Church will continue homosexuality debate
Published February 9, 2005 in The State newspaper

     Robert M. Cook II (Letters, Jan. 24) criticized Christina Lee Knauss for characterizing the Lutheran Synod in South Carolina as open to further discussion of the issues of homosexual ordination and marriage. I agree that the majority of South Carolina Lutherans are likely not interested in further discussion, but what the majority needs to be open to is the inevitability of these discussions.
     Whenever people tell me that homosexuals should not be ordained or married because of the sin inherent in their nature, I implore them to explain why. They cannot because there is no logical explanation for why homosexuality is harmful or profane and, therefore, sinful. Whereas people like Mr. Cook are content with a “plain reading” of Scripture as the basis of their position, many of us feel that these children of God deserve better.
     Throughout his mission to persuade the Catholic Church of a more open view of salvation through a more critical reading of Scripture, Martin Luther strove to reform the Catholic Church, not abandon it. Like him, those of us who have a more open view of homosexuality through a more critical reading of Scripture will not abandon the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America because of its mostly static position; indeed, we will be present every step of the way to help others see the opportunity the church is missing to make itself stronger.

KEVIN C. KYZER
Columbia