A More Excellent Way
‘A Response to Orlando’
Epiphany 2006
www.excell-way.com

We, the undersigned - pastors, seminarians, interns, professors, synod staffs, ECP (Extraordinary Candidacy Project pastors), AIM, diaconal ministers and other lay and clergy rostered leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) – love and respect this church. The ELCA is indeed a servant of the Lord and we do not intend to leave it.

However, we the undersigned, also find ourselves in fundamental disagreement with our church’s policy toward the lives and ministries of lgbt (lesbian, gay, bi, transgender) persons. We wish to give voice to what we believe is a more excellent way. Working for fullness of life and fullness of ministry for all we shall by our actions and words dissent from ELCA policy and endeavor to change it. We believe this is living “in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (Phil 1:27)

To this end, we commit ourselves to the following:

1. Word/Actions

2. derived from the following Convictions

3. grounded in these Biblical Notes

• notes on specific Biblical texts

4. and Biblical Hermenutics

• four essays on general Biblical hermeneutics

5. In addition, Other Essays include:

• "Divorce and Homosexuality: Why the Inconsistency in Applying Scripture?" by Rev. Roland Hayes
• Other Leviticus passages that raise questions for Christians
• Why the proposed Marriage Amendment is bad

6. Click signatures to see others in support of this movement, or to add your name.

7. 9 ELCA pastors> in Tucson Arizona have prayerfully worked to put together this material together. Your comments for improvement are WELCOMED, and can be sent to: excell-way@excell-way.com