Politics In Religion
We often think about the role of religion in politics, last week there was an interesting case of politics in religion.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted 559 to 451 last week to allow gays and lesbians in lifelong committed relationships to serve as clergy.
Beyond the outcome of the vote itself, I think it is notable that the church voted at all. I grew up as a Lutheran (in the ELCA), so the notion of a church vote is not shocking to me, but am not sure most Americans are familiar with churches as democratic institutions. While I was not at the ELCA assembly, I am sure there was every bit as much as politicking and vote whipping as a vote on the House floor or a party convention.
While the decision will not have much impact on my life, I found myself talking with family about the vote and reading stories reporting the results. The ELCA is the 7th largest denomination in the US representing about 4.8 million members. And as far as I know, the ELCA is the largest denomination in the US to allow noncelibate gays and lesbians to serve as clergy.
What impact will this have on American politics? I recognize there is still dissension within the church, but this certainly appears to continue a liberalization of American’s attitudes toward gay marriage.
One line from the New York Times stood out to me –
But the Evangelical Lutheran Church’s heavily Midwestern membership and the fact that it is generally seen as falling squarely in the middle of the theological milieu of mainline Protestantism imbued Friday’s vote with added significance, religion scholars said.
These are church going, mainline Protestant Midwesterners that are crucial swing votes in regular battle ground states like Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin – and their church just voted to allow gays and lesbians in noncelibate relationships to serve as clergy. This seems to be another indication that social conservatives opposing gay marriage need to do more to convince people of the strength of their argument, while the GOP may need to look beyond gay marriage – at least in the Midwest – to help assemble their winning collations.
- Brent Seaborn
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