Lutheran Bishops Criticize Gay Ministers’ Ordination

Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have collectively denounced the recent ordinations of three acknowledged homosexuals in San Francisco and have pledged to “admonish” all ministers who participated in the ceremony.

The bishops released a statement this week arising from closed-door discussions early this month in La Jolla during a Conference of Bishops gathering. The statement said they are “deeply distressed” that the unauthorized ordinations pose a “challenge to the unity” of the church.

An openly gay man and a lesbian couple were ordained Jan. 20 amid elaborate ceremonies despite staunch opposition by the church hierarchy and threats that disciplinary action could result.

“We cannot countenance the actions of those who have intentionally violated their obligation to comply with the constitution of this church,” the statement said.

Under the constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, formed in 1988 with the merger of three predecessor Lutheran bodies, ordinations require the approval of area, or synodical, bishops. In the case of the San Francisco ordinations, two congregations proceeded with the ordinations over the objections of Bishop Lyle Miller of the Sierra Pacific Synod.

The denomination’s guidelines call for people with homosexual orientations to be celibate. But none of the three candidates ordained Jan. 20 and installed in church posts the next day would promise to refrain from sexual activity, causing Miller to oppose their appointments.

The Rev. Edwin L. Bersagel, executive director of the Conference of Bishops, said in an interview that the specifics of admonishment is up to individual bishops. However, he noted, the intent is not to discipline ministers or associates who participated in the ordinations but to engage them from a “pastoral counseling” perspective.

Two days after the ordinations, Miller filed formal charges against the two San Francisco congregations that issued “calls” to the three homosexual ministerial candidates--St. Francis Lutheran and First United Lutheran.

A five-member consultation committee is scheduled to begin deliberations on the charges Friday. Few officials expect the committee will be able to resolve the dispute. If the impasse continues, a 12-person panel will be appointed to hear the case and render a ruling.