Church Reinstates Gay Pastor

Click to Read Full Article From 11 Alive.com

ATLANTA -- St. John's Lutheran Church has been celebrating the reinstatement of its pastor, Bradley Schmeling -- who endured a struggle dating back to 2006.  That's when he told his congregation he was gay -- contrary to the laws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The church removed Schmeling from its roster of pastors in 2007.  It also removed Schmeling's partner, Darin Easler, another Lutheran pastor.  But church members like Barbara Arne stuck by Schmeling and his partner.

"I think we were always hopeful we would come to this day, where the ELCA would say 'we want to accept and include everyone who has been called to God's ministry," said Arne. 

Although the ELCA decided to remove pastor Schmeling in 2007, he never really went anywhere.  That's because the church congregation voted to keep him around, making him a pastor without portfolio for nearly three years.

"It was always surreal because on a day to day basis, my life in the ministry didn't change. But there were always people, not in this congregation but in the rest of the church, who didn't think of me as a pastor in the church," said Schmeling.

That doubt is now gone.  The Lutheran church not only reinstated Schmeling, it also reinstated Easler.

"It feels good to have them included." said Arne. "We also know there's a lot of pain for some people who may now feel the ELCA is not their church.  We're sensitive to that and want to support them and walk with them on this journey together."

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JMC Ministries Response

How can a church say that it is ok and even support their pastor who is committing the sin of Homosexuality and also adultery by sleeping with a person that he is not married to?

Why are people today justifying what the bible calls sexual immorality as something that is ok and they even support in their own church?

The bible says you cannot serve two master for you will love the one and hate the other.  You can not be a leader of the church and commit sin openly.

It seem so many people today are being lead astray by the lies that Satan is feeding them and saying they can justify their sins and God will still love and not turn them away. 

The bible says that God cannot even look upon sin, that is why Jesus came and paid the ultimate price so we can have the chance to come to him and ask for forgiveness of our sins and past transgressions. Not so we can justify sin and say well Jesus loves everyone and knows we aren’t perfect. Yes in a since that is true but when you know what the scriptures say and know that it is a sin and that God says that it is an abomination and you still do not turn away from it you are still sinning and not one of God’s Children. No matter how many times you may say that Jesus still loves you and won’t turn you away.

No we can’t turn this pastor out and not be kind to him but there is a line that we have to draw when it come to those who are leaders in the church and are openly sinning and not asking forgiveness of it and turning away from the sin. We must pray for this man and the church that see that what they are allowing to go on in the church is not Godly and pray that their eyes be open to the truth before it is too late.