You’d be forgiven for losing track of which sect of which religion was advocating for or against gay men and women. (Unless it’s the Mormon Church, and then it’s, like, common sense.) So let’s bring you up to speed on what’s going on with the Lutherans: A movement is underway to let gay men and women in committed relationships become clergy, stepping away from current policy to let only celibate gays serve. What’s more, a task force within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America “also asked members of the church to respect congregations and synods that disagree because they believe such actions would violate Scripture.” Woah, now.
If approved, the measures would change current church policy that allows ordination of gay clergy, but requires them to be celibate. In the report, the task force proposed a four-step process that outlines a possible path for change, starting with recognition of same-sex relationships.
“The task force agreed that this church cannot responsibly consider any changes to its policies unless this church is able and willing in some way to recognize lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships,” the report said.
The recommendation will be voted on at the Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis in August. Reaction to the recommendation was expected to range from elation to disapproval.
The task force stopped short of recommending a liturgical rite for gay unions or using the word marriage to describe them. But, the report said “most of the task force members believe that ways can be found within local congregations to surround the commitments of such couples with prayer.” [Chi Tri]
kevin (not that one)
Take note that there are several Lutheran denominations in the United States, which are very distinct from one another and not associated.
The ELCA is perhaps the largest denomination, and most liberal, in the US. The Missouri and Wisconsin Synods are the most conservative and do not allow for the ordination of women or acceptance of LGBT Lutherans. For what it’s worth: that high school that kicked the lesbian student out because of her Facebook profile – that was a Missouri Synod Lutheran school, despite that it was in California.
The ELCA still has a ways to go to catch up to the Anglicans/Episcopalians and the United Church of Christ, but they are on a course to that destination. It should be noted that the ELCA Lutheran religious body is a fairly democratic institution and in the Lutheran church, pastors are not seen as to be above the laity, but beside them.
I should also point out as a Lutheran (although, only loosely so at this point of my life), that there are still very strong ties to the European community of Lutherans in the American congregations. So I suspect that the actions of the Swedish and Danish churches will eventually influence the American ones.
RichardR
I hope “Getreal” and others who post frequently about religion read this story. Lutherans are among other Christian denominations who, though struggling with it all, are not letting themselves get impaled on biblical literacy, and that’s a good thing. Not all Christians are Phelpsian maniacs.
Josh
From the ELCA news service…..
[The document] proposed four steps to be taken consecutively. If the assembly agrees to the first, then the second, third and fourth would be considered only if the preceding steps have been approved.
The first step asks the assembly whether it is committed “to finding ways to allow congregations and synods that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships,” said the report.
The second step asks the assembly whether it is committed to finding a way for Lutherans in committed, same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA professional leaders — clergy, associates in ministry, diaconal ministers and deaconesses.
If steps one and two are accepted, step three asks the assembly to commit to implementing steps one and two “in such a way that all this church bear the burdens of the other, love the neighbor, and respect the bound conscience of any with whom they disagree.” According to the report, “decisions about policy that serve only the interests of one or another group will not be acceptable.”
Step four presents a proposal for how the ELCA could move toward change “in a way that respects the bound conscience of all,” said the report. The fourth step is different from the previous steps in that it is “not simply a commitment in principle, but makes a specific recommendation for flexibility within existing structures and practices of this church to allow for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to be approved” for professional service in the ELCA, stated the report.