Comments on: Lutheran Church takes steps toward gay ordination

By: Alex Parrish

Alex Parrish — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:44:09 +0000

Your headline, “Lutheran Church takes steps toward gay ordination” is slightly misleading. THe ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) already ordains gay and lesbian persons, BUT they are required to remain chaste — that is to refrain from sexual activity outside marriage. (Some people say “celibate” but celibacy is a Sacrament which is not recognized by the Lutheran church) Strait ordinands are bound by the same regulation, but they have the option of marriage. Since the church does not recognize GLBT marriages, the GLBT ordinand is left with a choice of not being ordained or giving-up on living in relationship with another person of their choice — a heart-rending and stupid rule, or disobeying the regulation, which many GLBT clergy are doing (thank God!)

If we believe that incremental progress is still progress, we must give due respect to the fact that the prohibition against ordaining GLBT people has been abandoned by the ELCA. Your headline seems to suggest otherwise. Clearly, more progress is needed, but please give credit where progress has occurred. Do not dishonor and discount the work which so many have striven for and achieved up to this point.

By: LOrion

LOrion — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:48:37 +0000

Nice article. Thank you for the information. Good luck to all with this.

By: Trace

Trace — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:29:46 +0000

With more and more gay folk now looking for and joining churches, this is a good sign.

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:12:59 +0000

“This isn’t about sex,” said the Rev. Mark Chavez of Landisville, Pa., the director of Lutheran CORE, a coalition of conservative groups in the ELCA. “It’s finally about the authority of God’s word.”

I suppose that they refuse to ordain people who masturbate, wear artificial fabrics, have sex with menstruating women, etc.