Lutherans Vote to Lift Restrictions on Gay and Lesbian Clergy

At its biennial meeting in Minneapolis, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to lift restrictions on gays and lesbians in committed relationships, allowing them to serve as clergy, Reuters reports:

"The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America also encouraged its congregations to find ways to support or recognize members in 'accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.' But it did not give official sanction to gay marriage or approve any rites for such ceremonies...Previously gays and lesbians had been barred from service unless they stayed celibate. The resolution, approved by a vote of 559 to 441, said the church was committed to finding ways to allow people in 'accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as rostered leaders of this church.' The measure applies to clergy as well as professional lay leaders."

Earlier this week, a conservative Minnesota pastor blamed destruction caused to the convention center and the city's main Lutheran church by a tornado on the faith's movement toward acceptance of gays and lesbians.

Watch a report from North Dakota on the decision, AFTER THE JUMP...

Minneapolis Pastor: Tornado a Warning to Gay-Loving Lutherans

John Piper, pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, wrote a blog post today interpreting a recent tornado in Minneapolis as a sign that Jesus Christ, who "controls the wind, including all tornados," sent down a twister because the Lutheran Church is considering lifting restrictions on gay clergy at a convention there this week.

The tornado damaged portions of the convention center where the Lutherans are meeting as well as the steeple of the Central Lutheran Church.

 Concludes Piper: "The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction. Reaffirm the great Lutheran heritage of allegiance to the truth and authority of Scripture. Turn back from distorting the grace of God into sensuality. Rejoice in the pardon of the cross of Christ and its power to transform left and right wing sinners."

Shortly after the storm hit, the 1,014 Lutherans passed a social statement by a one vote margin:

"The social statement is a long document that essentially says that the church will agree to disagree on the issue of same-sex relationships, but will neither punish congregations that decide to bless such relationships nor force congregations that reject blessing same-sex couples. 'This church also acknowledges that consensus does not exist concerning how to regard same-gender committed relationships, even after many years of thoughtful, respectful, and faithful study and conversation,' the statement says in part. “'We do not have agreement on whether this church should honor these relationships, uplift, shelter and protect them, or on precisely how it is appropriate to do so.' But LGBT Lutherans are hailing the vote, which came in at 676 to 338, exactly the 66.67 percent margin needed."

Lutheran Church to Consider Lifting Gay Clergy Restrictions

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) biennial General Assembly is happening later this month in Minneapolis. On the table is the question of whether or not gay and lesbian clergy (who can currently be ordained) "can have committed relationships and still be called to ELCA pulpits."

USA Today reports: "After much discussion, in 2001 the church formed a task force to study the matter in depth; several years later the same task force was asked to make policy recommendations that would be put to a churchwide vote. This month, those proposals will come before the voting members in Minneapolis for their consideration. Among the proposals are a 30-page social statement that defines the church's position on sexuality and a four-step plan to lift the ban on partnered gay ministers. If adopted by the assembly, the four-step plan would remove the blanket ban on non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy and empower local congregations and governing bodies to make their own decisions on whether to allow them. The social statement can pass with a two-thirds majority vote, while the four-step plan requires a simple majority. But the latter undertaking may be easier said than done, since even the task force could not reach consensus within its own ranks, finishing with three dissenting opinions."

Protestants on the Verge of a Gay Priest Breakdown

ABC News looks at the Evangelical Lutheran and Methodist churches, two denominations which may soon allow pastors engaged in long-term monogamous relationships to serve:

"The church council of the largest Lutheran body in the U.S., the 5-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), decided this week to send such a recommendation to its national assembly. The proposal would take effect if supported by majority vote at the assembly's biennial meeting in August. The 2.3-million-member Presbyterian Church (USA) approved the idea at its national assembly last summer, but a majority of the church's 173 district bodies, called presbyteries, must vote in favor by June for it to become church policy. While it's not clear that either denomination will embrace the change, their actions reflect the shifting views on homosexuality in society, as well as an acknowledgement that the old consensus in the churches has broken down and a new one is not likely to arise soon. The churches are seeking to accommodate differing views and avoid a denominational split."

On Divisive Issue of Gay Clergy, Two Churches Weigh Softer Stance [abc news]