Christian Today – United Kingdom
by Daniel Blake
The largest Lutheran body in the US has caused outrage in the wider Christian community as it controversially decided not to punish homosexual clergy who are in sexual relationships, according to an announcement made on Saturday.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) passed a resolution at its annual assembly urging bishops to refrain from disciplining pastors who are in “faithful committed same-gender relationships.”
The resolution was passed by a vote of 538-431.
A day earlier, attendees voted down a measure that would have ended a ban on non-celibate gay clergy. But Saturday’s vote means those who violate that policy can no longer be tried or punished.
Phil Soucy, spokesman for Lutherans Concerned, a gay-lesbian rights group within the Church said: “The Church … has just said ‘Do not do punishments.’ That is huge.”
The 4.8-million member ELCA had previously allowed gays to serve as pastors, but only under the condition that they abstained from any sexual relations. Clickhere to finish reading.
