Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The scrutiny of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America this week during its biennial Churchwide Assembly in Orlando won't be due to looming votes on church reorganization and a new worship book.
The 4.9-million-member church will become the latest mainline Protestant denomination to tackle the issues of same-sex blessings and the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy when the assembly opens today for a week-long gathering.
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod delegation, and in particular its bishop, the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, could play a pivotal role in that debate, which is expected to come to a vote Friday or Saturday.
The ELCA is the fourth mainline Protestant denomination to tackle these issues since 2003. The Episcopal Church USA gave tacit approval to same-sex blessings and confirmed a noncelibate gay bishop. Both the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted to prohibit same-sex blessings and the ordination of practicing homosexuals. In July, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ voted to support same-sex marriages, but its decisions are not binding on its congregations.
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