Lutheran Head Hopes To Avoid Gay Schism

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/07/072605lutherans.htm

The head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the latest Protestant group in a showdown over gays in the faith, said Tuesday he hoped the denomination would stay united no matter what the outcome of its debate.

The ELCA General Assembly is scheduled to vote during an Aug. 8-14 meeting in Orlando, Fla., on whether gays in committed relationships should be ordained and their same-sex unions blessed by the church.

In a conference call with reporters, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson said he hoped anyone contemplating leaving the denomination after the gathering would consider the church's role in the world beyond its stance on homosexuality.