SD Evangelical Lutheran Church Synod Votes To Keep Current Policy On Gay Clergy

Posted on June 1, 2009
Filed Under Uncategorized

The South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America voted today to uphold its current policy, preventing gay and lesbian clergy from being in a committed relationship while serving as pastors. The vote is only a recommendation from the South Dakota Synod. The recommendations will be taken to the ELCA national assembly in August.

Pastors and church members on both sides of the issue voiced their concerns before voting at the annual Assembly.

Nearly 800 members of the South Dakota ELCA gathered in Sioux Falls for the annual assembly. But, this years agenda included a heated debate: whether to support allowing gay and lesbian clergy to serve as pastors *and be in a committed same-sex relationship.

“I think we really need to wrestle with a new vision here,” Pastor Mindy Ehrke of Salem Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon said.

“As a Christian person, as a teacher, I need to turn to the word of God,” Pastor Daniel Ostercamp of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster said.

ELCA members were here to debate and vote on two resolutions: one would reject a change to the social statement and current teaching documents on sexuality, the other would reject a change in ministry policy to allow gay clergy in relationships.

One by one, church members and delegates stepped up to floor microphones to defend what they believe South Dakota should encourage.

“I think that we all need to take a step back and look at the other words that god’s taught us, love your neighbor as yourself, I think we all need to take a look at that right now,” Kristin Ackermann, member of Shalom Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, said. See SD Synod Votes To Keep Current Policy On Gay Clergy

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