Evangelicals and gay adoption

Leah Hecht’s letter “Adoption Ban Bad for Children and Gay Couples,” which appeared on April 1, was a pleasure to read – for the most part. While I completely agree with her arguments for gay and lesbian adoption rights, I take issue with one statement: “Ironically, this ban is supported mostly by Christian Evangelicals.”

According to the Web site for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, their story is based on “a powerful and patient God who has boundless love for all people of the world.” Her assertion that the ELCA views gays and lesbians as “not people” is completely untrue. The ELCA does not in any way support Arkansas’ ban on homosexual couples adopting children.

Like so many words in the English language, “evangelical” has several meanings. The most popular meaning is the one that refers to a certain church or set of people as “evangelical.” It is used to describe conservative, fundamentalist denominations of Christianity that emphasize a literal interpretation of the Bible and a personal conversion and acceptance of Jesus Christ. Among others, Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, Assemblies of God and some non-denominational churches are considered evangelical. (Note: none of these churches actually have the word “evangelical” in their names.)

The original meaning of “evangelical” is, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, “Of or pertaining to the Gospel narrative, or to the Four Gospels; contained or mentioned in the Gospels.” The gospels contain the basic belief of the Christian faith: that Christ was crucified for our sins and rose again. It is from this meaning that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America takes its name.

I urge Hecht to read a bit further into the ELCA’s Web site, where she will find the church’s actual beliefs regarding homosexuality: “The 1991 Churchwide Assembly declared ‘gay and lesbian people, as individuals created by God, are welcome to participate fully in the life of the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.’” In keeping with this statement, the Lutheran Campus Ministry at IU and St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Bloomington welcome and accept all GLBT people as our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let us, as a nation, move forward in accepting and reconciling people of all sexualities and gender identities. However, as we work for equal rights, let’s not assume that we disagree with anyone based simply upon a name. Look more closely, and perhaps we will find we agree.

Rebekah Sims
Peer Minister, IU Lutheran Campus
Ministry and Jacobs School of Music student