Adele Ferguson - Sept. 10, 2009

What will Lutherans churches do after gay pastors

NOW WHAT?

Now that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has given the green light to allowing gays to serve as clergy, what do Lutheran congregations do that have voted through the years against that?

Peel off and form or join a new group that dissents from the decision as was done by some Episcopal congregations? Episcopalians and Evangelical Lutherans have been a partnership for some years now, sharing pastors and churches. The Episcopalians kicked off a worldwide uproar among Anglican churches when they consecrated an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire in 2003.

In July this year, they went all the way, voting to make homosexuals eligible for any ordained ministry following which a number of their congregations announced the formation of the Anglican Church in North America where that will not be allowed.

Evangelical Lutherans, who have allowed homosexual pastors to serve only if they are celibate, met in Minneapolis Aug 17-21, and rejected two efforts to require a two-thirds vote for the change. They then voted 559-451 to allow gay pastors in “lifelong, monogamous relationships to serve as clergy and professional lay leaders in the church.”

IT’S SOMETHING some of the bishops and other hierarchy of the church have been working for for years, in the face of disapproving congregations who interpret scripture as declaring same sex relationships to be a sin.

Sin or not and despite the fact it is a violation of church rules, over 100 Evangelical Lutheran churches have accepted gay or lesbian pastors with the tacit or open approval of their bishops. Some churches have defrocked gay pastors who come out of the closet.

Various synods, however, have urged that those who were removed for being homosexuals be reinstated and rostered with other officially recognized pastors.

A proposed statement on human sexuality urging “love your neighbor” that went out last year to the 4.7 million members in 10,500 congregations, was endorsed at the Minnesota meeting. The Eastern Washington, Southwest Washington and Northwest Washington Synods called for adoption of the statement and change in ministry policies, according to The Lutheran magazine.

I put my “Now what?” question to my own pastor, Paul Meeker of Our Saviour’s Lutheran church in Bremerton, whose congregation has twice voted against rostering of gay pastors. In spite of the fact, it’s maintained, that individual congregations will not be required to employ active gay pastors, what does this change in policy mean to us?

“That is yet to be determined,” he said. “It’s a move in progress toward the next step.”

WHAT IS the next step?

“We don’t know yet,” he said. “In my understanding, each congregation in ELCA will decide what it feels bound in conscience to do. For me, I’m concerned about those who don’t support the decisions made. There will be a lot of curiosity to see how people with different viewpoints find different ways to deal with it. It is centered in the Christian message of Christ’s love and all that means.”

I wonder, I said, about Episcopalians who left their church and joined the Lutherans, saying “I didn’t leave my church. My church left me.” I know some.

“So do I,” he said.

Forgive me for using a trite sign-off but it fits. Stay tuned.

(Adele Ferguson can be reached at P.O. Box 69, Hansville WA 98340.)