Ordination of Homosexuals and The Right Way to Fast
by Pastor Walter Snyder

Q: Being a Presbyterian, and seeing what has recently taken place in the Anglican Church
in America, I wonder what the Lutheran Church believes/allows regarding the ordination
of gays as elders and ministers. Is this an issue that will divide Lutherans as it is
Presbyterian and Anglican congregations?

A: It's already part of the division among Lutherans. Conservative, confessional Lutherans
continue to consider homosexuality as deviant and sinful. Lutheran bodies including the Wisconsin
Synod and the Missouri Synod have made formal statements against homosexual behavior and
strongly oppose the ordination of homosexual clergy. In more liberal Lutheranism, homosexuality
among parishioners is allowed and often condoned. Some congregations and pastors in the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have blessed gay unions and otherwise supported
"committed gay relationships." Actual ordinations have happened but still lack official sanction.

However, the ELCA is in a fellowship agreement with the Episcopal Church. Thus, they are
bound to accept homosexual clergy from the Episcopalians. Likewise they are in fellowship with
other bodies which ordain homosexuals, including the United Church of Christ (UCC), which
even has a scholarship endowment established for homosexual seminarians. Because of these
agreements and a perceived drift by ELCA toward full toleration of homosexuals in the pastoral
office, I cannot foresee the divisions closing among Lutherans.

Q: I would like to start a fast. Is it ok to drink different fluids or only water? If one can
drink different fluids can they have sugar in them? I would like to know so I may fast the
way God wants us to.

A: Fasting is nowhere commanded for Christians. If one wishes to do so, there are no Biblical
guidelines. Fasting itself is a means of practicing self-discipline. It need not be complete abstention
from all food; often fasts only omit certain items. Commonly mentioned items include meat (or
some types of meat), fats and oils, and sweets.

If you seriously want to fast, I suggest picking a menu and a routine rigorous enough that you
must work to maintain the fast. In other words, pick things you really like that aren't necessary
for survival. But don't go overboard, imposing such a strict fast on yourself that you are unable to
keep it. You need a balance between disciplining yourself and pushing yourself too far.

When I fast, I normally omit sweetened drinks and wine from my beverages and chocolates and
other sweets from my meals. If you wish to abstain more completely, try doing it only during the
daylight hours, then eat sensibly at night.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version~<TM>, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

Ask the Pastor, © 2004 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer,
by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations
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