MINNEAPOLIS — A proposal to allow people in same-sex relationships to serve as clergy in the country's largest Lutheran denomination has passed its first hurdle.The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's national convention began Monday in Minneapolis. A proposal likely to get a final vote Friday would let individual congregations hire gays and lesbians in committed relationships as pastors.
Critics of the proposal moved Monday to require a two-thirds supermajority of the 1,045 voting delegates for approval, rather than a simple majority. But the effort fell short, with only 43 percent of delegates supporting it.
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson says the majority versus supermajority vote shouldn't be seen as strongly indicating the debate's ultimate outcome.
