Lutheran Church votes to allow gay pastors
Pastor Dale Morgan
Lutheran Church votes to allow gay pastors*
From correspondents in Oslo, Norway
October 02, 2007 11:41pm
Article from: Agence France-Presse
BISHOPS of Norway's Lutheran church voted by a close majority to allow
gay pastors, a church official told a press conference.
The Bishops Conference, a seven-man and four-woman panel of 11 Norwegian
bishops, voted six to five for the measure, said their official
representative, Olav Skjevesland. The panel is a consultative body.
Theological doctrine currently followed in the Norwegian church
officially excludes people living in the a homosexual union from
officiating at services.
Another Norwegian theological consultative body, the 20-member
Laerenemnd, met in January 2006, but could not agree a course of action.
At least two openly gay men currently serve as ministers after they were
hired by liberal bishops.
The question must now be defined at the Lutheran church's next general
Synod, the highest decision-making representative body, which will meet
from November 12-17.