The September issue carried a full-page advertisement for David Glesne’s book Understanding Homosexuality: Perspectives for the Local Church. This book comes at the reader like an old softball but quickly turns into a homemade hand grenade disguised as pastoral care for the “suffering homosexual” and “confused Christian.” How is allowing an advertisement for such a book, which names faithful gay and lesbian members of the ELCA as a threat to the church, the family and society, “living together faithfully in the midst of our disagreements”? It’s just not.
Author misrepresents self
Glesne misrepresents himself and his message, which is anti-gay and anti-gospel. In the past, The Lutheran has run ads for The Lutheran Network for Inclusive Vision and other pro-gay organizations working for full inclusion in the ELCA, but those groups didn’t misrepresent themselves or their message.
In the trash
I was stunned that not only was a book full of hate sent to me but that an ELCA congregation sponsored the sending of it to every ELCA pastor, including retired clergy. I did what should have been done with the book in the first place: threw it away. Quoting a bumper sticker I saw: “I believe in the separation of church and hate.” It’s time to start practicing this theology of grace.
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© 2013 Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
