Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Florida has censure lifted
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Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Florida has censure lifted PDF Print E-mail

Bishop Edward Benoway of the Florida-Bahamas Synod has lifted the public censure from Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Fort Lauderdale. The censure was placed on the congregation in 2002 for having called the Rev. Bill Knott to be its pastor. At the time of his call and installation, he was no longer on the clergy roster of the ELCA, having removed himself earlier because he was living in a committed, same-gender relationship.

The censure has been in place since that time. The lifting of the censure is a direct result of the action taken by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly that allows congregations, who so wish, to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.

Bishop Benoway stated in the official release from the synod concerning the censure that he believed that the congregation had been following its conscience and convictions.

Writing to the leaders of the congregation, the bishop said he was joyful at removing the censure and thereby renewing the full participation by the members of the congregation in the life of the synod. He spoke of his gratitude for the generous support of the ministry of the synod and the ELCA that congregation had maintained despite being under censure. In response to the actions of some, withholding benevolence, the congregation has voted to increase its benevolence as it was able.

The return of the congregation to full status within the synod is seen in the fact that, subsequent to the lifting of the censure, a member of Abiding Savior was elected at synod assembly to serve on synod council.

Bill Knott’s reinstatement application to the clergy roster will be in accordance the procedures laid out by the decisions of the ELCA Church Council in April for synods to follow. There is an ongoing dialog on that subject. Bill said that he is looking forward to reinstatement.

We are pleased at this, yet another welcome event following the decisions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.

We are grateful for the witness and steadfastness of Abiding Savior and for the ministry of Bill Knott.