The LCMS is a congregtional organization, perhaps we have forgotten why and how our church was organized, basically that means it's member owned. Our servant leaders have designated a true statement about abortion and asked that we as members follow that truth. however it seems a bit selective that when it comes to the moral issue of homosexuality the servant leadership of the church, re. boy scouts issue, states that each church can make it's own choice as to how they want to deal with homosexualtiy in their own congregations as it relates to the boy scouts. Strange to have such a strong statement about abortion and yet so wavering on homosexuality, even though scripturally they both are prohibited. Let's walk carefully here to watch the plank in our own eyes, remember that Thrivent is an organization owned by Lutherans, and so some where in the district where this situation occured we have Lutheran members , who are taught at lutheran churches, by Lutheran pastors, in Lutheran congregations making these requests, it seems to me to be more of a general sadness over the state of Lutheran Christianity that Lutherans would make this determination of their own accord.