Lutherans Concerned to comment on actions of Church Council affecting the fate of gay ministers
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Lutherans Concerned to comment on actions of Church Council affecting the fate of gay ministers PDF Print E-mail

PRESS ADVISORY

What: Gay Lutherans comment on the release of the version of the "Social Statement on Human Sexuality" of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) just released by the Church Council.

When: Tuesday, March 31, five minutes after end of ELCA press conference call,
Call 218-339-4600 - Access: 346654#

[At 11:30 CST, March 31, the ELCA will hold a press conference call. When it ends, call the Lutherans Concerned number above. For information about the ELCA conference call, contact John Brooks, ELCA News, at 773-380-2958 or see their press advisory.]

Who: Emily Eastwood, Executive Director, Lutherans Concerned / North America, an organization working for full inclusion of all Lutherans in the life of the church without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.

Why: Church Council has made final revisions to the Social Statement on Human Sexuality, its Implementing Resolutions, and the separate recommendations on LGBT ministers' ordination and service into the form those documents will be presented to the churchwide assembly for debate and action at its biennial meeting being held in Minneapolis this August.

At issue are the requirement of lifelong celibacy for LGBT ministers, despite the fact that founder Martin Luther specifically rejected celibacy, and that the church says LGBT people are welcome, but the ELCA does not recognize or condone the blessing of committed, same-gender relationships.

Media contact: Phil Soucy
703-980-2038
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