The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the largest Lutheran denomination among Lutheran churches and the 5th largest protestant denomination. 30% of South Dakotan identify themselves as Lutheran, with 120,000 ELCA members in 258 congregations.
Earlier this year, the ELCA released its long awaited study on sexuality and the church (Click here for the PDF file). That study reaffirmed a 1993 church wide policy that allowed celibate homosexual pastors who were not in relationships to lead churches, and reaffirmed the church view that marriage was between one man and one woman; declining to condone a church wide same sex commitment blessing, instead leaving the discretion to individual pastors and congregations.
Today, the ELCA Church Council released its recommendations to the ELCA Church Wide Assembly for action later this year (a helpful site for understanding the bureaucracy of the ELCA and the legislative process on this issue can be found here). In its recommendations, the Council proposed allowing individual congregations accepting of the homosexual clergy to petition the bishops for an "exception," essentially allowing homosexual clergy in monogamous relationships to lead the petitioning congregation. In essence, the proposal would condone the practice on a case by case basis.
It will be interesting to see the effects homosexuality has on the church and whether it jumps into the gay marriage fray. It is important to note that the ELCA does not condone unmarried single heterosexual clergy who are in sexual relationships. The prospect of allowing homosexual clergy in sexual relationships would either abandon the churches unmarried celibacy position, or by implication, condone homosexual unions. The recommendations would, in my opinion, have the effect of condoning gay marriage. Of course, the biggest threat is a fractured church, as we have seen with other denominations grappling with the issue.
In response to sexuality and other concerns, groups such as the Word Alone Network and Solid Rock Lutherans have emerged to protest what they feel is an ELCA drifting away from Lutheran teachings and more importantly, God's word. As well, a number of churches have left the denomination. The church my wife and I attended in Fargo, ND, voted to leave the ELCA not long after we moved back to South Dakota, opting to continue as a free Lutheran church, and I've read of similar moves by smaller churches.
I'm no theologian or church historian, just a mere sinner like everyone else, so I'll keep my personal beliefs to myself. Having said that, I hope the church finds the right path. The recent recommendation by the Church Council, if adopted by the Church Wide Assembly, could create large rifts in the Church, and I would suspect (expect?) among South Dakota Lutherans in particular who feel church policy runs counter to their beliefs.
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