"We confess that Scripture condemns homosexuality and extra-marital relations (fornication and adultery) as sin. Nevertheless, when an individual caught up in such sins truly repents, the forgiveness of the Gospel is to be fully applied. We confess that the divine institution of marriage is to be heterosexual, in which, according to God’s design, a man and a woman may enjoy a life-long companionship in mutual love. We teach on the basis of Holy Scripture that marriage is the only proper context for the expression of sexual intimacy and for the procreation of children. See Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 18 and 7:2-9, John 4:17-18, 1 John 1:9, Genesis 1:27-28 and 2:18-24, and Matthew 19:4-6."

The ELS is a church body in doctrinal fellowship with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and is a member church of a worldwide fellowship known as the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC). The ELS owns and operates Bethany Lutheran College and Seminary in Mankato, MN, and conducts mission work in the countries of Peru, Chile, Latvia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.