Pastors sometimes get into trouble when they say something about a controversial issue. The more the issue polarizes people in the church, the more likely the pastor will get into trouble when addressing the issue.

Whenever one group is adamantly opposed to an issue and another group strongly supports the same issue it is easy to alienate one of the groups. If the pastor is clumsy enough there is a chance that both groups will be offended.

Only skillful pastors can talk about controversial issues without offending one side or the other. I'm probably not all that skillful, so I will rely on the graciousness of this congregation.

Today I want to say something about the issue of homosexuality. If this congregation is like most cross sections of the general public, then we have some in the congregation who think the church should be purged of homosexuals, and we have some on the opposite side of the issue. I know two pastors, both now retired, who each have a homosexual child. They both wish the church would not discriminate against people based on sexual orientation.

Leviticus 20:13 says, "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them." (NRSV)

One could argue that if we do not attempt to kill every person who practices homosexual behavior that we are not being obedient to this passage. I don't think being obedient to Leviticus 20:13 is a good idea. It could land a person in jail for a long time.

In the seventh chapter of Matthew Jesus says, "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, "Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye." (NRSV)

Some say the church is judgmental and that we have not made good use of the Golden Rule when dealing with homosexuals.

I think there are two opposite poles on this issue. People who would like to purge the church of homosexuals, and possibly even punish them in some way are at one pole. People who would like the church to not discriminate against homosexuals in any way are at the other pole. These are people who would be in favor of allowing homosexuals to serve as pastors of congregations.

Some people have opinions on this issue that place them at one pole or the other, and I believe there are many people with opinions that would fall somewhere between these two poles.

If I were the leader of a cult instead of the pastor of this congregation, I would tell you all where I stand on this issue and expect you adhere to my opinion. I am not the leader of a cult, and I am not going to try to define where I stand on this issue.

I will say what I have done to arrive at my position. I have read what the Bible has to say on this subject. I have read some of what was written by a number of theologians. I have read both early Christian theologians and modern Christian theologians. I have drawn on the experience of my life, which includes conversations with homosexuals, their supporters, and those who oppose them. I have prayed about this issue, and I continue to pray about it.

I don't expect every member of this congregation to arrive at the same place on this issue. I do hope that all of you use the same tools to form your opinion. I hope you read the scriptures, I hope you learn from those who have gone before you in the faith, I hope you draw on the experiences of you life, and I hope that you pray about this issue.

Sometimes denominations use the political process to settle controversial issues. A vote is taken, the winners win, the losers lose, and a split in the denomination is the likely result.

That's how the Missouri Synod was formed. At that time the issue was called "The Election Controversy." Later some congregations left the Missouri Synod over the way creation was to be taught in the church.

I don't think either issue was worth splitting the church. I am quite willing to worship God with people who do not conform to my opinion on either of those two issues.

I am also quite willing to worship God with people whose opinions on the subject of homosexuality differ from my own. I hope the use of the political process will not split our denomination over this issue. I think that a split would hurt the work of the body of Christ in the world.

Jesus didn't spend a lot of time talking about the issue of homosexuality. When we read the Gospels we will hear him say quite a bit about the kingdom of heaven, healing the sick, loving your neighbor, and feeding the hungry. We do not hear Jesus say very much about homosexuality.

I don't plan to spend a lot of time on the issue of homosexuality either. I am willing to talk about it, but I am not willing to spend more time on it than I do on the issues that Jesus seemed to care about the most.

I am willing to worship God with you no matter where you stand on this issue. I hope and pray that all of us are willing to worship God together, and that this issue does not become an issue that divides and polarizes our denomination and/or our congregation.

It is not my intent to talk about a controversial subject in a way that is hurtful to any individual. I hope I have not done that, and if I have I hope you will forgive me. I also hope the people of St Mark's can worship God together in peace as they have for most of the last one hundred years.

May God bless each and every one of you.

Sincerely,