Lutherans debate dropping celibacy requirement for gay clergy

A proposal up for a vote at this week's convention would permit ministers and lay leaders who were in 'lifelong, monogamous, same-sex relationships.'
By Duke Helfand
August 18, 2009

The nation's largest Lutheran denomination opened debate Monday over a proposal to allow noncelibate gays and lesbians to serve in the clergy.

Leaders of the 4.7-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are expected to decide during their weeklong Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis whether to alter existing policy, which requires gays and lesbians in ministry to remain celibate.

The new policy would permit local congregations, if they wanted, to choose ministers or lay leaders who were in "lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships." the rest

ELCA Opens 2009 Church Assembly with Call for Respectful Discussions