Gay Lutheran Ministers Can Now Shack Up Together In The Church Barracks

With openly gay American Lutherans taking up roles in ELCA’s clergy, Germany’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria is taking things a step further, allowing openly gay ministers to live with their partners in the parishes. But only if the pastors and their partners are legal.

Bishop Johannes Friedrich says the move — which is really just a housing measure — isn’t that big a deal, given the ELCB already allows gay clergy and permits same-sex unions. But now the ministers will actually be able to live under God’s roof, so long as they have a civil union and receive a church blessing. For now, that means just six ministers are eligible. And yes, there’s the requisite conservative opposition that’s going to take its complaints to the church’s national synod.