal protections for spouses and children; this support and protection are a need for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
Our church is conflicted on how to acknowledge covenants of fidelity made by same-sex couples. While acknowledging same-sex couples is troubling to some members of this church, failure to acknowledge these covenants of fidelity is troubling to others. At this moment in time, this church is being called in the spirit of St. Paul (Galatians 2) to respect and to allow space for varied understanding and practices.
We pray for the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit as we seek to support couples who enter into a lifelong commitment of fidelity to one another in marriage.
For more information on policy, see http://elcic.ca/Human-Sexuality/default.cfm
Church of Sweden
Since May of 2009, same gender couples same-sex couples have been included in the “institute and concept of marriage.”
http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?id=587144
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominational_positions_on_homosexuality#Lutheranism
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