The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States (4.7 million baptized members), will be having its annual convention this month from August 17-23.

The hot topic at this years meeting will be the subject of gay clergy. In a position paper released earlier this year the denominational leadership decided to support gay clergy, but ultimately leave the decision up to the individual churches. The term they use for this compromise is "structured flexibility." The Minneapolis newspaper Star Tribune published an article, and short video, earlier this year covering the story.

Of course, like the Episcopal Church's decision to support the ordination of gay clergy, the decision to support the ordination of gay clergy in the ELCA will most likely cause a serious split within the denomination. There is already an organization within the ELCA called CORE (Coalition for Reform) that sees its mission to uphold the authority of scripture in the ELCA. The members of CORE are urging all delegates at the convention to vote against the position paper.

This issue will continue to arise in any church body that does not recognize the authority of scripture. If we are not being informed by scripture regarding God's will, then what is informing us?