Secrets of the City

MinnPost writer Michael Bonafield sat down with Strib columnist Katherine Kersten for a two-hour interview, and here’s the first of a two-part Q&A piece, in which Kersten discusses “same-sex marriage, liberal rage, and life at the Star Tribune.”

Her argument against same-sex marriage, as we saw early last week, lies strictly on the grounds that marriage is for procreation and, ultimately, for the perpetuation of society and civilization.

The truth is, historically marriage as an institution was more about money and power. It was an economic arrangement. Women were commodities, sold in marriage to the highest bidder in order to secure wealth and strengthen family bonds.

In Ancient Greece a woman whose father died without male heirs was often forced to marry her nearest male relative. So much for Kersten’s theory that same-sex marriage will lead to incestuous marriage as well. Already been done.

Anyhow, if Kersten really believes that marriage should be based strictly on procreation, then she’s probably in favor of annulment based on lack of conception, and she’s likely a huge fan of Henry VIII.

Or maybe she’s just fanning the fires to secure her position as “lightening rod of liberal rage” — a position she claims to enjoy immensely.

As expected, a core of Lutheran leaders out there aren’t very happy about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s August decision to allow gay pastors to serve as clergy.

Lutheran CORE, a subgroup of the ELCA that has opposed letting gay pastors serve, held a news conference in New Brighton to voice their opposition and try to lure more ELCA congregations into a new church body. The reason, they say, “it contradicts Scripture.”  (Not according to Jerry Maniker.)

Last week, the Rev. Bill Bohline, leader of one of Minnesota’s largest Lutheran congregations, announced his Lakeville church plans to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America due to their gay clergy policy.

A week early, The Rev. Nate Bjorge quit his position with the First Lutheran Church in Little Falls after the church voted to remain a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

And about a month earlier, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church voted (a 96-percent vote) to leave the denomination.

Of course, let’s not forget those that speak out in favor of gay clergy and marriage equality.

Two stories on national issues related to the LGBT community, both from TheColu.mn Firstly, Obama nominates Minnesotan as first openly gay U.S. Marshal.

Secondly, Paulsen reverses course, votes for hate crimes bill.

A new local Web site dedicated to LGBT issues, The Colu.mn already offers artiles addressing Ellison’s work on behalf of same sex marriage and how the recession has affected gay and lesbian nonprofits.

Despite the tornado, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which is the largest Christian denomination in America, has voted to allow (but not require) pastors to bless same sex unions and to hire pastors who are in same sex unions.

As some of you may already know, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has been debating the subject of gay pastors; in fact, yesterday they passed a statement saying, as the link paraphrases, “there is room in the church for differing views on homosexuality”; as the Strib points out, this vote also validated same-sex relatioships that are “chaste, monogamous and lifelong.” They will soon vote on lifting a ban on gay clergy, which has a chance of passing, as the statement required a supermajority and squeaked by with a single vote, but the vote on the ban requires only a sinple majority.

The convention is being hosted, in part, by the Central Lutheran Church downtown and takes place in the Convention Center, which are side by side, and were both struck by a tornado yesterday, snapping the spire of the church in half. Of course, you’d have to be some sort of idiot to think the two events were connected; after all, the tornado also hit the Electric Fetus, and for what? To protest the new Lucy Michelle album?

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you exactly that idiot: The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction.

Well, this just seems like bad teaching: When the boy wrote a report on Ben Franklin, Cleveland allegedly said before the entire class that the boy had a “thing for older men.” Another teacher, Walter Filson, said in front of other students that the boy “enjoys wearing women’s clothes.” When the boy decided to report on Abraham Lincoln, Filson allegedly said, “Since you like your men older …” the Human Rights report said.

Cost the Anoka-Hennepin School District $25k to settle it as well.

An educator in Maplewood has started an online high school for LGBT teens. The PiPress explains: The online nature of the school allows it to reach young people wherever they have Internet access — especially in rural areas, whose smaller populations makes a physical version of his school impossible, [founder] Glick said.

The school has raised some concerns among other educators, though: David Johnson teaches social psychology at the University of Minnesota. Johnson says it would be much better to have those students in a regular high school setting.

According to Johnny Northside, Lavender Magazine will be discussing how North Minneapolis has become attractive to gay home buyers. The magazine has already discussed the topic, but, according to Johnny, the magazine will look at the fact that the population of gays and lesbians in the North Side has really blossomed and set down roots.

The Star-Tribune reports: Unmarried couples — same sex or not — will soon be able to register their names with the city of St. Paul to get a certificate saying they’re in a committed relationship.