Loading...
Loading...
On-Air Promo Creative 115x175
|| News ||
Page 1 of 1

Lutheran pastor calls for removal of celibacy requirement for gay clergy

News 2007-07-27 Lutheran pastor calls for removal of celibacy requirement for gay clergy Lutheran pastor champions gay clergy Lutheran pastor Wayn



Lutheran pastor Wayne Miller of Aurora, Ill., who will soon become bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, is calling for his denomination to remove a celibacy requirement for gay and lesbian clergy, reports the ChicagoSun-Times. "That's where I think the church is going," said Miller. "That's where I think it needs to go."

Miller is hoping the change could come as early as next month in Chicago, where the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is scheduled to conduct its churchwide assembly. Nearly a third of the denomination's 65 synods are asking for a policy change in clergy standards.

Homosexuality is a debated issue at mainline church conventions. The ELCA has adopted a compromise position, allowing gay and lesbian clergy to serve as long as they remain celibate. Heterosexual clergy, however, are not subject to the celibacy requirement if they are married, a right gay clergy don't have.

As reported by the Sun-Times, more than 1,000 voting church members are expected at the August 6–11 assembly at Navy Pier. If the rules for gay clergy aren't altered, Miller acknowledges he'll experience conflict between his personal beliefs and his vows as bishop.

"That is the dilemma of a bishop at this particular moment in history," he said. (The Advocate)

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Facebook. Page 1 of 1



More Online Only
  • News Celebration of Courage Not So Courageous

    Advocate contributor Michael Lucas says the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission needs to be doing more to stop violence against gays and lesbians in countries "oppressed by Islam."

  • Commentary The Truth Behind Her Name Was Steven

    Advocate contributor Eden Lane says CNN's Her Name Was Steven will help raise the visibility of trans people on TV, but the most compelling part of Susan Stanton's journey was left to a title card at the end of the film.

  • Television Laverne, Surely

    I Want to Work for Diddy alum Laverne Cox leads a trio of transgender ladies in VH1’s Transform Me, a new makeover show that flatters her hooker-heavy résumé.

  • Music Cherie’s Jubilee

    With The Runaways, the new film about her life with Joan Jett, pioneering rock star Cherie Currie is enjoying a renaissance ... with a little help from Dakota Fanning.

  • Activism Sex-Ed Student Turns Teen Activist

    When sex education classes at Danny Sparks's high school failed to address the issues important to him, he took matters into his own hands ... and became an activist in the process.

  • Photography Slideshow Flag Artist Spotlight: Ryan Colford

    From his "candy shoppe" line — sweet treats made oh-so sexy — to his black and white studies of the male form, photographer Ryan Colford exposes the beauty of the male body.

  • Commentary What Massa Could Learn From Ashburn

    COMMENTARY: Matthew S. Bajko says Republican California state senator Roy Ashburn deserves praise for coming out of the closet despite his antigay voting record. Now, if only former congressman Eric Massa would follow his lead.

  • Music The Truth About Tracy and Kim

    Don’t be tardy for this party! DJ Tracy Young comes clean — mostly — about her rumored lesbian relationship with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak.

  • News Video Content Flag Kids Say the Darndest Things

    Micah Schraft and his boyfriend, John, were filming Micah's family at Thanksgiving when the 5-year-old son of a family friend wanted to know if the two were husbands. The result is a video you have to see. 

  • Commentary The Importance of Being Counted

    With benefits from boosting hate-crimes and marriage equality laws to simply letting legislators know gay Americans indeed exist, the 2010 Census is a chance to stand up and be counted.

  • Marriage Equality We Now Pronounce You ...

    When Jonathan Howard and Gregory Jones found out Crate & Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest was open to couples holding commitment ceremonies, they entered. Now, they have a good shot at winning.

  • Music Matt Morris: An Ideal Husband

    Singer-songwriter and Out 100 honoree Matt Morris talks RuPaul’s Drag Race, coming out to pal Justin Timberlake, and the big secret to being a successful gay artist.

  • News View From Washington: Showdown

    The effort to end "don't ask, don't tell" heated up this week with the introduction of Senate legislation. But lawmakers are now facing off with the military over when to pass repeal.

  • DVDs Hot Sheet: Greek, Groove, and Alice

    This week Greek wants you to think back to your frat days, Johnny Depp is looking to explore the Mad Hatter's Gay Days, and Little Boots goes after Gaga's gays.

  • Politics Perez Talks Prop. 8, HIV, and the Economy

    John Pérez (left) became California's first openly gay assembly speaker on Monday. By Tuesday he was laying out his agenda for issues including HIV funding, jobs, and reinstating marriage equality in the Golden State.

  • Music Keeping Up With Ke$ha

    The hard-partying “Tik Tok” singer lives up to her wild reputation with stories of a fantasy all-girl sleepover with Shakira and Sarah Palin, bashing critics of her bisexuality, and sharing her love of trans women.

  • Television Casting Dancing With the Gay Stars

    NOM's Maggie Gallagher facing off with antigay Rep. Sally Kern? Neil Patrick Harris upstaging André Leon Talley? The Advocate makes its picks for the ultimate gay Dancing With the Stars lineup.