First off, since I got so much negative reaction to using a sockpuppet, might as well say I'm the OP. Second with the Catholic Church, I think a lot of the people leaving is because the Bishops aren't disciplining the priests who abused those boys. The thing with the new Anglican churches in the US I think is how far the Episcopal church is diverging in certain areas of doctrine from the rest of the Anglican Communion, though for now the Episcopal is the recognized member of the Angilican Communion.

Yeah, and we're next, S. My congregation has already stopped sending their "dues" (aka benevolent funds).

Good point - my church in Boston (Trinity Church in Copley Square) was walking a pretty fine line on it when I was a member.

I'm on the other side, if the vote hadn't passed I would be an Episcopalian now (I just can't move to Unitarian). My active Lutheran relatives were going to no longer be ELCA if things went the other way at the church wide assembly.

This comes off as flip, but there are other Lutheran sects that are more conservative, being LCMS or WELS may work for those who cannot handle the same sex issues. I was at the point where I was giving up being Lutheran because as much as I love my faith, I feel stronger about inclusiveness. I actually know more people who are coming to the church or back to the church than are leaving. It will take some time but I think it will work out.

Plus what is more Lutheran than people branching out to start a new denomination?

Funny, I had totally forgotten about that part of the book. Not what I think of when I remember AYTGIMM.

FYI - I grew up in a strict LCMS church.

I don't mind the faith statement that was passed at all. I agree that love of neighbor should trump any sin they commit. However, as a Pastor? There's a passage that our Pastor pointed out 2 Sundays ago that gives the biblical list of qualifications of a Pastor. There is nothing on that list that deals with man/woman, so the woman Pastor thing doesn't bother me. There are, however, parts of that list that deal with Sexuality. Bible > Human Society.

Lutheran hijack:

Admittedly I've had my head elsewhere lately, but I read that statement, and it sounded like they're ok with a gay person in a committed relationship only. What about a single gay person? Why should they have to show they're in a relationship when a straight person does not?

I mean, do it all one way or do it all the other way, don't half-ass it.

That's where translation of the Bible comes in, and with my background (religious and education) I've studied the translations and from my understanding of ancient languages the sexuality issue is often one of semantics and translations. It isn't how many people present it, and a lot of it came from rules about food and other things, and was expanded to same sex relationships.

My understanding from years ago, is that heterosexual pastors are held to the same standards. You're not supposed to be "living in sin" and out carousing. The wording was chosen as committed relationship because marriage isn't legal for same sex pastors in many states where the ELCA operates. One could always be single and be a pastor, but part of the issue stems from the legality or illegality of marriage of same sex relationship pastors.