Lutheran Church Gay Clergy Ban Lifted

The debate over whether or not to allow gay clergy has been rather long and drawn out within the Lutheran church population. There was finally an agreement reached about allowing gay clergy as long as they were celibate, but there are new changes in motion within the church. Several members of the church speak out both for and against the idea of gay clergy.

Gay Clergy - Stand United or Fall Divided?

Will the members of the Lutheran church be able to stand together and remain a close religious community, or will sexual differences and change divide and conquer a religion that has been a staple in America for centuries?

Most opposed to the decision to allow gay clergy were not as opposed to allowing homosexuals in the clergy as they were to doing away with the requirement that gay clergy had to remain celibate.

This change in the Lutheran church policy concerning gay clergy would not mean allowing sexual promiscuity, but would require clergy to "abstain from sex outside marriage. The proposed change would cover those in "lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships."

Those who support the change in gay clergy policy use past experiences as examples of why the change will not be as bad as believed by some and how there will not necessarily be the spiritual repercussions that some believe there will be.

One such experience that is referred to by supporters was the decision to ordain women. There was a long drawn out debate on this one too, but it ended up being alright in the end and there are now many ordained women in the church.

Rev. Katrina Foster is a pastor at Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church in The Bronx, and also happens to be a lesbian. "We can learn not to define ourselves by negation," said Foster. "By not only saying what we are against, which always seems to be the same - against gay people. We should be against poverty. I wish we were as zealous about that."

Other supporters of the change to gay clergy policy share their opinions as well, like Rev Leslie Williamson. "I have seen these same-gender relationships function in the same way as heterosexual relationships - bringing joy and blessings as well as trials and hardships," the Rev. Leslie Williamson stated. "The same-gender couples I know live in love and faithfulness and are called to proclaim the word of god as are all of us."

Those on the other side of the fence about gay clergy policy share their thoughts as well. "This will cause an ever greater loss in members and finances. I can't believe the church I loved and served for 40 years can condone what god condemns," said Rev. Richard Mahn of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in West Virginia. Reverends Time Housholder of Minnesota and Marshall Hahn of Iowa have both made statements to the effect that they may be thinking of leaving the church over the decision concerning gay clergy.

When put to vote on Friday, August 21, 2009 the change to the Lutheran church policy concerning gay clergy passed with 68% approval. This still leaves many unsatisfied, but it is up to them whether they let one of the largest religions in the U.S. fall due to differences in sexuality or if they are willing to still stand united with gay members of the clergy and their families.

Source:

Lutherans to Allow Gays in Clergy, CNN.com