Posted on 11/07/2007 9:33:15 AM PST by SmithL
The new bishop in the Chicago Metropolitan Synod faces his first test case on the celibacy requirement for gay clergy in the nation's largest Lutheran denomination.
Resurrection Lutheran Church in Lake View plans to ordain Jen Rude as its associate pastor in a 2 p.m. public ceremony Nov. 17. She's a lesbian who won't vow a lifetime of celibacy because she considers the rule discriminatory.
Heterosexual pastors can marry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Rude said she isn't in a committed relationship now, but remains hopeful about finding a life partner.
"God is the actor in all of this," said Rude, 27, whose father and grandfather are ELCA pastors.
Bishop Wayne Miller, who took office in September, didn't return phone calls Tuesday. He's previously said he felt torn by his desire to have the celibacy rule lifted and his vows as bishop to uphold church policies.
His predecessor, the Rev. Paul Landahl, criticized the celibacy rule and didn't discipline gay clergy in committed relationships. But elsewhere, some bishops have sent letters of censure and initiated the process to remove pastors and expel congregations.
In August, Landahl led the ELCA's chief legislative body to adopt a measure urging bishops and synods "to refrain from or demonstrate restraint" in disciplining those who violate the celibacy rule.
Rude's ordination is believed to be the first real test of that measure.
Both Miller and Landahl declined invitations to lead Rude's ordination ceremony, though Landahl said he'll attend the service. "Jen is a wonderful candidate for ministry," he said.
The Lake View congregation, which averages 120 worshippers each Sunday, voted 58-4 last month to ordain Rude.
"For us, she's the right minister for this place at this time," said the Rev. Brian Hiortdahl, the church's pastor.
Rude went through the official process for ordained ministry in the ELCA, but wasn't granted final approval because of her opposition to the celibacy rule. Her credentials come from Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, an independent group that rosters gay clergy.
After earning a master of divinity degree, Rude interned at the Lake View church, 3309 N. Seminary, in 2005 and 2006 and then was hired as part-time lay professional minister.
The Chicago Metropolitan Synod includes 116,000 ELCA members in Cook, Lake, DuPage and Kane counties.
If she won’t take the vows, how will she be ordained?
ELCA. Wotta surprise.
“Gay pastor tests celibacy rule”
I just wish we’d all stop using the word “gay” to describe homosexuals. If they’re so proud of their behavior, then they should wear the name. “Gay” means happy. Too bad they’ve perverted such a nice word.
She is an abomination and a sick one at that. To smile at a “world wide” camera after showing such lesbian contempt for Christianity and the family is appalling.
Hey, if they are ordaining a female, what difference does it make if she vows to be “celibate”.
Certainly the prohibition against women leading the church is much more important than some interpretation that it is sinful for one women to touch another woman sexually.
It’s not like she’s going to find another woman to actually have intercourse. Just don’t have the equipment.
You bring up an excellent point about the ‘female pastor’ issue to begin with.
Surely there’s somebody she can sue.
Seriously. Now when I get the urge to sing, it usually comes out like this...
"I feel pretty, oh so pretty, I feel pretty, and witty, and.... oh crap."
FWIW any ELCA Seminarian in Candidacy is asked, at multiple stages throughout the process whether or not they are going to abide by the provisions of “Visions and Expectations” for rostered leaders. It speaks poorly of the home Synod’s Candidacy Committee, plus the staff of the Metro Chicago Synod that things would have progressed so far. But since former Bishop Lendahl was in office until August 31 of this year the approval for Call interview, etc, would have happened on his watch and there was no doubt about where he stood.
What a lousy set-up for his successor!
Thus the situation is parallel to the ceremony for Anita Hill in St. Paul MN and a couple of congregations in San Francisco. The congregations may be disciplined by the Synod, but as the candidate is not actually on any ELCA roster they are immune from discipline. Free agents, so to speak.
The ELCAs are all going to hell anyway. Let her be ordained.
Of course, the homoactivists knew well in advance this would be the next step in their effort to obtain full license for openly "gay" ministers.
Glad I'm finally out of the ELCA. But still tragic to see this satanic attack on any part of Christ's church.
What? What kind of cockamamie statement is that?
Nothing will happen. ELCA is beyond 'enforcement' and has advanced to 'inclusion.'
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Well, looks like the other shoe has dropped on the bogus CWA “restraint resolution”. Of course, since the ELCA gaysbian lobby is a centipede, there will be many, many shoes dropping!!!! I think that there will be a certain notorious “gay” activist pastor in our own synod announcing that he is “partnered” before too long, and our “bishop” will back him up. And there will be others.
Well, Tony, you say that you have exited the ELCA. What church body (or nondenominational congregation) did you go to? As we all say, “Last one out turn off the lights!!”
....”God is the actor in all of this,”....
This lesbian grandstander might be right in saying this, but not for the reason she thinks. It may be part of God’s way of telling us that it is time to go HOME!!!!
And I am one of the Lutherans who believes that HOME is the Orthodox Church.
Check your FReepmail ;)
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