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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, August 13, 2005

Lutherans block gay clergy

By RACHEL ZOLL
Associated Press

Delegates to the national meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted 503-490 against allowing church districts to seek an exemption to the ban on gays in the clergy, provided that the candidate was in a long-term relationship.

Phelan M. Ebenhack | Associated Press

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United in prayer, the delegates were divided over church issues concerning homosexuality. But they voted 851-127 to keep the church unified despite serious differences over those issues.
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ORLANDO, Fla. — A national meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America rejected a proposal yesterday 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 gay men and lesbians, but it would have allowed bishops and synods, or church districts, 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.

Earlier in the day, delegates voted 851-127 to keep the church unified despite serious differences over homosexuality. They also rebuffed what many saw as an attempt to push the denomination toward approval of blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples.

All the proposals — the product of three years' work by a task force — were meant as a compromise that would satisfy those who support gay clergy and those who regard gay sex as sinful. But the measures drew immediate opposition from Lutherans on opposing sides of the debate.

Conservatives said the ordination proposal would have effectively overturned prohibitions against non-celibate gays in the Lutheran ministry.

Advocates for gays weren't satisfied, either. They said the measure would have created a second-class roster for homosexual clergy in the church.

As debate on gay ordination began yesterday afternoon, about 100 gay advocates wearing rainbow sashes walked silently to the front of the hall, stood before the stage where Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson was overseeing the meeting and turned to face the delegates.

They stood quietly and did not move, even though Hanson politely asked them to disperse several times. After some discussion, the delegates decided to proceed, and the protesters stayed in place as the debate continued. They remained standing even after the voting ended.

During the debate, several delegates who believe that the Bible condemns gay sex compared homosexuality to alcoholism or drug addiction — something that they should help fellow Christians overcome.

Louis Hesse of the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod said those arguing for gay ordination had not made a convincing theological or scientific argument on why they were right.

"The case has not been made. I've heard a lot of talk about the Gospel here today and I'm beginning to wonder if I'm in the right church," Hesse said. "A Gospel of full acceptance, accepting everyone the way they are, what does that say about sinfulness?"

But the Rev. G. Scott Cady of the New England Synod said rejecting gays who feel a call to ministry was tantamount to questioning the will of God.

"We have vacant pulpits and altars in congregations all over this country, We have people crying out for pastoral care," Cady said. "The Holy Spirit has said, 'All right, here they are. Here they are.' Are we going to now say, 'Thanks, Holy Spirit, but we prefer something else.' "

Disagreement over what the Bible says about homosexuality has torn at Protestant denominations for years. The Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop two years ago; Anglicans worldwide are now struggling to remain unified.


LEARN MORE:

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: www.elca.org