Married in the Sight of God Theology, Ethics,

Married in the Sight of God is a case study into the contemporary sexual ethics debates in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Christian B. Scharen analyzes the origin, rhetorical use, and institutionalization of the Lutheran "orders of creation" theology used to exclude gays and lesbians. In addition, this study shows that the Lutheran tradition holds neglected possibilities for an affirming theological and ethical position that blesses the lives and leadership of people -- homosexual or heterosexual -- who make life-long promises of love and fidelity one to another.

Christian Batalden Scharen is currently a doctoral candidate in social ethics in the Graduate Division of Religion, Emory University

Foreword

viii

Martha Ellen Stortz

Preface

xvi

Acknowledgements

xxv

The Times Have Changed: Reflections on Doing Christian Sexual Ethics Today

1

(18)

Method: Critical Christian Ethics

2

(3)

Critical Tools: Archaeology and Genealogy

5

(4)

Constructive Use of a Tradition

9

(6)

Using the Varieties of Sources

10

(2)

Revision in Sexual Ethics

12

(3)

Outline of the Book

15

(4)

Honoring God's Handiwork: Luther on Sexuality And Marriage

19

(36)

The Primacy of Pastoral Concerns

21

(7)

Luther's Revisions in Moral Teaching

28

(8)

From a Two-Tiered Ethic to a Horizontal Ethic

28

(6)

From Marriage as Sacrament to Marriage as Estate

34

(2)

A Sketch of Luther's Full Views on Marriage

36

(16)

Sexuality and Marriage as Divine Ordinances

38

(3)

Marriage as a Civil Estate

41

(7)

Marriage as a Christian Calling

48

(4)

Interpreting Luther Today

52

(3)

The Heterosexual Structure of Creation: The Orders of Creation in American Lutheranism

55

(38)

Order of Creation: An Unchangeable Norm?

57

(1)

The Unlikely History of the ``Unchangeably Normative''

58

(35)

Lutheran Church in America

58

(20)

American Lutheran Church

78

(9)

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

87

(6)

Vision and Expectations: Theology and Policy for Exclusion

93

(34)

Bureaucracy and Disciplinary Power

95

(5)

Producing Candidates for Ordained Ministry

100

(17)

History of the Problem: Authority, Candidacy and Sexuality

103

(8)

History of the Solutions: Authority, Bureaucracy and Discipline

111

(6)

Guidance and Necessary Evaluation: Candidacy Processes and the Interview

117

(10)

Developing Candidacy Process

117

(2)

The Examinations

119

(8)

Promises of Fidelity: An Inclusive Theology of Marriage

127

(22)

The Letter and The Spirit

127

(4)

Theology and Policy: Reasons for Revision

128

(3)

Toward an Inclusive Theology of Marriage

131

(18)

Luther

132

(11)

U.S. Lutheranism

143

(6)

Conclusion Theology and Social Change

149

(4)

Bibliography

153

(16)

Index

169

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Married in the Sight of God Theology, Ethics, and Church Debates Over Homosexuality

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials