empowers openly identified sexual minority people called to God's mission of ministry and witness.
Lutheran Lesbian & Gay Ministries
Recent News
Sharon Stalkfleet, a recent graduate of The Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago has been called to serve the East Bay Nursing Home Chaplaincy by four congregations in Oakland area.
Arlo David Peterson named pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
A congregation has installed the first non-celibate gay Lutheran pastor in Florida, adding fuel to a national debate on the role sexually active homosexuals play in Protestant churches. Arlo David Peterson was named pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Nov. 11.
Soulforce At ELCA Churchwide Assembly August 10-13
In the spirit of the principles of non-violence, Soulforce supporters and members of the Lutheran Alliance for Full Participation conducted training sessions, negotiations, celebrations, vigils, and direct actions at the Indianapolis Convention Center August 10 - 13 during the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Full Story >>
Soulforce Direct Action
An overview with links for specific day stories, pictures and personal stories told by persons involved.
Compiled story from Gay Today.
A Brief Summary of Actions
from the Seventh Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Indianapolis, Indiana, August 8-14, 2001:
Making Christ Known: Sharing Faith in a New Century was the theme of the 2001 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The 1,039 voting members met at the Indiana Convention Center to act on issues before this church. The Rev. H. George Anderson, ELCA presiding bishop, was chair.
Homosexuality Study Authorized, Final Report and Recommendations Due in 2005
In response to memorials from synods, voting members, by a vote of
899-115, called for a churchwide study on homosexuality, including
matters related to the blessing of same-gender relationships and
ordination of gay and lesbian people in committed relationships. The
action also calls for a final report and an action plan for
implementation to be presented to the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Full Story >>
Good ministers are awaiting ELCA's approval
By Raymond Voss
There is a process for approval for ordination of noncelibate gays and lesbians in the ELCA, operated under the auspices of Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries: the Extraordinary Candidacy Project (ECP).
It is time for every ELCA congregation that considers itself "open and welcoming" to all people and that is searching for a minister to fill a pastoral position to look at candidates rostered under the ECP.
Full Story from the Minneapolis Star Tribune
Ray Voss is a member of Edina Community Lutheran Church.
Soulforce Announces Direct Actions At ELCA Churchwide Assembly August 10-13
August 6, 2001
In
the spirit of the principles of non-violence, Soulforce supporters and
members of the Lutheran Alliance for Full Participation will be
conducting training sessions, negotiations, celebrations, vigils, and
direct actions at the Indianapolis Convention Center August 10 13
during the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA).
Full Story >>
Lutherans Announce First National Conference for Family and Friends
June 14, 2001
Lutherans Concerned
announced today that it is sponsoring the first national gathering of
Lutheran family and friends of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trangendered
people. Bob Gibeling, program executive for Lutherans Concerned/North
America, stated the theme chosen for the conference is "Family
Journeys: One Family of God, Many Faith Stories."
Full Story >>
Anita Hill Ordained
At a festive worship service April 28, St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church, St. Paul, Minn., ordained Anita Carol Hill into a Lutheran ministry of word and sacrament.
Full Story >>
Text of Bishop Egertson's Letter to Bishop Anderson
Bishop Egertson to Resign
Church leader admits that his joining in a lesbian's ordination was 'ecclesiastical disobedience.'
Full Story from the LA Times >>
An Open Letter from Bishop Paul W. Egertson
Bishop Egertson to Resign
Church leader admits that his joining in a lesbian's ordination was
'ecclesiastical disobedience.'
Full Story from the LA Times >>
Editorial from The Lutheran
"We need a multiyear moratorium on discipline against congregations that, seeking to be faithful to Christ and the ELCA, still choose after prayerful consideration to violate our governing documents."
Full Story >>
Church vote is setback for gay and lesbians
In a setback for gays and lesbians, members of Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis narrowly defeated a proposal Sunday to declare it a Reconciling in Christ congregation.
Full Story >>
Hanson Re-elected Saint Paul Area Synod Bishop
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson was re-elected to a second term as bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) during the synod assembly held at Concordia University, Apr. 20-21.
Full Story >>
Hanson Re-elected Saint Paul Area Synod Bishop
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson was re-elected to a second term as bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) during the synod assembly held at Concordia University, Apr. 20-21.
Full Story >>
ELCA Ministry Board Accepts Ordination Guidelines for Exceptions
The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Ministry met here March 9-11 and approved guidelines that would help the church implement a bylaw being considered to permit ordinations "in unusual circumstances." The guidelines were approved by a 10-7 vote and recommended to the ELCA Church Council for adoption.
Full Story >>
ELCA Ministry Board Submits Report on Homosexuality
The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Ministry met here March 9-11 and submitted the "Report on Conversations about Homosexuality and the Church" to the ELCA Church Council and to the 2001 Churchwide Assembly.
Full Story >>
ELCA Bishops Respond to Human Sexuality Decisions, Hold Retreat
In a response to actions of the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the ELCA Conference of the Bishops agreed with council decisions related to human sexuality. Specifically, the bishops affirmed a decision not to initiate a study on the ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian people and supported an action to decline to develop a study process regarding exceptions to the church's standards for ordained ministry.
Full Story >>
CLAIMING THE PROMISE: Our Journey Into Hope
A weekend experience for Reconciling-in-Christ Congregations, Leaders, Clergy and Individuals interested in knowing more about RIC's vision of full inclusion of sexual minority people in the life of the Church.
March 16-18, 2001
St. Mark's and St. Paulus Lutheran Churches - San Francisco, CA
Full Story >>
Grace Wins
On September 29, Sierra-Pacific Synod Bishop Robert Mattheis notified
the synod's congregations and clergy that he would not file charges
against ULC in January, 2001, that he would no longer recommend that
campus ministry funding be withheld from ULC, and that he would invite
ULC to be a resource in the synod's on-going discussion of the pastoral
ministry of sexual minority people.
Full Story >>
Also:
ULC Decision
The Tri-synod Board for Campus Ministry has reversed it's decision to
withhold ULC's subsidy for Campus Ministry activity. The board met
Friday and Saturday, November 4-5, and after much heartfelt discussion
voted to release funds for this year and to include a subsidy for ULC's
Campus Ministry in the budget for 2001.
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