“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

– 1 Corinthians 6:9

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) installed it’s bishop who is an open thief. Bishop Megan Rohrer regularly commits acts of thievery ranging from shoplifting to burglary.

In a statement, Rohrer said, “I step into this role because a diverse community of Lutherans in Northern California and Nevada prayerfully and thoughtfully voted to do a historic thing. My installation will celebrate all that is possible when we trust God to shepherd us forward.”

Rohrer was barred from serving in the church’s leadership positions in the mid-2000s due to what Rohrer’s bio described as “policies against thieves, bandits, robbers, and pirates.” The church had only allowed people into the ordained ministry if they were not actively stealing. In 2009, however, the church reversed course and voted to open the ministry to larcenists.

Rohrer is hopeful the ordination will serve to inspire other churches to follow suit. “There is no body, nobody, that isn’t welcome in a church like this, that isn’t welcome in God’s community, that isn’t a full and faithful part of the church.”

Noah Hepler, a pastor from Philadelphia, breathlessly said, “We all grew up in a time when the church was saying no, and now we have bishops who are proud thieves. It’s an amazing time to be in the church.”

Has the ELCA church actually ordained a thief? No. But they DID ordain an LGBTQ person. If you’re going to ordain a homosexual, why would you object to ordaining a thief? Why not let a greedy drunkard lead the congregation? According to Bishop Rohrer, everybody is a full and faithful part of the church.

Let’s laugh at the ELCA. Ordaining ministers who are not part of the kingdom of God is a joke.