Lutherans Allow Union of Unwed

From First Page

be able to keep covenants permanent even though that's the original intention."

Debate on the 2.200-word document Sex. Marriage, and Family," prepared by an officially appointed 10-member commission over a four-year period. spanned seven days of the eight-day convention.

As opponents' tempers flared over the document Wednesday, the governor of Minnesota. Harold Levander. told the 695 delegates they would look ridiculous before the world" if they approved the document.

But the delegates rejected the governor's move to have action on the document postponed for two years.

ONE ADDITION placed in the document by the delegates says: “Because the Lutheran Church in America holds that sexual intercourse outside the context of the marriage union is morally wrong, nothing in this statement ... is to be interpreted as meaning that this church either condones or approves premarital or extramarital sexual intercourse."

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But sponsors of the document told reporters after the document was approved they would interpret marriage union," as used in the addition, to mean "covenant of

fidelity and not legal contract."

Perhaps the most surprising element in the debate yesterday was the assembly's compassionate attitude toward homosexual-

ity.

All attempts from the floor to condemn homosexuals or to speak about them in the document as though they needed to be cured were soundly defeated. In the end. the document deals with the subject by saying, in part:

"PERSONS WHO engage in homosexual behavior are sinners only as are all other persons... entitled to understanding and justice in church and community."

On abortion, the document says: "People have a right not to have children without being accused of selfishness or betrayal of the divine plan: and every child has a right to be a wanted child... On the basis of the evangelical ethic, a woman or couple may decide responsibly to seek an abortion."

No objections were raised by the delegates to the stance on divorce: To identify the legal action of divorce as sinful by itself obscures the fact that the marital relationship has already been mutually undermined by thoughts. words, and actions . . . There may be situations in which securing a divorce is more responsible than staying together.

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