EECMY Reaffirms rejection to same sex marriage

The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMMY) has continued solidifying her refusal to the same sex marriage decision by the Church of Sweden (COS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the controversial decision which is feared to create a splitting spirit among the member Churches of the Lutheran communion.

In his opening remark at the 16th meeting of the Executive Board of the EECMY, which was held on April 7-10, 2010 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Rev. Dr. Wakseyoum Idosa EECMY President reaffirmed the position of the EECMY which was taken at her 3rd Council meeting in July 2006 that declared the acceptance of the same sex marriage by COS which was followed by ELCA in August 2009 'is a clear disobedience to the Holy Scripture and the God ordained marriage".

The President further stated that the decisions passed by COS and ELCA has a serious adverse effect on the unity of Lutheran communion. He went on and said that the EECMY is deeply saddened by the decision that these churches have made in connection with same sex, which is against the inspired word of God. The position of the Council which is against the decision of same sex marriage was expressed in the following statements.

"EECMY believes that God clearly defined that proper sexual relationship is only that is practiced between a man and his wife (woman) who become one flesh, Genesis 2:24."

"The EECMY affirms that homosexual or same sex marriage does not have convincing ground neither in the Old nor in the New Testaments. It is a disastrous sin that was a cause for the wiping out of the tribe of Benjamin from its land, Judges: 19 i.e. incidence in Gibeah."

"The decision of same sex marriage is against God's order given to man and woman to produce offspring through proper holy marriage, Genesis: 1:28; 9.7. Thus, only a male - female sexual relationship can produce and create the type of family that God envisages with the father, mother and children. All other forms of sexual relationships are abnormal, unnatural and sin."

On the same occasion, the President said that the Africa Lutheran Churches during the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Pre-Assembly meeting held in Abuja Nigeria from 24-28 March 2010 has also reaffirmed the earlier position of Africa Lutheran Churches, taken in Lund, Sweden which is to reject same sex marriage indicating that it is the act of sin. The summary content of the LWF Africa Lutheran Churches pre-assembly meeting position taken in Abuja is stated as follows.

"We strongly affirm our decision taken in Lund, Sweden in 2007 that ' marriage is holy ordained by God and is a relationship between a man and a women.' Therefore, the majority of African member churches says "NO" to homosexual and regards it sinful."

"Further to this affirmation of our position on this matter, we are extremely disturbed and deeply regret of the recent development taking place in some member churches of the Communion who have taken unilateral decision on same sex marriages, disregarding the strong sentiments expressed by other members of the communion. This unilateral action has negatively impacted our life together as a communion, something which could have been avoided."

"We pray for the spirit of discernment and for the grace of God to abound as we seek to resolve these issues."

At the conclusion of his opening remark the president said that by the directives of the Council of the EECMY the issue of same sex marriage is under serious study, in order to explore the next action that the church shall take with regard to the relationship between her and the member churches of the Lutheran communion that have already legalized 'the same sex marriage. The progress of the study will be discussed at the forthcoming sixth meeting of the Council, the President added.

EECMY Public Relations Office Addis Ababa. April 12, 2010