Donor children denied dedication

[Leet]

A friend of mine has recently had the pastor of her Apostolic church deny her request to have her boys who were conceived via donor, to be dedicated. To be clear, she was and is a Christian, her kids (6 months and five years) have the same donor (not involved with them at all) and conception was via clinical procedure. Cutting a long story short, the pastor doesn't believe in "intentional single parenting." They believe she first needs to repent of her "sin" of having bore them in the first place!
Okay so we all know the ideal family has a mother and father...but understandably, my friend is so hurt and angry.
Is this a reasonable response to expect from a pastor?
Has she "sinned??"

 

[Catherineanne]

A friend of mine has recently had the pastor of her Apostolic church deny her request to have her boys who were conceived via donor, to be dedicated. To be clear, she was and is a Christian, her kids (6 months and five years) have the same donor (not involved with them at all) and conception was via clinical procedure. Cutting a long story short, the pastor doesn't believe in "intentional single parenting." They believe she first needs to repent of her "sin" of having bore them in the first place!
Okay so we all know the ideal family has a mother and father...but understandably, my friend is so hurt and angry.
Is this a reasonable response to expect from a pastor?
Has she "sinned??"

I think your friend should think herself lucky to identify this nastiness so soon, and find another church. That pastor has overstepped the mark, and used his private knowledge of this family against them. That is NOT what pastors are supposed to do.

Regardless of whether the parents have sinned, the Lord will never turn a child away from dedication, and neither should any pastor. Children are always a blessing; never anything to repent of.

 

[mmksparbud]

The pastor is also ignorant---it still requires a male and female egg and sperm to bring this about. There is no single parenting! The pastor is way out of line! The child is innocent and can not be denied dedication. Is there anyone over Him you can go to? If not---time to find another church.

 

[Dave-W]

This is only the tip of the iceberg as to apostolic excesses. Frankly, I would have been surprised at any other reaction from them.

Since invitro fertilization requires sperm, (taken presumably by masturbation) the whole process is considered (in conservative christianity) to be fornication, no different than if she had sex with the guy. My wife grew up with that attitude in an Assembly of God. I would suspect the Dugars have the exact same opinion.

IMO the Catholics at least will accept the child with respect; regardless of how he/she came to be.

 

[Catherineanne]

The pastor is also ignorant---it still requires a male and female egg and sperm to bring this about. There is no single parenting! The pastor is way out of line! The child is innocent and can not be denied dedication. Is there anyone over Him you can go to? If not---time to find another church.

Quite right. Perhaps the pastor is not aware that the Lord himself had no earthly father.

 

[Lik3]

I think your friend should think herself lucky to identify this nastiness so soon, and find another church. That pastor has overstepped the mark, and used his private knowledge of this family against them. That is NOT what pastors are supposed to do.

Regardless of whether the parents have sinned, the Lord will never turn a child away from dedication, and neither should any pastor. Children are always a blessing; never anything to repent of.

I couldn't have expressed it better myself.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Is this a reasonable response to expect from a pastor?

It's not a reasonable response to expect from anyone.

Has she "sinned??"

No, she hasn't sinned.

But that doesn't stop certain churches from introducing their own moralistic codes in order to feign the appearance of righteousness.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Cearbhall]

I'm curious as to what he would say to someone who adopted as a single parent. Would he declare that the agency sinned in their decision because the foster system is better than "intentional single parenting?"