German Church Considers Ordaining Practicing Homosexuals
Episcopal News Service. March 27, 1996 [96-1427I]
(ENI) Practicing homosexuals could be admitted to the ordained ministry in certain circumstances, according to a recent report by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), whose 24 member churches represent the majority of Protestants in Germany. But the report, Living with Tensions, said that this should only happen in "individual cases" where there is an "ethically responsible" homosexual lifestyle, and if a number of conditions are fulfilled. The report underlined that there should be no blanket decision by the EKD to allow the ordination of practicing homosexuals. The report said that a decision to admit practicing homosexuals to the ordained ministry would mean a "break" with "official practice in Christian churches for hundreds of years." Many other churches continue to uphold this practice of not ordaining practicing homosexuals, the report pointed out. "If such a step is necessary for the sake of truth and love, then we must dare to take it," said the report's authors. The EKD council has accepted the report as a "contribution to the present debate."