美國福音信義會(ELCA)華人福音事工中心於2009年9月16-19日在加州蒙市(Monterey Park)舉行一年一度的 「華人教牧及教會同工靈修會」。來自美國各地的五十多位參加者，在會中全體一致通過一項聯合聲明，以回應美國福音信義會全國代表大會於8月21日通過的「接納及按立同性戀者為牧師」的決議。

On September 16 – 19, 2009, about 60 Chinese pastors and lay-leaders of the ELCA gathered at Monterey Park, California, for a retreat organized by the Center for Chinese Ministry. During the retreat, they unanimously agreed and issued a public statement in response to the “resolution to call and ordain non-celibate homosexual pastors” passed at the ELCA Church-wide Assembly on August 21, 2009.

該聯合聲明如下：

Here is the statement: 

回應

美國福音信義會(ELCA)通過「接納及按立同性戀者為牧師」的決議

 我們不同意這樣的決議。

同性戀者的性傾向或許可能是與生俱來的，不是出於個人的選擇；然而，我們知道，與生俱來的品質不一定就是對的。在這墮落、敗壞的世界，許多人生下來就有殘疾。

我們生下來都有罪性，喜歡去做犯罪的事。但我們不會因此認為污穢邪惡的行為是應該被接納的；所以才要去仰賴耶穌基督的拯救和改變。

我們知道，許多同性戀者是在情慾中痛苦掙扎，我們應該關心和幫助他們，但我們不能贊同這樣的行為，因為：

一.  就《聖經》教導而言：在《聖經》中沒有任何一段經文清楚和直接地贊成同性戀的行為。所有提及同性戀的經文，都是認為這樣的行為應該禁止，是上帝不容許的。

二.  就神學了解而言：從創造論來看，我們知道起初上帝創造一男一女成立婚姻，那是上帝對婚姻的原本設計；我們不相信上帝對婚姻有另類的設計。因此，我們不能贊成不符合上帝設計的另類婚姻組合。

三.  就社會影響而言：我們知道，父母對子女有重大的影響；父母在家庭中的角色表現是子女的模範。在同性婚姻中，父母角色混淆；下一代必然會變得更混亂和迷失。

    婚姻絕不是個人的私事，必定直接影響社會。

 四. 就教會事工而言：由於華人社會普遍不能接受同性戀行為。美國福音信義會這樣的決定，混淆各地華人對教會的形象，誤會我們信義會的華人教會也同意接納及按立同性戀者擔任牧職，對華人教會事工發展帶來非常負面的影響。

我們是信義宗的教會，我們在本宗派的優良傳統中承受了一項寶貴的遺產：信仰和生活的最高權威是《聖經》—— 不是教皇，不是總主教，不是議會的決定。教會要修改重要法案，必須有清楚而直接的《聖經》經文作依據，否則就是嚴重的錯誤！

除非有人可以根據《聖經》，清楚指證我們對同性戀問題的了解有錯誤，否則我們不會改變立場。馬丁路德當年在沃木斯會議 (Diet of Worms) 中為我們豎立了美好的榜樣，信義宗的教會也因此產生。我們稱為信義宗的教會，我們堅持以《聖經》為信仰生活的最高權威。

We absolutely disagree with the above mentioned resolution to call and ordain homosexual pastors.

It may be true that sexual orientation comes with birth, and it may not be a choice; but we know that in this corrupted world many people are born with defects or problems. Something that comes with birth does not necessarily make it good or right. All of us are born with a sinful nature, and we naturally enjoy doing sinful deeds. Yet we do not think that it is right for us to be evil. That is exactly why we need Jesus Christ to save us and change us. 

We understand that many gays and lesbians deeply suffer in their sexual struggle; we should care for them and help them, but we cannot endorse their homosexual behavior due to the following:

1.   Biblically:  We cannot find any passage in the Bible that clearly and directly supports homosexual behavior. In the Bible, all passages regarding homosexual behavior clearly state that this type of behavior is not permitted by God, and thus it should be prohibited.

2.   Theologically:  In terms of the creation, at the beginning when God created the first human couple on earth, His original plan for marriage is for one man and one woman. We do not believe that God has another design for family and marriage, and we should put our trust only in God's original design, not any other alternatives. 

3.   Sociologically:  We know that parents are the most important models for children. In a “homosexual family” the roles of father and mother are confusing, thus the children will be confused and easy lost. This confusion will cause an enormous damage to the society in the coming generations. Marriage is not a private issue; it surely has a major influence on the society.

4.   Ecclesiastically:  As the majority of the Chinese do not accept homosexual behaviors, this resolution has posted a distorted image on the Chinese congregations of the ELCA, as it appears that we are agreeing with the resolution to accept and ordain homosexual pastors. This will create significant hindrances to our ministries in the Chinese communities. 

As Lutheran congregations, the one thing we have learned from our Lutheran heritage is to take the Bible as our ultimate authority in faith and in ministry. Thus, we submit ourselves to the authority of the Bible, but not the Pope, nor the Presiding Bishop, nor the resolution of the Church-wide Assembly, nor the voices and urges from the world. Any important resolution passed by a church body has to be supported by clear and direct passages from the Bible; otherwise it is a serious mistake! 

Unless anyone can prove from the Bible that we are wrong in ourunderstanding with regards to homosexuality, we will firmly keepour stance. Martin Luther had demonstrated a great example at the Diet of Worms, and as the result the Lutheran Church was founded. As Lutheran Churches, we respect the Bible as the ultimate authority of our Christian faith.

 ***

 此「聯合聲明」的中文版將於電腦網絡公佈，並登載於「號角」月刊。同時傳送給美國眾華人信義會，台灣信義會，香港信義會，星馬信義會。

 英文版將傳送給美國福音信義會總主教MARK HANSON,美國各華人信義會所屬的區會主教， Multicultural Ministry Unit----ELCA, AAPI (Association of Asian & Pacific Islander),Lutheran“CORE” (Coalition for Reform), LWF,  “The Lutheran”雜誌，及 “Christianity Today”雜誌 . 

The original Chinese version of this statement will be posted on pertinent websites, published in the Herald Monthly (a Chinese Christian monthly), and distributed among the Lutheran churches in the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. 

An English version of this statement is to be forwarded to Bishop Mark Hanson, the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Bishops of all ELCA synods, AAPI (Association of Asian & Pacific Islander), Multicultural Ministry Unit----ELCA, Lutheran “CORE” (Coalition for Reform), LWF, “THE LUTHERAN” (ELCA Magazine) and “Christianity Today”.