Pastors split over new gay policies

Local leaders distance themselves from national Lutheran, Episcopal groups
by Jason Foster
Sunday, Sep. 06, 2009

Recent decisions by national Lutheran and Episcopal groups to make their churches more accepting of homosexuals have some York County pastors trying to distance themselves from stances they say go against biblical teaching.

Last month, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — the largest Lutheran group in the nation — voted to allow gays and lesbians who are in committed relationships to serve as clergy. The group also decided to find ways to support monogamous same-sex couples within the church.

That followed earlier decisions by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to approve resolutions that address homosexuality, including one that says “God has called and may call” gay people in committed relationships to be ordained in the church. the rest