Methodists Say No to partnered Lutheran Gay Clergy

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Lutheran ministers who are in same-sex relationships will not be allowed to serve as clergy in United Methodist congregations despite the new full communion agreement between the two denominations.

Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, made clear on Wednesday that UMC's ban on noncelibate gay clergy still stands.

"Our Book of Discipline on that subject did not become null and void when they took that vote," said Palmer, according to the United Methodist News Service. "It still applies to United Methodist clergy."

Read it all.

Filed under: * Religion News & Commentary • Ecumenical Relations • Other Churches • Lutheran • Methodist • Sexuality Debate (Other denominations and faiths)

7 Comments
Posted August 30, 2009 at 12:30 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Brian of Maryland wrote:

Maybe it’s time to look into becoming UMC ...

August 30, 3:04 pm | [comment link]
2. Franz wrote:

Well, if you are from the evangelical/protestant strain of ECUSA, you could do a lot worse.

If, on the other hand, you think more along the catholic line, something else will be needed (probably Rome or Orthodoxy).  Despite the many fine people in the UMC, they are emphatically a protestant church with Anglican roots.

August 30, 4:38 pm | [comment link]
3. Brian of Maryland wrote:

Franz,

I’m an ELCA pastor ...

August 30, 4:49 pm | [comment link]
4. robroy wrote:

Brian+, what’s wrong with the Missouri Synod?

August 30, 5:34 pm | [comment link]
5. Pageantmaster [Pray for +Mark Lawrence] wrote:

Very interesting.  ELCA had sneakily tried to tie the Methodists into communion a couple of days before their all gay motion votes.  I wondered what UMC would do.

Well it looks like the Methodists are having none of it and have delivered ELCA a prompt firm slap down.

When is a communion not a communion?

August 30, 5:41 pm | [comment link]
6. FenelonSpoke wrote:

Bishop Palmer and the Council of Bishops made absolutely the right decision in accordance with the Book of Dicipline.

August 30, 5:59 pm | [comment link]
7. robroy wrote:

Here is a San Diego parish that anticipated the decisions that would be made and are leaving the ELCA. It is joining the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.

Brian+, what do you think about the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ versus the Missouri Synod? The article mentions that there is no reference to America in the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ and there are churches in Russia, etc.

August 30, 6:38 pm | [comment link]
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