The Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) voted on Friday to move forward with a social statement titled “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.” This ain’t your grandma’s Lutheran church. The statement covers sexual harassment, encouraging comprehensive sex education in schools, and dealing with divorce, but the part that’s surprised everyone is the commitment “to allow Lutherans in same-gender relationships to serve as pastors of congregations and serve in other professional leadership roles.”
Previously, you could be gay and a pastor, but only if you were celibate. The vote to allow gay pastors is especially shocking because the ELCA is considered an orthodox denomination.
Sex in church teachings isn’t anything new. Other Protestant denominations have also recently grappled with the same-sex issue, and I’m sure avid sex readers will recognize this Religious Teachings on Sex chart. Even Mormon teachings encourage an understanding of the G-spot and clitoris via And They Were Not Ashamed: Strengthening Marriage Through Sexual Fulfillment.
It turns out, people love sex. Some people are gay. And people make up churches. Not all religions agree on sexual teachings, but it’s hard to argue against a trend towards sexual health. I mean, it’s got the word “health” in the title.
Photo by NCinDC.
