Gay lutheran pastors
- Noah Hepler, pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Philadelphia, is the featured &#;hero&#; in the first episode of Netflix&#;s new &#;Queer Eye&#; season. Photos: Courtesy of Ryan Collerd/Netflix
- Hepler said a main takeaway from his experience on the show was that he hopes the church will invest in healing vulnerability.
When Noah Hepler, pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Philadelphia, was nominated by a member of his congregation council to be a featured “hero” on the Netflix series Queer Eye, he was convinced he wouldn’t hear anything back. “Nothing that exciting happens in my life,” said Hepler. But, as the world now knows, his life and ministry are the subject of the modern season’s first episode, which premiered this month.
Living Lutheran spoke with Hepler about his experience making the episode, what he learned from the series’ “Fab Five” hosts, and how people have been moved by the way he shared about being a gay pastor.
Living Lutheran: Churches have been featured previously in the series July At its convention, the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) releases the statement “Marriage and Family,” its first on the subject, which contains no bring up of homosexuality. [1] June-July The American Lutheran Church (ALC) releases its first statement on sexuality at its biennial convention. [2] June-July At the convention, the LCA produces a statement on “Sex, Marriage, and Family” is released that supersedes the previous statement on these subjects. This statement contains the Church’s first mention of homosexuality, which is referred to as a sin, but also claims that homosexuals are “often the special and undeserving victims of prejudice and discrimination in law, law enforcement, cultural mores, and congregational life.” The statement concludes with a defense of “understanding and justice in church and community” of homosexual persons. [3] March An article in the New York Times claims that the LCA is one of only two “national church denominations” that have released a statement in support of “homosexual rights” The other denomination is the Unitari Of the three leading Lutheran organizations operating in the United States, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is considered the most welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQ+ members. Formed in with the merger of three smaller Lutheran organizations, the ELCA is based in Chicago and encompasses nearly 10, congregations and more than million members across the country. Churchwide Assemblies are held every three years, with elected representatives establishing policy and addressing the concerns of the larger church body. As stated on the denomination’s web site, the Churchwide Assembly “provides a time and place for growth and change while remaining rooted in Scripture, tradition, Lutheran confessions and the rich histories of our congregations and communities.” In , the Churchwide Assembly passed a resolution stating that, "Gay and lesbian people, as individuals created by God, are welcome to participate fully in the life We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person – questions, complexities and all. ELCA social statement on human sexuality Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust expresses ELCA teaching on human sexuality. A social statement is a teaching and policy document that assists us in thinking about and discussing social issues in the context of faith and society. This statement was adopted in and provides guidance on matters like marriage, family and same-gender relationships. LGBTQIA+ voices and ministries in Living Lutheran We are a church that values and encourages diverse voices and lively dialogue. Find articles authored by LGBTQIA+ church leaders and stories about ministries that affirm people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in Living Lutheran magazine and on Evangelical Lutheran Worship Service of Marriag
Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ+ Issues: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
BACKGROUND
LGBTQ+ EQUALITY
ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER IDENTITY
Resources for the LGBTQIA+ Community
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