Lutherans Prepare for Big Decision on Gay Clergy


In case you haven't been keeping up with the news regarding the ELCA's upcoming churchwide assembly (convention), especially regarding the issue of the full inclusion of openly practicing gay clergy, make sure to read this Associated Press article from Friday. You can find it at YAHOO! News. Note how many of the local "synods" (equivalent to districts in other Lutheran groups) have already called for their inclusion. The implications of this convention are huge even for those of us outside this denomination.

You should also take a look at the ELCA News Service article posted on August 13 entitled "ELCA Clergy Support Gay, Lesbian Rights, Ordination, Survey Says." The article begins: "Results of a national survey show that a majority of clergy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) -- 54 percent -- support ordination 'with no special requirements' for people who are gay or lesbian, according to an Aug. 5 news release." Of course, one should note that this is the opinion of the "clergy," and not the "laity." It would be interesting to see how representative they are of their own flocks.

Depending on how this convention turn out, which is meeting this coming week, there would be a significant realignment of Lutherans in this country as many ELCA parishes finally say "enough is enough." But we will have to wait and see how this story unfolds.

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