August 7, 2007
Contact: Phil Soucy
703-980-2038
communications@lcna.org
www.goodsoil.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eighty-two LGBT Lutheran ministers introduce themselves to the ELCA

Eighty-two lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Lutheran ministers have chosen to introduce themselves to their denomination and speak out against the policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that prohibits them from entering into lifelong, loving family relationships.

On Tuesday morning, these LGBT ministers placed their names in a devotional booklet that was offered as a gift to the voting members at the 2007 biennial Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA, meeting in Chicago.

Though the ELCA says it welcomes LGBT persons into the life of the church, LGBT ministers are required to remain celibate, without a life partner, for the rest of their lives.

Pastor Bradley Schmeling, who was removed from the ELCA clergy roster on July 2 because of his covenanted relationship with Pastor Darin Easler, stated: "The ELCA policy runs counter to the position of Martin Luther himself who opposed forced celibacy on any individual, especially pastors. Luther believed that celibacy was a gift of God given only to a few and that imposed celibacy produced only unnecessary scandal and hardship."

Most of the 82 pastors have been open with their congregations about who they love for many years. Some are not partnered, but have been clear about their orientation with those in their ministry settings. Others have been removed from the roster of the ELCA since its churchwide assembly in Orlando in 2005. Some are rostered by the Extraordinary Candidacy Project which vets LGBT candidates for ministry who are unwilling to take the required vow of celibacy. Many of the ECP pastors serve congregations and in specialized ministries of the ELCA.

Pastor Megan Rohrer, an ECP pastor called by four Lutheran congregations to minister to the homeless in San Francisco, said, "ECP pastors faithfully serve without ELCA official roster privileges, which often means less pay, loss of pension and insurance benefits. Some ECP pastors even need to work more than one job in addition to their work in congregations. All people deserve pastors, whether they can afford them or not, but the cost often comes at the expense of the pastors and pastoral leaders that have the courage to be open about who God has called them to be."

Emily Eastwood, Executive Director, Lutherans Concerned / North America, and leader of the Goodsoil coalition seeking the elimination of the policy that bans LGBT pastors who have or wish to have a family, said, "The courage of these 82 ministers is amazing. They are all well aware of the risks they take in introducing themselves and their families to the wider church. For those who are rostered leaders in the ELCA, they risk discipline from their bishops, discipline which may include formal ecclesiastical charges, a trial and ultimate removal."

LGBT pastors have been introducing themselves and their families to the ELCA since its inception in 1987. With the continued forced resignation, discipline and removal of LGBT ministers in the ELCA, for these pastors, silence is not an option.

Pastor Barbara Lundblad, gifted preacher and seminary professor said, "There comes a time when silence is no longer faithful. Because of my silence and the protection of many people, I've been invited to preach and teach across this church. I will be forever grateful for those oppor¬tunities. Yet, I know there are many who have never been invited, talented pastors whose voices we have lost, whose gifts have been squandered because they refused to be silent."

Later this week the ELCA Churchwide Assembly will take up the issue of eliminating the celibacy requirement for LGBT ministers, thus placing them under the single set of rules common to the rest of the ministers.

About:
Goodsoil is working for full inclusion of LGBT Lutherans in the life of their church and is comprised of Lutherans Concerned / North America, The Network for Full Inclusion, Wingspan Ministry, and the Extraordinary Candidacy Project.

Phil Soucy
Director Communications LC/NA
communications@lcna.org