Local Lutherans want ban of gay pastors in relationships to end

Of The Morning Call

Representatives from Lutheran congregations across northeastern Pennsylvania, meeting in Bethlehem today, urged their national church to end its prohibition on gay pastors in relationships, but not to make any changes until 2009.

The representatives, from 293 congregations in 14 counties, approved competing resolutions that were proposed by national organizations on opposite sides of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's debate on gay pastors.

With today's votes, the Northeast Pennsylvania Synod became at least the 16th regional Lutheran group to ask the church to accept pastors who are in same-sex relationships, and at least the 11th to urge the church to wait until 2009. It appears to be the first synod in the country to approve both.

"I think it demonstrates ... how divided the synod remains, particularly over moving quickly to liberalize our policies," said Bishop David Strobel. "We want change, but patiently."

The Lutheran church's position on same-sex relationships has been debated since at least 2001. This year's discussion was triggered by disciplinary actions against a gay pastor in Georgia who last year told his bishop he was in a relationship.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States. The denomination includes roughly 70 churches in the Lehigh Valley.

-- Reporting by Michael Duck, The Morning Call

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