By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is making its stance on same-sex marriage clear as three states consider amendments to define what marriage is.
In Florida, California, and Arizona voters will decide November 4th whether marriage should be solely defined as between a man and a woman.
Reverend Gerald Kieschnick is president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, based in St. Louis.
In a conference call Wednesday he said the second largest Lutheran Church in the country cannot remain silent.
"We as a church body urge our leaders, congregations, and members; particularly our 212,000 members in California, Florida and Arizona, must give a public witness against the social acceptance and legal recognition of homosexual marriage," Kieschnick said.
Kieschnick stopped just short of calling on members to vote for the three amendments.
He says it's up to church members to educate themselves on the issue.