Lutherans move toward full celebration of same-gender relationships

(c) Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rather than embrace self-destructive hypocrisy, a task force of the 4.7-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has proposed to celebrate same-gender relationships and allow homosexuals in committed relationships to serve as clergy.

They propose to avoid the Southern Baptist spectacle of serial inquisition by respecting the decisions of congregations and synods whose understanding of scripture leads them to disagree [download the .pdf statement].

A four-step process is recommended for dealing with the recommendation at the Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis in August.

1. If the assembly rejects the first measure recognizing monogamous gay unions, the remaining three will die.
2. If the assembly approves, members will be asked if they want to permit clergy in committed same-gender relationships to work in churches that invite them to serve.
3. That done, the assembly will be asked to approve respecting the bound conscience of those who disagree.
4. Finally, the assembly would be asked to approve a policy incorporating flexibility in the decision-making process that allows gay clergy in relationships to serve as clergy.

Inevitably, more later about this most recent reformation among Protestants.

Update

Only a few years ago, the Evangelical Lutheran Church was still disciplining and firing gay and lesbian clergy.