Morning Call – January 26, 2005

Lutherans Gay Clergy Task Force

Dear Friends,

Good morning. When I read the Call’s story (Jan. 14) about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s task force recommendations about homosexuality and the clergy, I called seven local Lutheran pastors and the Bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod for their reactions.

“The new recommendations, released at the church’s Chicago headquarters, came from a 14-member panel of clergy, seminary professors and lay people,” the Call’s report began. “It suggested that: the church keep its policy against gay and lesbian clergy with partners, but allow leeway in choosing whether to discipline such ministers and those who approve their employment.

“The church “continue to respect” the bishops' statement against same-sex ceremonies, but let bishops allow pastors and congregations to use their discretion in ministering to same-sex couples.

“Church members find “ways to live together faithfully in the midst of our disagreements” because, “the God-given mission and communion we share is at least as important as the issues” about which Lutherans are “decisively at odds.”

Bishop Roy Almquist has 175 churches with over 100,000 members in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. He believes that there should be a provision in Lutheran church law that would allow a non-celibate gay pastor to serve a church if there is a clergy shortage and the congregation has no objection.

He likened the task force recommendations to the posted speed limit. “It’s like the police saying that the speed limit is 65 M.P.H. but we won’t enforce it,” Almquist began.

“People of good will interpret scripture differently. Same sex blessings and the ordinations of gay pastors should not be a church dividing issue. For example, look at how differently we Christians interpret scripture that opposes divorce or believes in tithing.

“The task force recommendation about gays in the clergy is such a tough issue,” Almquist added. “We should let congregations decide what is appropriate. If there’s no harm done, why enforce the rule,” he asked, referring to the ban on non-celibate gay pastors? “Bishops shouldn’t be leading the Spanish Inquisition.

“A more important question is how do we get quality people to lead congregations which are appropriate to the situations where they serve,” Almquist asked? “How much ambiguity can we live with? How much local option can we tolerate? We’re in a changing world. I’m hoping that we won’t object to change but that we can lean into the wind.”

The pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church (Quakertown) wasn’t surprised by Almquist’s comments. “My congregation hasn’t dealt with this issue,” Reverend Raymond Miller replied. “But we’re probably just as divided as the rest of the church. We don’t want to start a witch hunt. We should respect congregations that are open to gay and lesbian clergy.”

“I’ve read the task force report but I’d rather speak to people individually rather than commenting on newspaper articles,” Reverend David Lutcher (St. Andrews, Perkasie) answered.

“We’ll look at the documents and discuss it,” Reverend Carolann Hopcke (Christ’s Lutheran, Trumbauersville) commented.

“My friend once said, “I didn’t choose to be left handed. I was born that way,” Reverend Bernard Kelly (St. John’s Richlandtown) began. “My question for the (Lutheran) church is, we don’t know whether they (homosexuals) were made that way or not.

“I don’t have the right to tell you that only I have the keys to God,” Kelly continued. “I’d like to see Christians of all stripes be able to have differences but be unified in Christ.”

Kelly’s parting comment was so true. “It’s unrealistic to believe that we can come to agreement anytime soon,” he said.

Sincerely,

Charles Meredith