In case you missed it, here is what World Magazine (fourth largest news magazine in US) had to say about the ELCA sexuality study in the Feb. 5 issue:
Look away
Like many other mainline denominations, the 4.9-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is torn by controversy over homosexuality. Under current ELCA policy, ministers must refrain from sexual relations outside marriage, defined as "a lifelong covenant of faithfulness between a man and a woman." Also, the church's bishops in 1993 adopted a policy forbidding clergy from performing ceremonies to bless same-sex relationships.
But gay activists and their allies in the church are pressing the ELCA to loosen its standards. Ignoring the standards altogether, some congregations are ordaining noncelibate homosexuals, and some ELCA clergy are conducting rites to bless same-sex unions, much to the displeasure of many in the denomination.
To head off a threatened split, a 14-member ELCA advisory panel this month recommended an odd solution: The church's policies should remain in effect, but no disciplinary actions should be taken against clergy who for "conscience" reasons disobey them.
Traditionalists and gays alike condemned the proposal. Gays said it didn't go far enough in removing stigma from same-sex relationships. Conservatives said it was an attempt to "hoodwink" church members into thinking nothing had changed. Delegates to the ELCA churchwide assembly will vote on the proposal in August.
---Katie
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