The country\u2019s largest Lutheran denomination officially bars openly gay people from the ministry. But in a move that advocates for gay men and lesbians are hailing as a step toward changing that policy, the denomination is urging its bishops to refrain from disciplining gay members of the clergy who are in committed same-sex relationships.<\/p>\n
A resolution to that effect was passed last weekend in Chicago by delegates to the biennial meeting of the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.<\/p>\n
Church officials said it did not signal a change in policy. But they said that a denomination task force was completing \u201ca social statement,\u201d\u009d or theological document, on human sexuality, to be discussed in 2009, and that the resolution allowed bishops to hold off, in the interim, on taking action against gay and lesbian ministers in their jurisdictions.<\/p>\n
Robert Tuttle, counsel to the bishop of the synod of metropolitan Washington, D.C., said, \u201cWhat it changes is that it gives bishops some cover who want to exercise discretion to not bring charges.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
Supporters of the ordination of openly gay men and lesbians hailed the vote.<\/p>\n