Catholic Church: Take Note

Good things take time; sometimes we don't like it, but, well, if we're patient, the news will be good.

See, after some twenty-five years of deliberation, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] Church Council has decided to abolish all its anti-gay policies, effective immediately.

The ELCA will now allow people in same-sex relationships to serve as rostered leaders; LGBTQ people will no longer be considered abominations but blessed church members with full standing. And, same-sex partners and their families can now fully participate in the ELCA Pension Plan.

Just as God wants it.

But, the nicest move of all, is that the ELCA will be reinstating people who were removed from ministry positions because they were truthful and came out of the closet, as well as reinstating those who conducted holy unions for same-sex couples.

I told you the news was good.

Now, if only those other churches....................

Lutherans Move Forward

What's this? A gay-friendly, non-discriminatory church that isn't Episcopalian? 'Tis true, my friends, 'tis true.

The nation's largest Lutheran denomination is considering lifting its ban on gay and lesbian members of the clergy who are in lifelong, monogamous relationships. At its convention, more than than 1,000 delegates will debate church policy at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) biennial General Assembly in Minneapolis.

Now, don't expect it to be all flowers and kisses at the debate. no, it'll most likely be reminiscent of, oh I don't know, say a Town Hall meeting on health care. All shouting and shoving. See, they won't be deliberating on whether gays and lesbians can be ordained--they already can be, as long as they remain celibate. Now the talks will be whether or not the ordained gay men and lesbians can be in committed relationships as well and still be allowed to preach. Partnered gay clergy are technically prohibited, though some congregations break the rule without punishment.

Like most mainline Protestant churches, the Lutheran church has been deeply divided over homosexuality and how to interpret what the Bible says about it. The church even formed a task force to study the matter in depth, and make policy recommendations that would be put to a churchwide vote.

This month, those proposals will come before the voting members in Minneapolis for their consideration. Among the proposals are a 30-page social statement that defines the church's position on sexuality...I'll refrain from a top or bottom joke...and a four-step plan to lift the ban on partnered gay ministers.

The four step plan is:

• The ECLA is committed to allowing congregations and synods to recognize and support "lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships."
• The ELCA is committed to finding a way for people in such relationships to serve as clergy in the church.
• The ELCA agrees to respect the consciences of churchmembers who disagree on the issue.
• The ELCA agrees to remove the blanket ban on partnered gay clergy.

If adopted by the assembly, the plan would remove the ban on non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy and empower local congregations and governing bodies to make their own decisions on whether to allow them. The plan requires a simple majority vote to pass.

To ease concerns, the resolutions stipulate that congregations do not have to hire ministers in same-sex unions and congregations would be allowed to keep their openly gay pastor without fear of repercussions.

It's nice to see yet another church realize that God does not discriminate. Man does. And if the church wants to spread the word of God, they should be open and willing to talk to anyone, and have anyone talk to them.