Q: Under the new policies, can a Lutheran church refuse to hire a gay pastor?<\/p>\n
A: Hiring works a little different in the church than it does in other places. We don\u2019t apply for jobs. And when you\u2019re talking about spirituality, and where people are in their lives, it really takes a connection, like on a relationship level, that doesn\u2019t necessarily come out in a regular job interview. It becomes very complicated.<\/p>\n
Myself, if I knew a congregation didn\u2019t welcome everyone, I would just say no to the (position). If I knew they really didn\u2019t like female ministers, OK, you know what? I know that that\u2019s how this community is. And perhaps if I was at the right point in my life, I might go. I\u2019ve been the first woman pastor in a parish before. And yes, you can change people\u2019s minds and you can show a different way. But sometimes you can\u2019t. And I think that\u2019s more how it will play out: people will just kind of know pockets or where they should and shouldn\u2019t go.
Q: Do you think there will be a further split over this that no one is foreseeing?<\/p>\n
A: There has already been a split over the past decade. We have had some parishes leave. Some have gone to the (Lutheran Church-Canada) most recently. There\u2019s a new group called the Canadian Association of Lutheran Churches who have stepped aside on this issue and said, \u201d\u02dcWe don\u2019t want any part of a church that is blessing same-sex marriages or rostered clergy who are gay.\u2019 So we\u2019ve already lost some, and I think we\u2019ll lose a few more. Some congregations, some pastors, and within each individual parish we\u2019ll probably lose a few. But it\u2019s a risk that the church is willing to take.<\/p>\n