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The Rev. Bradley Schmeling, who has led St. John’s, Atlanta’s oldest Lutheran church, since 2000, will be removed from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s roster of ordained ministers in August if the rules don’t change. A discipline committee ruled last Thursday that Schmeling violated church policy, though the panel’s report called the policy “bad” and possibly in conflict with the church’s bylaws.
The committee’s report asks that the ELCA reconsider the policy at a national meeting in August, just a few days before Schmeling is scheduled to be defrocked. Schmeling said he is confident the “Holy Spirit will lead the church to change the policy.”
“I’m glad the conversation can continue,” Schmeling said of the committee’s decision. “This is such an important issue for the church.”
Schmeling, who was open about his sexuality when he took the job, announced last year he had found a lifelong companion. Bishop Ronald Warren of the ELCA’s Southeastern Synod asked the 44-year-old pastor to resign, but Schmeling refused.
Warren then began disciplinary proceedings against Schmeling for violating church rules.
Last Thursday’s decision came after a five-day hearing two weeks ago in Atlanta where Schmeling and St. John’s members pleaded his case before the discipline committee. The resulting report notes that the committee was torn over the decision.
While seven of the committee’s 12 members concluded they were “compelled” to find that a practicing homosexual such as Schmeling is “precluded from the ordained ministry of this church,” the report said the committee was “nearly unanimous” that it is “at least a bad policy and may very well violate the constitution and bylaws of this church.”
The report also said that if the committee were not bound by the policy, it would conclude that Schmeling is doing nothing incompatible with his ministry, and that “no discipline of any sort should be imposed against him.”
The report is a snapshot of the debate that’s been raging in Lutheran church for the last few years over gay clergy.
The ELCA considered changing the policy in 2005, but the measure was voted down by delegates at a national meeting. The change would have affirmed a church ban on ordaining sexually active gays and lesbians but allowed exceptions for candidates in long-term relationships.
Mark Chavez, who heads up WordAlone, an ELCA group that supports upholding the ban on homosexual clergy in relationships, said the church’s current policy adheres to scripture.
“The word of God—in the Old and New Testaments—is clear about setting boundaries for sexual relationships,” said Chavez, a Lutheran minister.
He said some church leaders are trying to keep the issue alive in hopes of changing the policy, but movements like WordAlone are fighting that change. The denomination needs to return to to its foundations and the scripture, Chavez said.
Laura Crawley, president of the St. John’s congregation, said she is pleased that the committee wants the denomination to revisit its policy on gay clergy. She said congregation members are hopeful the policy will change and Schmeling will remain ordained by the church.
“If Aug. 15 comes and Bradley (Schmeling) is off the roster, then we’ll have to think about where St. John’s goes,” Crawley said. “We want to stay in the ELCA and we want Bradley to be our pastor.”
Warren said in a statement posted on the ELCA’s Web site that his decision to seek Schmeling’s removal was “difficult because of my deep respect for the pastor and the congregation at St. John’s.”
“As this church continues prayerfully to consider the issue of clergy who are gay or lesbian and in committed relationships, both the synod and I will continue to work on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of our disagreements,” Warren said in the statement.
Episcopalians, Methodists and Presbyterians have all faced divisive debates over gay clergy members. Source: newyorkblade.com |
