Thaindian News

By Ranjan Bhaduri
Atlanta, May 8, (THAINDIAN NEWS) In a development that can make the gay community in the USA happier, a Lutheran denomination has agreed to reinstate an openly gay pastor. Interestingly, the partner of the gay pastor is also a pastor and he too is being reinstated. The Evangelical Lutheran Church, based in Chicago declared on Tuesday that the two gay pastors Rev. Darin Easler and Rev. Bradley Schmeling have been selected for reinstatement. Reverend Bradley Schmeling used to serve as the St. John Lutheran Church’s pastor and he was taken out of the roster of that church in 2007. As one can assume, it was because of the same-sex relationship he shared with Rev. Darin Easler. The decision to reinstate them was taken after the church made changes to its ministry policy documents the previous months as it has been reported.

The new church policies allow pastors to have monogamous, lifelong, publicly accountable same-sex relationships. Even though his position was snatched from him, the congregation agreed to have Rev. Bradley Schmeling in the church as a pastor sans the portfolio. Reverend Bradley Schmeling was quite open about his sexual orientation and he reported it to his bishop which eventually led to the termination of his pastorhood.

The topic of homosexuality has caused a lot of controversy in the church community and still a majority of the bishops consider it as a taboo and sin. The pastor couple is very happy at the decision of the church and they said that it was like a barrier breaking down in their life. They live in Atlanta together. It remains to be seen how neighboring congregations react to this.