Lutheran retreat

Religion | With an ambiguous statement on gays and lesbians, the ELCA props open the door to blessing same-sex unions | Edward E. Plowman

It was August, and gays and their allies in the 4.9-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America figured their time had come. They wanted the ELCA, the most liberal of the main Lutheran denominations, to change its policies and formally allow both the blessing of same-sex relationships and the ordination of gay clergy. Important ELCA policy changes must be decided by vote at the quadrennial Church-wide Assembly. This was the month for the next assembly, bringing together 1,018 voting delegates.

ELCA bishops in 1993 adopted a statement saying they find no basis in Scripture for blessing homosexual relationships and they would not approve such ceremonies. Moreover, the church's constitution, which defines marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman, banned ordination of noncelibate gay clergy. Enforcement, however, hasn't been consistent. Some bishops permit such ordinations and same-sex rites in their regional synods, causing unrest in many pews.