Gays and Lutherans

After a week of discussions, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has slightly updated (pun intended) its position on gay clergymen and women. They had formerly allowed openly gay individuals to serve in the church only in cases where the individual was celibate. As of today, the ELCA will allow even sexually active men and women that are in committed relationships with individuals of the same sex.

The resolution passed with a super majority of over two thirds. In both these articles, there are individuals within the church who speak both for and against the resolution. One of the most sensible quotes:

We can learn not to define ourselves by negation... by not only saying what we are against, which always seems to be the same — against gay people. We should be against poverty. I wish we were as zealous about that.