CHICAGO — Lutheran bishops have agreed that exemptions should not be made to allow gay clergy in the pulpit.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Conference of Bishops agreed with a recommendation that exemptions not be allowed to the church’s ban on openly gay clergy.
The case involves St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minn., where a lesbian lay minister, Anita Hill, has been serving as pastor for several years and asked to be ordained after completing seminary. The ELCA does not allow openly gay clergy to serve as church pastors.
The St. Paul Area Synod had requested an exemption, but the church’s Division for Ministry advised against it.
In agreeing with the recommendation, the bishops said they have no authority to change the requirements for ordination, and such a change would have to come from amending the church’s governing documents.
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