Roanoke Church Votes To Split From Lutheran Parent

ROANOKE (AP) – Members of a Roanoke church have voted to leave the country’s largest Lutheran denomination over its policy to allow gay clergy.

St. John Lutheran Pastor Mark Graham said church members voted 350-104 Sunday in favor of the split from the national Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Church rules required a two-thirds majority for reaffiliation.

At its annual convention in August, ELCA delegates voted to lift a ban that had prohibited sexually active gay and lesbian pastors from serving as clergy. The new policy, expected to take effect in April, will allow such individuals to lead ELCA churches as long as they can show that they are in committed, lifelong relationships.

Sunday’s vote affirmed a ballot held in September that called for St. John to join the smaller Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.