As we have blogged about, the ELCA and United Methodists agreed to go into full communion, which includes allowing Lutheran congregations to call a Methodist pastor and Methodist congregations to call a Lutheran pastor. But the Methodists, for all of their liberalism, do not allow for sexually-active gay pastors, which now the ELCA does. So now the ecumenical pact is problematic, as far as the Methodists are concerned. From Methodists Say No to Lutheran Gay Clergy | Christianpost.com:
Lutheran ministers who are in same-sex relationships will not be allowed to serve as clergy in United Methodist congregations despite the new full communion agreement between the two denominations.
“Our Book of Discipline on that subject did not become null and void when they took that vote,” said Palmer, according to the United Methodist News Service. “It still applies to United Methodist clergy.”
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