Lutherans To Vote On Gay Pastors & Unions

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/08/080805lutherans.htm

The most divisive issue in American Protestantism will move to the forefront again this week as the 4.9 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America takes a key vote on what role gays should have in the denomination.

About 1,000 church members will meet beginning Monday in Orlando, where they'll decide whether to ordain gays who are not celibate and whether to bless same-sex unions.

No split is imminent. Conservative Lutherans have planned a November meeting to consider forming an association of like-minded churches - but within the ELCA.

[intheflow]

1. The Shower of Stoles.

It's about time the Lutherans took this up. One of the forefront movements within the religious left to lift bans on "practicing" :eyes: GLBTQ ministers is the Shower of Stoles Project. The Project started when the Presbyterians tossed out a minister when she and her partner came out in the early '90's. These women have collected thousands of ministerial stoles from people and churches throughout the world who support the full ordination of GLBTQ ministers, or who have witnessed the psychological damage done to those spiritual leaders who have not been allowed to be the full sexual beings God intended them to be. It's very powerful to see an exhibit of the stoles--disturbing and hopeful, too.

[teenagebambam]

2. Well.....

....I'm a Lutheran, and I'm not hopeful that the denomination will vote to ordain non-celibate gay and lesbians. MAYBE celibate, but we'll see. I will say, however, that my Lutheran minister uncle was the first (and so far only) family member to ever send my partner and I a joint Christmas card that was addressed in the Emily Post-approved manner for gay couples!