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Gay news: Largest Lutheran denomination in the US recants after 25 years of deliberation
By: John Howard
ELCA: "restorative justice"
ELCA: "restorative justice"
US Lutheran church abolishes all anti-gay policies
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), one of the largest faiths in the USA, has voted to abolish all anti-gay policies.
"After twenty-five years of deliberation, the ELCA Church Council has abolished its anti-gay policies, effective immediately," the Rev Dr Cindi Love told the Huffington Post.
"Following from discussions at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly last summer, the ELCA will now allow people in same-sex relationships to serve as rostered leaders.
"After twenty-five years of deliberation, the ELCA Church Council has abolished its anti-gay policies, effective immediately," the Rev Dr Cindi Love told the Huffington Post.
"Following from discussions at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly last summer, the ELCA will now allow people in same-sex relationships to serve as rostered leaders.
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer human beings are no longer considered abominations but blessed church members with full standing.
“Same-sex partners can now fully participate in the ELCA pension plan.
"Best of all, the ELCA is reinstating people who were removed from ministry positions because they were truthful and came out of the closet, as well as those who conducted holy unions for non-heterosexual couples. The ELCA has practised restorative justice."
The ELCA is a mainstream Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
"Best of all, the ELCA is reinstating people who were removed from ministry positions because they were truthful and came out of the closet, as well as those who conducted holy unions for non-heterosexual couples. The ELCA has practised restorative justice."
The ELCA is a mainstream Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
It is the seventh-largest religious body and the largest Lutheran denomination in the US, with approximately 4.5 million baptized members.
