The national assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America defeated a motion Saturday that would have severed its ties with the Episcopal Church because the Episcopalians ordained an openly gay man as bishop and approved the blessing of same-sex unions.
The ELCA and the Episcopalians are in full communion, meaning that the churches remain separate but that pastors from either denomination can serve congregations of either church. The ELCA would not have to accept a gay Episcopal pastor or bishop, or one who does not abide by all teachings of the ELCA.
The assembly voted down a motion to break ties with the Episcopalian Church by an 832-139 vote. The motion was brought forth by a church member but was not recommended by a committee that had studied the issue.
The Lutherans, meeting at Milwaukee's Midwest Airlines Center this week, also defeated a motion that would have delayed until...