Lutherans to remove gay pastor

Lutherans to remove gay pastor
By Dorie Turner
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune and The Associated Press
Published February 9, 2007

ATLANTA -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America said Thursday that it is removing from the clergy a gay minister who announced he has a partner.

Rev. Bradley Schmeling, who has led St. John's Lutheran Church in Atlanta since 2000, will be removed from the roster effective Aug. 15, according to a report from the Chicago-based ELCA's disciplinary committee.

The committee, however, also said the church document that bars practicing homosexuals from the clergy is "bad policy" and encouraged church leaders to abandon it. The delay in Schmeling's removal gives the ELCA a chance to nullify it by changing the document at an August meeting.

Without the language in the document, the panel said it would agree with near unanimity that there is nothing about Schmeling's relationship "that would impede the proclamation of the gospel or the right administration of the sacraments."

The church is among several Protestant denominations that have struggled to resolve differences over the Bible and gay clergy. In 2005, delegates to an ELCA national meeting rejected a proposal to allow sexually active gays and lesbians in committed, long-term relationships to be ordained.

Shortly after the committee's report was released, Schmeling said, "I feel hopeful that if the church has an open and honest conversation about this, that the Holy Spirit will lead the church to change the policy, and therefore there will be no need for any discipline."

Schmeling, 44, who was open about his sexuality when he became pastor of Atlanta's oldest Lutheran church, announced last year he had found a lifelong companion. Bishop Ronald Warren asked the pastor to resign, but Schmeling refused.

Warren then began disciplinary proceedings last year against Schmeling for violating church rules barring sex outside of marriage.

Warren said in a statement posted on the ELCA's Web site that his decision to seek Schmeling's removal was "difficult because of my deep respect for the pastor and the congregation at St. John's."

Mark Chavez, who heads WordAlone, a group that supports upholding the ban on homosexual clergy in relationships, said the church's current policy adheres to Scripture. "The word of God--in the Old and New Testaments--is clear about setting boundaries for sexual relationships," said Chavez, a Lutheran minister.