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Canadian Lutherans ordain gay man in same-sex marriage: Despite stern warnings

Despite stern warnings and threats of discipline, a Lutheran church north of Toronto has ordained an openly gay man who is legally married to another man under Canadian law.

Lionel Ketola, 45, will now serve as associate pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Newmarket, Ontario, and will also assume the nonofficial title of “ambassador of reconciliation.”

It was the first Lutheran ordination of a noncelibate gay pastor in Canada, following at least 14 such ordinations in the United States.

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