A Reflection on the Council Action on Same-Gender Marriage

Pastor Chris Smith
Senior Pastor

As reported on SOTV’s website, the Church Council met last Thursday and voted in favor of the resolution to authorize the pastoral staff of SOTV to officiate for same-gender marriages. The vote was six in favor of the resolution, four opposed, with one abstention. I offer here a few thoughts about the vote.

First, I want to offer my thanks to the Church Council. Members of the Church Council spent a great deal of time in prayer and deliberation. They took their task with utmost seriousness and were remarkably honest with one another. Their vote reflects genuine differences in their views on same-gender marriage. But, however they voted, their vote does not detract from their faithfulness to serving the Lord at SOTV. They all worship the same Lord and they all want the ministry of SOTV to make a difference in the world in the name of Jesus. As they serve together on the council they all serve the same crucified and risen Savior and their vote does not change that. In my own humble and bumbling Lutheran way, I am proud of the Church Council for voting honestly but also agreeing on the center of our mission in Jesus Christ and recognizing that that is what unites us.

We live in a highly divided and polarized world and a lot of important things don’t get done because of it. We are also susceptible to becoming divided when the call of God is to be united for the sake of Christ. The extraordinary genius of Jesus was to be able to call followers as different as Nicodemus the Pharisee, the extortionist tax collector Matthew, and the woman at the well with her many failed marriages. All three were remarkable in their imperfections. And yet Jesus still called them together into one mission that is still saving the world. He needs all of us.

I think that, as a community of faith, we have the capacity to do that – to be one people in mission even though we have differences that we need to respect. I believe such unity is possible for our church. I appeal to all in our Body of Christ to let the love of Christ bind us together in worship and service to a world in need. Most important, I encourage us all to pray without ceasing as we move forward as a church.

Churches that succeed best for God’s kingdom keep their eyes focused like a laser on the Lord Jesus. They recognize their brokenness and that the church is not a bastion of the perfect but a hospital for sinners. Their people have strong convictions but they also recognize that they don’t have all the answers. They differ in their perspectives, but they still worship together with joy. They are filled with gratitude for the forgiveness won by Jesus on the cross and they are energized to be ambassadors for Jesus, bringing good news to a hurting world. They gladly serve those in need and give for the sake of others. They value every gift and they cherish each volunteer commitment. They pray without ceasing. They stand together at the foot of the cross. And, they realize that they can do so much more together than they ever can if they are divided. All this is what I pray we can be.

I encourage us all to pray, to worship, to serve others in Jesus’ name, and to listen. Let’s move forward in faith. Let’s do it together.

See You in Church,

Pastor Chris Smith

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