Lutherans ask bishops to keep gay clergy in ministry

Lutherans ask bishops to keep gay clergy in ministry
By Margaret Ramirez
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
7:26 PM CDT, August 11, 2007

In a historic decision that could shift the future of their church's policy on sexuality, the nation's largest Lutheran denomination Saturday urged its bishops to refrain from disciplining gay ministers who are in committed same-sex relationships.

The resolution came from Chicago's Bishop Paul Landahl on the final day of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's national meeting at Navy Pier. After emotional testimony on the biblical interpretation of homosexuality, church leaders passed Landahl's resolution by a vote of 538-431. Saturday's resolution surprised some in the church because it came a day after leaders defeated a measure that would have ended the ban on non-celibate gay clergy.

For church advocates who support inclusion of gays in the church, the resolution was hailed as a partial victory and a step toward full inclusion of homosexuals in the church. But conservative leaders saw the move as contradictory to the church's policy against ordination of gay ministers and predicted the resolution would open the door to chaos in the church.

At a news conference after the resolution passed, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson said the new measure expressed a desire to find "some space and place" for how the church might live together.

"I interpret that as a way to reflect this journey of conversation, discussion, decision, seeking to be faithful to the authority of Scripture, the interpretation of our confession and mindful of the very context in which we are engaged in God's mission," he said.

The renewed debate on homosexual clergy in the ELCA stems from the case of Rev. Bradley Schmeling, an Atlanta pastor who was removed from the clergy roster in July after he told his bishop he was in a relationship with a man. The new measure prevents his bishop from seeking further disciplinary action, but does not re-institute Schmeling's status.

"I'm grateful the resolution passed, because now no one else will have to go through what I went through," Schmeling said.

"What I hope we've done is provide some relief for others in the church who now may not face discipline. And they can live with a little less fear and a little more confidence that the church isn't out to get them. Even though we've got a long way to go to get an overall change in the policy, maybe we can take a deep breath and we don't have to be so afraid anymore," he said.

Hanson said it was too early to offer any explanation of how the measure would be interpreted. But he focused on the official words in the resolution, which state: "the assembly prays, urges, and encourages synods, synodical bishops and the presiding bishop to refrain from or demonstrate restraint" in disciplining those who are in a faithful, committed same-gender relationship.

"These are words of counsel," Hanson said. "They are not words that change the standards of the church . . . or the guidelines for discipline. But they reflect the mind of this assembly as it seeks to give counsel to the leaders of this church."

"I would say to all people of this church, those that are disappointed that we didn't take actions to change policies, and those that are fearful we are on the way, we are still engaged. And our best [hope] would be our attempt to listen to those with whom we don't agree," he said.

The 4.8 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which is based in Chicago, is the nation's largest Lutheran denomination. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod are separate denominations that accept a literal interpretation of the Bible and do not ordain gays.

An ELCA task force is developing a comprehensive statement on sexuality to be released in 2009 that is expected to influence church policy. Another resolution passed Saturday asked the task force to address policies that preclude practicing homosexual people from the rosters of the church.

"The church is on the road to acceptance," said Emily Eastwood, executive director of Lutherans Concerned. "With this decision, the voting members signaled a desire for policy change, but the need for two more years to bring more of the church along."

Conservative leaders in the church, like Rev. Mark Chavez, director of the conservative Word Alone Network, said the disciplinary measure contradicted church policy and provided a loophole for gay clergy to minister. He also expressed concern the measure would lead to widespread lawsuits if a bishop chose to use discipline. He said the new resolution gives bishops permission to ignore the standards and disregard the clear word of God. But Chavez stopped short of saying the measure would split the denomination.

"Any time you start ignoring God's word on matters, you better watch out because you're in dangerous territory," he said.

Jaynan Clark Egland, president of Word Alone Network, said the measure created a double standard for discipline.

"I don't know as a Christian, as a pastor and as a parent, what really would be worse—a church with no biblical standards to govern our ministry or standards we don't intend to enforce. To refrain from discipline in the home is bad parenting, but we're about to do so in the Christ's church."

mramirez@tribune.com