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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The Evangelical Lutheran Church In America Made the Right Decision: Ordaining Gays and Lesbians in Committed Relationships

In August 2009 the ELCA churchwide assembly adopted a social statement on human sexuality. Additionally, the assembly adopted proposals to permit non-celibate gays and lesbians,in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships to become clergy, and to serve as ELCA associates in ministry,deaconesses and diaconal ministers. The assembly's votes followed eight years of careful debate about sexuality, complete with study guides for congregations and, in 2008, more than 110 hearings. Recognising that consensus will be elusive, the ELCA’s changes allow flexibility for congregations that disapprove. The hope is that the church will remain intact, despite its deep disagreements. I believe this was the right decision. It makes the ELCA, with 4.8 million members, the largest denomination in the U. S. to welcome gays into pulpits without restrictions. The new rule, which went into effect in November, allows individual congregations to decide whether or not they want to call a gay pastor --the so-called "local option."

Many in the ELCA are conscious that they are not only deciding an important matter for their constituency but are also contributing to a national debate on the status of same-sex couples. While the ELCAs decision is not perfect, it may encourage other religious groups to move forward on this issue.

In related matters, the U. S.-based Pew Forum on Religion in the Public life released a survey in March with results showing that 56 per cent of mainline Protestants in this country say homosexuality should be more acceptable.

Specifically, 70% of Episcopalians feel that way, as do 69% of those in the United Church of Christ, 56% of ELCA members, 52% of Presbyterians and 51% of those who attend United Methodist churches.

Fifty-eight per cent of Catholics also believe that homosexuality should be accepted, as do 48% of Orthodox believers.

Members of some other religious groups in the U. S. expressed similar viewpoints, with 79% of Jews also believing homosexuality should be more accepted, along with 82%of Buddhists and 48% of Hindus.

Of course, not all religious groups approve of homosexuality. Seventy four per cent of evangelical Protestants say that homosexuality is a way of life that should be discouraged, as do Mormons (76%), Jehovah's Witnesses (88%) and Muslims (73%).

These figures compare with 48% of the general U. S. population who consider homosexuality to be morally acceptable, according to a 2008 Gallup poll, while 55% believe homosexual relations should be legal.

This was a USA survey. Although it is commonly held that religion and homosexuality are in conflict, in the U. S., at least, there is more support for gays and lesbians among many religious people than in the general population.

Although evangelicals and Muslims disagree about many things, on this subject they seem to see eye-to-eye. According to the Pew Forum: "Despite their relatively liberal political orientation, Muslims by no means take liberal positions on all issues. On social issues, they are more similar to white evangelicals."