A Slippery but Sacred Term
In recent years, no phrase has carried more weight—or more ambiguity—within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) than “bound conscience.” First introduced in the 2009 social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust, it has become both a theological shield and a procedural tool for managing moral disagreement. But what does “bound conscience” actually mean? And more importantly, is its use in the ELCA consistent with Scripture and the historic Christian tradition?
The ELCA’s Definition: A Plurality of Convictions
In the 2009 statement, the ELCA proposed that faithful Christians may, in good conscience, come to mutually contradictory conclusions about same-sex sexual relationships. That is:
- Some believe such relationships are contrary to God’s will.
- Others believe they can be faithful expressions of love and discipleship.
According to the ELCA, both groups may be said to have consciences “bound to the Word of God,” and therefore both should be honored within the Church. This framework was presented as a means to preserve unity amid disagreement.
But is this a faithful application of the concept?
Reformation Roots: Luther at Worms
The idea of “bound conscience” is not new. It draws most famously from Martin Luther’s defense at the Diet of Worms:
“My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.”
But for Luther, this was not about subjective conviction. It was about submission—conscience rightly bound by the authority of God’s Word, not by personal sentiment, political pressure, or communal consensus.
To reinterpret “bound conscience” as permission for contradictory moral positions is to sever it from its Reformation foundation.
Why the Bound Conscience Model Fails
1. It Redefines Truth as Preference
If one person believes a behavior is sinful and another believes it is holy, both cannot be correct. The Church may be patient in discerning, but it cannot bless contradiction. As Paul reminds the Corinthians:
“God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33).
2. It Undermines the Church’s Moral Witness
When the Church upholds opposing teachings as equally valid, it erodes its ability to proclaim any moral truth. Instead of a prophetic voice, it becomes an echo of the culture.
3. It Was Always a Temporary Measure
The ELCA’s use of bound conscience in 2009 was framed as a way to hold diverse views together. But the current reconsideration process—especially Reconsideration #2 scheduled for 2028—makes it clear that the provision will likely be removed. Those who were promised space for their convictions may soon find that space eliminated. That possibility is underscored by the church’s stated rationale for changes already enacted: “in light of public acceptance of marriage of same-gender and gender non-conforming couples.”
The key phrase is “gender non-conforming couples.” The 2009 social statement affirmed publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-sex relationships. But the new language being recommended goes beyond that. Page 19 of the Human Sexuality Social Statement Draft Edits refers to “lifelong, monogamous relationships of same-gender or gender-diverse couples.” On the same page, it broadens further: “life-long, monogamous relationships between individuals of diverse sexes, genders, or sexualities.” A footnote on that page defines “gender diverse” as encompassing “a wide diversity of identities and expressions in relationships between individuals, including gender non-conforming, non-binary, genderqueer, and transgender persons.”
This trajectory makes clear that the original logic of bound conscience is rapidly being replaced by a new moral consensus.
4. It Confuses Unity with Uniformity
True Christian unity is grounded in shared confession, not in the suppression of moral clarity. The New Testament calls for unity in truth (Eph. 4:13–15), not unity despite its absence.
What True Conscience Requires
The Christian understanding of conscience is not private or self-referential. Biblically, the conscience is formed:
- By the Word of God (Psalm 119:105)
- Through the community of faith (Acts 15:28)
- In submission to the Holy Spirit (Romans 9:1)
A truly bound conscience is not simply sincere. It is correctly tethered—anchored to God’s revealed truth. That truth, on matters of human sexuality, is consistent through Scripture and affirmed across centuries of Christian witness.
Conclusion: Truth Cannot Be Voted On
The ELCA’s deployment of “bound conscience” may have been well-intentioned, but it has become a theological smokescreen for unresolved contradiction. Conscience must indeed be honored—but only when it is bound to the truth.
The Church is not free to pronounce both light and darkness as equally valid. As Jesus said:
“If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:23)
Let us call conscience back to its proper source—not to sentiment, not to social trends, but to Scripture. For only there can it be truly bound, and only there can it be truly free.
Sources: ELCA – Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust Study Process
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