BJS member Dennis Peskey found this interesting story on line and passed it along to us. Even though they entered into full communion with the ELCA, the United Methodist Church (UMC) will not be accepting gay clergy into thier pulpits.
The Lutheran vote Aug. 21 to drop its ban on gay clergy, coming a day after the denomination approved a full communion pact including the sharing of clergy with The United Methodist Church, raised the question of whether practicing homosexual Lutheran pastors would be permitted in United Methodist pulpits.
Leaders from both churches said Aug. 26, however, that The United Methodist Church’s ban on noncelibate gay clergy is unchanged.
“Our Book of Discipline on that subject did not become null and void when they took that vote,” said Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops. “It still applies to United Methodist clergy.”
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