nd now some good news: ELCA reverses ban on noncelibate GLBT clergy!

[TheMightyFavog]

http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/54005547.html

The nation's largest Lutheran denomination Friday reversed a long-standing ban on the appointment of non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy, becoming the second major Christian group in a month to liberalize its ministry policies.

The national assembly of the 4.7 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting in Minneapolis, gave local congregations the authority to choose pastors or lay leaders who are in "lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships."

The decision follows a similar action in July by the Episcopal Church, which lifted a de facto ban on the consecration of partnered gay bishops.