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,"
Those against a change argue that scripture has been against non-celibate relations for over 2,000 years, but those in favor say supporting all people is simply a way of treating others with love, compassion, and respect.
"This decision will have serious repercussions, not only within the ELCA, but serious repercussions on our relationships, and relationships with other church bodies," Pastor Craig Werling of American Lutheran Church in Milbank said.
Of the 800 people here, 660 were voting delegates. And once the debates wrapped up, voting began. Both resolutions on this topic were passed, keeping current policy, and recommending the ELCA's gay clergy not be in committed same-sex relationships.
South Dakota ELCA Officials say current policies do not prevent gays from serving as clergy, but encourage celibacy for all non-married people. A change at the national level would allow gay clergy to be in a committed same-sex relationship.
