Lutherans take note of Episcopal gay bishop vote

MILWAUKEE -- The head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America said Monday he was "mindful" that the Episcopal Church confirmed its first openly gay bishop last week, but his denomination would not quickly follow suit.

Separately, a leading Roman Catholic clergyman said the Episcopal vote had "serious implications in the search for Christian unity."

The Episcopal General Convention ratified the election of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson, who is openly gay, as New Hampshire's bishop and affirmed same-sex blessings as "an acceptable practice in the church."

The Rev. Mark Hanson, the Evangelical Lutherans' presiding bishop, said his denomination, gathered for its weeklong national meeting, planned to continue consulting Scripture, church members, and gays and lesbians -- but it will ultimately decide alone whether to ordain practicing homosexuals.

In 2000, the Episcopal Church approved an agreement with the ELCA that set out the conditions for the full interchange of clergy and the sharing of ministry and sacraments.

Delayed until 2005

The ELCA was scheduled today to present an interim report on homosexuality commissioned at its last assembly in 2001, but the body won't make recommendations until 2005 on whether to bless same-gender relationships or allow people in such relationships to be pastors.

Hanson affirmed the church's current position of allowing homosexuals in the clergy if they remain celibate.

"We're certainly mindful a week after the Episcopalians made their decision," Hanson said. "But we are at different places in our decision making."

"Ultimately, what we do in terms of human sexuality will be decisions of this church," he said.

In a separate statement Monday, Catholic Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, Calif., head of the Catholic Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, said the Episcopal votes had "serious implications in the search for Christian unity and for the work of our bilateral Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue in the United States."

"These decisions reflect a departure from the common understanding of the meaning and purpose of human sexuality, and the morality of homosexual activity as found in sacred Scripture and the Christian tradition," Blaire said.

The Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is the U.S. member, and Catholics have been holding talks for 40 years. Catholics are committed to maintaining the dialogue "however difficult," Blaire said.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church represents 5.1 million members and is the fourth-largest Protestant denomination in the United States.