ORLANDO, Fla. (ABP) — The nation's largest Lutheran body has maintained its status quo on homosexuality, narrowly turning down a proposal that would have allowed gay ministers to live openly.
Delegates to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's national assembly, meeting in Florida, voted 503-490 Aug. 12 to reject a proposal that would have allowed ministers living in “life-long, committed and faithful same-sex relationships” to serve. Clergy who consider themselves gay in orientation may serve in ELCA churches already, although they are expected to be celibate.
The delegates also turned away a proposal that would have explicitly allowed local Lutheran churches to perform “holy union” ceremonies for same-sex couples. However, they adopted a compromise measure that encourages local churches “to discern ways to provide faithful pastoral care” to all members. Many Lutheran leaders interpreted that language as allowing pro-gay congregations the latitude to perform same-sex unions if they choose to.
The delegates voted overwhelmingly to approve a measure that encouraged all the denomination's members to find “ways to live together faithfully in the midst of disagreements.”
The ELCA, with almost five million members, is one of many mainline Protestant denominations struggling with issues of sexuality. Progressive and conservative groups in the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), the Episcopal Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the American Baptist Churches USA continue to dispute the proper place for homosexual members and gay-friendly churches in those groups.