ELCA bishop files charges against pastor in gay relationship

Bishop Ronald Warren of the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) filed formal charges against Pastor Bradley Schmeling of St. John's Lutheran Church, Atlanta, for being in violation of ELCA Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline for ordained ministers. Bradley is charged with behavior incompatible with the character of the ministerial office for being in a same-sex relationship with Darin Easler, formerly an ELCA pastor, already removed from the roster because of their relationship.

See:

• John Blake, "Discipline sought against gay pastor" (Atlanta Metro ajc.com/metro, August 10, 2006)
• Bishop Ronald B. Warren, "A Pastoral Letter of Disclosure" (The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America--Southeastern Synod)
• "Bishop Invokes Disciplinary Action" (August 8, 2006) (Goodsoil.org, a site opposing discrimination against GLBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered] clergy)

At the national level the ELCA bishops thus far have been nearly as stalwart and principled in matters homosexual as their sister and brother bishops in the ECUSA; which is to say, they have been generously and amply 'pastoral' in such matters by exercising virtually no discipline whatsoever. The discrepancy between word and deed in this respect is impressive. It will be interesting following this case, as it moves through the ELCA process; first, because here is a bishop with sufficient spine and fortitude to press for consistency between word and deed; second, because he faces an overtly defiant clergy appealing to the ELCA GLBT constituency for sympathy and a congregation apparently thoroughly supportive of the defiant pastor over against his bishop; and thirdly, because the charges are being filed not at the national level at Higgins Road, Chicago, but in Atlanta in the Southeastern Synod. It will be interesting to see what the Southeastern ELCA Synod bishops are made of, and whether they can do anything to stem the impending exodus of Lutherans preparing to swim the Tiber for Rome.