Lutherans Rebuff Gay Clergy, Marriage Proposals

Friday, August 12, 2005



ORLANDO, Fla. — A national meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (search) rejected a proposal Friday that would have allowed gays in committed relationships to serve as clergy under certain conditions.

The measure would have affirmed the church ban on ordaining sexually active gays and lesbians, but would have allowed bishops and church districts called synods to seek an exception for a particular candidate — if that person was in a long-term relationship and met other restrictions.

Delegates voted against the measure 503-490. Even if it had won a simple majority of votes, that wouldn't have been enough; the proposal needed a two-thirds majority to pass.


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Well being of a different synod, I think this is good to some extent but scary nonetheless, it shouldnt have been close.

ELCA has an identity problem, and this shows it.

Actually I am surprised it did not pass as they already have a lesbian paster in MN.