I've finally figured it out: The opponents to gay people are moving as a result of us; since we (gay people and allies) cause them to move (away), this technically includes them as part of THE GAY MOVEMENT! Hooray! I can't wait to start telling them the news!
And in that spirit, here's a story about some religious conservatives joining the gay movement!--------------------------------------------------------------
New Lutheran body to form after gay
pastor vote
pastor vote
NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. — The split over gay clergy within the country's
largest Lutheran denomination has prompted a conservative faction to begin
forming a new Lutheran church body separate from the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
largest Lutheran denomination has prompted a conservative faction to begin
forming a new Lutheran church body separate from the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
Leaders of Lutheran CORE said Wednesday that a working group would
immediately begin drafting a constitution and taking other steps to form the
denomination, with hopes to have it off the ground by next August.
immediately begin drafting a constitution and taking other steps to form the
denomination, with hopes to have it off the ground by next August.
"There are many people within the ELCA who are very unhappy with what
has happened," said the Rev. Paull Spring, chairman of Lutheran CORE and
a retired ELCA bishop from State College, Pa.
has happened," said the Rev. Paull Spring, chairman of Lutheran CORE and
a retired ELCA bishop from State College, Pa.
At its annual convention in Minneapolis in August, ELCA delegates voted
to lift a ban that had prohibited sexually active gay and lesbian pastors from
serving as clergy. The new policy, expected to take effect in April, will allow
such individuals to lead ELCA churches as long as they can show that they
are in committed, lifelong relationships.
to lift a ban that had prohibited sexually active gay and lesbian pastors from
serving as clergy. The new policy, expected to take effect in April, will allow
such individuals to lead ELCA churches as long as they can show that they
are in committed, lifelong relationships.
Opponents, led by Lutheran CORE, said that decision is in direct contradiction
to Scripture.
to Scripture.
At a September convention, Lutheran CORE members voted to spend a year
considering whether to form a new Lutheran denomination. However, its leaders
said Wednesday that a heavy volume of requests for an alternative from disenfranchised
congregations and churchgoers prompted them to hasten the process.
considering whether to form a new Lutheran denomination. However, its leaders
said Wednesday that a heavy volume of requests for an alternative from disenfranchised
congregations and churchgoers prompted them to hasten the process.
John Brooks, spokesman at the ELCA's Chicago-based headquarters, said
Lutheran CORE's move was not unexpected. He expressed hope that church members
would ultimately opt to stay in the denomination as it strives to be "a place for all people
despite any differences we might have on any issues."
Lutheran CORE's move was not unexpected. He expressed hope that church members
would ultimately opt to stay in the denomination as it strives to be "a place for all people
despite any differences we might have on any issues."
Neither Brooks nor Lutheran CORE leaders would guess what kind of numbers a new
denomination might attract. Lutheran CORE leaders believe there is deep opposition
to the new policy among rank-and-file churchgoers, but said some may not be willing
to actually depart the ELCA over it.
denomination might attract. Lutheran CORE leaders believe there is deep opposition
to the new policy among rank-and-file churchgoers, but said some may not be willing
to actually depart the ELCA over it.
Brooks said the ELCA has not seen significant departures yet, but he cautioned it's too
soon after the August decision to read much into that.
soon after the August decision to read much into that.
So far, he said, five congregations nationwide have voted to leave the ELCA. More have
started the process, with 87 taking a first vote to leave the denomination. Of those, 28 did
not achieve the two-thirds vote necessary to leave the ELCA. In all, there are 10,300
ELCA churches in the country with about 4.7 million members.
started the process, with 87 taking a first vote to leave the denomination. Of those, 28 did
not achieve the two-thirds vote necessary to leave the ELCA. In all, there are 10,300
ELCA churches in the country with about 4.7 million members.
If a congregation passes the two-thirds bar on its first vote, it must then wait 90 days before
taking a second, final vote that also requires a two-thirds majority.
taking a second, final vote that also requires a two-thirds majority.
Other Christian denominations have seen factions split off over the gay clergy debate. In
2003, the 2 million-member Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop, a
move that alienated American Episcopalians from its worldwide parent, the Anglican
Communion. The divide has led to the formation of the more conservative Anglican
Church in North America, which claims 100,000 members.
2003, the 2 million-member Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop, a
move that alienated American Episcopalians from its worldwide parent, the Anglican
Communion. The divide has led to the formation of the more conservative Anglican
Church in North America, which claims 100,000 members.
In addition to helping birth a new Lutheran church body, Lutheran CORE leaders said
their organization would continue its recent move toward creating a free-floating synod
within the ELCA for congregations opposed to the liberalized policy but who don't
want to leave the denomination.
their organization would continue its recent move toward creating a free-floating synod
within the ELCA for congregations opposed to the liberalized policy but who don't
want to leave the denomination.
Lutheran CORE has also urged supportive congregations to stop paying so-called mission
support funds that help supplement the ELCA's operating budget. Last weekend, ELCA
leaders reduced their 2010 operating budget by $7.7 million, a move Brooks said was
motivated mainly by the U.S. economy but also in part by an expected drop in the mission
funds.
support funds that help supplement the ELCA's operating budget. Last weekend, ELCA
leaders reduced their 2010 operating budget by $7.7 million, a move Brooks said was
motivated mainly by the U.S. economy but also in part by an expected drop in the mission
funds.
Ryan Schwarz, a Lutheran CORE member from Washington, D.C., is charged with leading
the organizing effort for the new denomination. He said a committee would begin work
immediately on drafting a constitution, building a budget and other steps needed to form
the yet-unnamed denomination. They hope to have it ready to go by next August, he said.
the organizing effort for the new denomination. He said a committee would begin work
immediately on drafting a constitution, building a budget and other steps needed to form
the yet-unnamed denomination. They hope to have it ready to go by next August, he said.
"Many of us have spent years now struggling to call the ELCA to remain faithful to the
Orthodox Christianity of the last 2,000 years," Schwarz said. "While this is of course a
wrenching decision, there is also a sense of hope in refocusing on our true mission, which is evangelizing the Lutheran faith."
Orthodox Christianity of the last 2,000 years," Schwarz said. "While this is of course a
wrenching decision, there is also a sense of hope in refocusing on our true mission, which is evangelizing the Lutheran faith."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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