Gay Debate to Mark National Lutheran Assembly
Heated debates over homosexuality will likely dominate business sessions at the biennial Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly this week in Orlando, Fla. Monday, Aug. 8, 2005 Posted: 9:44:57AM EST

Heated debates over homosexuality will likely dominate business sessions at the biennial Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly this week in Orlando, Fla.

When they begin their meeting today, about 1,000 members voting Lutherans will decide on several issues, including the most divisive topic in current-day Protestantism: homosexual ordination and same-sex marriage blessings.

Three critical resolutions on homosexuality are up for a vote, and warriors on both side of the theological spectrum have prepared their arrows and shields for battle.

The resolutions, developed in four years by a special task force, essentially calls on the church to: remain united despite theological differences on homosexuality; uphold the prohibition against gay marriage blessings, but give bishops and pastors discretion in deciding how to minister to gay couples; and affirm the church ban on ordaining sexually active gays but allow exceptions for persons in committed relationships.

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