From the moment they called the question and the resolution passed by a 55-45% majority at last August’s ELCA churchwide assembly, Lutherans knew that partnered gay clergy would soon become rostered on the list of ELCA ordained clergy.
A visible sign of the wondrous changes in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is the reinstatement of Pastor Bradley Schmeling and Pastor Darin Easler to the roster of ministers of the ELCA. Both had been removed from that roster for being in a committed, same-gender relationship.
The leading Minnesota newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reported on the local angle, noting that Darin Easler had earlier served in the SE Mn synod (now my home) and also mentioned Anita Hill whose own celebrated case in St Paul was an important waypoint on the journey toward full inclusion.
Because they both had been rostered before, the process was different than for them than, say, the Rev. Anita Hill, who has been pastoring St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church in St. Paul since 2001 without being on the ELCA roster. She said that she’s going to apply for rostering but is waiting so that the distinction of being first goes to a California minister who was the first lesbian to challenge the old ELCA policy.
And, speaking of the 20 year old California extraordinary ordinations of gay and lesbian pastors, here is a video that retells and celebrates the story of Jeff Johnson, Phyllis Zillhart, and Ruth Frost. The video was released on the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) blog. Susan Hogan at Pretty Good Lutheran’s blog has more background information, and I also cite my own past post.
We all have to remember as we greet our brothers and sisters that Jesus’ main message was love!!
Like it or not it is here. Given time, it will be a non issue and something else will take its place.
Yesterday, I was talking to a woman pastor from another denomination. She shared that she had been divorced twice. She is remarried now. She is trying to pastor a church where “the old guard” wants children in the nursery instead of in church and wants to vote if they can share space with another congregation. She seems a little intimidated by this. I encouraged her to reach out to the unchurched in town. God can use people like her in this day and age.
Like it or not it is here. Given time, it will be a non issue and something else will take its place.
Yesterday, I was talking to a woman pastor from another denomination. She shared that she had been divorced twice. She is remarried now. She is trying to pastor a church where “the old guard” wants children in the nursery instead of in church and wants to vote if they can share space with another congregation. She seems a little intimidated by this. I encouraged her to reach out to the unchurched in town. God can use people like her in this day and age.