MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- An early procedural vote by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was good news for those who want non-celibate gays to serve as ministers, delegates say.
Delegates to the church's assembly in Minneapolis rejected a proposal to require a two-thirds super-majority to change the church's rules, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The motion, put forward by opponents of the change, failed with 57 percent voting against it.
Under current rules, homosexuals can only become ministers if they agree to remain celibate. The proposed change would extend that to gays in committed relationships.
Emily Eastwood, head of Lutherans Concerned, a group with headquarters in St. Paul that supports allowing more gays to become ministers, said she is not declaring victory yet.
"Most of the representatives are able to make a distinction between the voting procedure and the clergy issue," she said.
Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson said at a news conference Monday the one thing he knows is that some Lutherans will be "deeply and profoundly disappointed" by the outcome of this week's vote, whichever way it goes.
