Evangelical Lutherans Propose to Accept Non-Celibate Homosexual Minister

A conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) has taken place at their headquarters in Chicago, USA on Monday 11th April to discuss the issue of homosexual clergy which has shaken other major Protestant denominations over recent years.

Currently, a proposal seeking to accept non-celibate homosexual ministers is being submitted and this issue will be further discussed in the coming Assembly of the ELCA in the summer.

Yesterday’s discusion was based on the statement made by a 14-member Task-Force on Sexuality that had studied the contentious homosexuality debate for three years before drafting a final statement in January. The statement listed three separate recommendations for the church:

- concentrate on living together faithfully despite disagreements.

- uphold the 1993 ELCA Conference of Bishops’ opinion opposing the blessing of homosexual relationships while providing pastoral care for such couples.

- continue under the current standards on ordained ministers where no clergy member can be sexually active outside of wedlock - marriage being defined as a union between a man and a woman only - but refrain from disciplining those who find the standards in conflict with the mission for the church.

While the first two recommendations can be easily achieved, the Church Council has seen the need to modify the third recommendation slightly after several votes. Instead of the existing ban on sexually active gay and lesbian clergy, a proposal was formed that called for the creation of an actual process to allow for exceptions regarding the sexual conduct of lesbian and gay clergy.

Heterosexual, single Lutheran clergy are expected to remain celibate until they marry, and the gay or lesbian minister would have to provide evidence of "intent to live in a lifelong, committed and faithful same-sex relationship," the proposal reads.

According to ELCA News, the proposal needs at least a two-thirds vote to be accepted since it would change the denomination’s book of bylaws.

Conservative groups in ELCA had hoped for a reaffirmation of current policy and strongly opposed the proposal. The Rev. Roy Harrisville III, the executive director of Solid Rock Lutherans, a conservative group was quoted by the Associated Press, "It opens the door to crossing myriad sexual boundaries that I think should not be crossed...This strikes at the Christian identity."

Should the Churchwide Assembly members adopt this policy, the ELCA will become the only US-based Lutheran denomination with official guidelines for such ordinations. The US Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the United Methodist Church have also been involved in divisive struggles over sexuality. And in the UK, the Church of England is also troubled by the controversy.

The three recommendations made by the Task Force, are put on the agenda of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly scheduled on 8–14 August in Florida, during which delegates will choose to accept, reject or amend each of these.