ATLANTA (ABP) — A judicial panel of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has stripped an Atlanta pastor of the denomination's official ministerial credentials because he is gay.
But Bradley Schmeling of St. John's Lutheran Church has vowed to remain in the pulpit, with the consent of his congregation, in hopes that the denomination will change its policy toward non-celibate gay ministers.
Both Schmeling and his bishop, Ronald Warren, announced July 5 that the ELCA Committee on Appeals had removed Schmeling, effective immediately, from the denomination's list of approved ministers because he is in a sexual relationship with another man.
In February, a lower ecclesiastical court recommended the removal. But the majority of that panel also decried the denomination's policy and stayed enforcement of the decision until August, when delegates to the ELCA's national meeting will have an opportunity to reconsider the policies that led to it.
Two sections of the denomination's governing documents prevent non-celibate gay men and lesbians from serving as credentialed Lutheran ministers. But the initial disciplinary panel said those rules “are at least bad policy and may very well violate the constitution and bylaws” of the ELCA.
Both Schmeling and Warren appealed the panel's decision — for opposing reasons.
Schmeling, at a press conference announcing the ruling, decried the fact that the appeals panel had rendered their decision without meeting him or visiting St. John's.
“I want my denomination to witness to the Jesus that I know and love; a savior who is more interested in relationships than in rules,” he said, according to a statement prepared for the conference. “I think that has always been the heart of the Lutheran message: God is, first and foremost, a gracious and loving God. God isn't a heartless judge.”
But the appeals committee, in its ruling, noted that ELCA governing documents did not authorize the lower disciplinary panel to delay enforcement of its decision or recommend that such policies be overturned.
“Nothing in the ELCA Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions allows a discipline hearing committee to make any particular recommendations to the legislative bodies of this church, urging them to take a specific policy action. By doing so in this case, the discipline hearing committee exceeded the authority granted to it by the ELCA Constitution,” they said.
Schmeling's initial trial took place after he informed Warren — who heads the denomination's Southeastern Synod — that he had entered into a committed sexual relationship with another man.
According to church documents, both Warren and the congregation at St. John's were aware of Schmeling's sexuality when he became pastor in 2000. Schmeling assured Warren that he would alert him if he ceased being celibate. In 2006, the pastor alerted the bishop to the relationship he had entered.
Warren has praised Schmeling's ministry in dramatically revitalizing the once-moribund St. John's, which is Atlanta's oldest Lutheran congregation. Warren has also said he is personally sympathetic to Schmeling. However, he contended his ecclesiastical duties required him to file disciplinary charges against the pastor.
Warren said in a July 5 statement posted on the synod website that the trial has been arduous for all involved.
“My decision to seek Pastor Schmeling's removal from the ministry of this church was difficult because of my deep respect for the pastor and the congregation at St. John's, but the policy of this church is clear,” he wrote. “It was my responsibility as bishop of this synod to enforce the established standards of this church …. As this church continues prayerfully to consider the issue of clergy who are gay or lesbian and in committed relationships, both the synod and I will continue to work on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of our disagreements.”
But John Ballew, president of the St. John's congregation, said his church would continue to fight the decision. “We are going to go to [ELCA's] church-wide assembly in August to witness to our ELCA [about] the costs of this decision, based on an absurd policy. This is not just about us and our wonderful pastor; this is about all those called to minister to God's people, who lead exemplary lives, who provide a model for faithful, loving companionship with each other and with Christ.”
Delegates to the 2007 ELCA church-wide assembly, scheduled for Chicago Aug. 6-11, will have a chance to review the policies on gay pastors.
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