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Gay clergy option backed by ELCA council, professors: Some not pleased by middle-ground proposal

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s high-ranking church council has prepared a proposal to the churchwide assembly in August that would give bishops the final authority to let congregations ordain gay and lesbian clergy who are in committed same-sex relationships.

The 37-member church council essentially followed a task force’s January recommendation that some exceptions be made for otherwise qualified homosexual ministers who were being sought as pastors by congregations.

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