The largest Lutheran body in the United States, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has rules forbidding gay pastors in sexual relationships from serving as pastors. The 350 member Atlanta, Georgia congregation of St. John's Lutheran Church (ELCA) is asking the body to change its rules so that its pastor, Rev. Bradley Schmeling, can continue in ministry even though he is in a committed & sexual relationship with another man, Rev. Darin Easler, a United Church of Christ (UCC) pastor. (The UCC allows for pastors to engage in same-sex unions.)

After months of charges & disciplinary hearings, the ELCA ordered the removal of Rev. Schmeling from the ELCA roster of approved pastors & from the pastorate of St. John's, the largest & oldest Lutheran church in Atlanta. (The church was founded in 1869.)

This action was in keeping with the ELCA policy that pastors who identified themselves as gay could continue in pastoral service as long as they were celibate. When Rev. Schmeling informed his bishop that he had begun a "life-long" committed relationship with Rev. Easler, the bishop began the proceedings against him. Although Rev. Schmeling has been given multiple opportunities to resign or to end his relationship with Rev. Easler, he has steadfastly refused. The majority of his congregation sides with him. "We are not an activist church, even though we can stand for issues of justice," explained member Charles Fox. But, he added, Rev. Schmeling "exemplifies the kind of love & empathy I envision Christ to have had."

The decision was reached behind closed doors by the ELCA disciplinary committee, which ordered Schmeling to leave the pulpit by August 15, 2007. Although the committee affirmed that the ECLA policy required the removal of Rev. Schmeling, they also said that if it were not for the rule, they believed Rev. Schmeling "is not engaged in conduct that is incompatible with the ministerial office." They also recommended that the ELCA change its policy & reinstate other pastors who had been removed or had resigned because they violated the policy. To change the policy, the ELCA general voting body would have to approve the change by a 2/3 majority. At the last national convention in 2005, a similar proposal fell just short of 50% affirmation.

The ELCA includes 4.9 million members.

For the full story: Lutheran Flock Stands Up for Defrocked Pastor.