Gay Priest To Lead Lutheran Congregation In SF

[struggle4progress]

(KCBS) SAN FRANCISCO

A Lutheran church in San Francisco installed an openly gay priest as its lead pastor, setting itself up for a possible confrontation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. <snip>

The 61-year-old Goldstein says the Lutheran churches in the United States are polarized over whether openly gay and lesbian ministers who are sexually active should serve as pastors.

The denomination does ordain openly gay and lesbian clergy, but requires them to remain celibate.

Martin Luther ended celibacy as a requirement for priests when he founded the church in the 16th century. <snip>

http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_085220313.html

[Hardrada]

1. ELCA has pastors and ministers. Priest is not a term that

is used. That I recall.

[f-bush]

2. That is correct however...

the E.L.C.A. is in what is called CCM Called to Common Mission and has alter and pulpit exchange with the Episcopal Church USA which does have priests. It is possible for a Lutheran Minister to also be an Episcopal Priest. There are a few of them around including one close to my home in Tacoma. The tin y town of Cashmere, Washington nestled in the Cascade Mountains has one such person serving both the Lutheran Congregation and the Episcopal congregation as two point parish!

[Hardrada]

3. Oh, OK.

Some of the people at the Luther Theological Seminary were not too happy about this so I just wondered what had become of this movement, not currently being a theist and all. (I was a Lutheran seminarian at one time).

[f-bush]

9. I remember when things were hitting the fan in the ELCA

The congregation my foster dad was pastor at, St. Mark's in Tacoma, Washington got as pastor the former Bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod which included San Fransisco. While he was Bishop down there, there were terrible problems going on dealing with the ordination and placement of gay clergy.

It seemed then and to me now, jsuch a waste toi spend all that energy and deny such talent and willingness the ability to live out ones call.

BTW where are you from? I worked for the Lutheran Church for several years (sang in 250 ELCA churches) and was accepted at Luther in St. Paul email me at [e-mail] if you want-Mike

[JerseygirlCT]

4. And the Episcopal Church has of course, ordained an

openly gay bishop. And might just do it again this year.

That does add another twist to the whole thing, doesn't it?

Baby steps...

[f-bush]

8. Yeah that adds to the mix

It's hard for the ELCA to come out openly as they did against gay clergy now that they have this Called to Common Mission accord. It puts them in a tight spot, because they have publicly proclaimed that the two denominations are in agreement.

I love that the ELCA is in this position, perhaps it will get them to think about what they are doing and whose lives they are hurting by excluding talented and willing servants of the Gospel.

[Frangible]

5. I don't really see a "confrontation"

I'm a member of the ELCA, we have a very "progressive" viewpoint. The motion to allow openly and actively gay pastors was narrowly defeated in 2005 (490-503). For more information see http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/policy/

Remember the ELCA already allows gay and lesbian pastors. My pastor is female, and that alone isn't something you'd see in the more, ah, "conservative" churches. (she does a great job, too)

I don't have a problem with it personally, but you have to understand that this "double standard" exists along the following logic: any lust or sex outside of a male/female marriage is sin. Sin isn't the issue, and adultry is at the bottom of the list in terms of what the Bible records God as considering severe... everyone sins, the issue is whether or not they show repentance for it. (arrogance, lying, greed and hate are at the top) Thus, the argument is if they have active relationships they cannot be reptentant.

I don't agree with that logic and believe it is flawed. Do you expect someone who is obese to have a 100% success rate every moment of every day in a perfectly ideal diet and exercise program? No. Continuation does not prove the lack of reptentance. Further, I don't see how they guarantee the same isn't true in a different way for other clergy; I don't think you can. As long as they can be good clergy, then I say ordain them.

[JerseygirlCT]

6. More reason why I think the churches should marry same-sex

couples -- regardless of the gov't's point of view.

Then the playing field is more even. Gay, straight... doesn't matter. Celibate or married.

Right now, gays are caught in a catch-22. You can't have a partner, b/c that's outside of marriage. But, wait! We're certainly not going to marry you!

Until that problem is solved, then I think the ECUSA and ECLA need to learn to live with a bit of wiggle room on the subject.

I do think we'll get there, though. I really do.

[davidinalameda]

7. that church isn't a member of the ELCA

it was kicked out in 1995

it's an independent Lutheran church