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Was That An Earthquake?
Abstract: Tectonic shift at Bay Area seminary.
On May 24, after a series of interviews at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) in Berkeley, the Sierra Pacific Synod Candidacy Committee unanimously approved the reception of six pastors rostered with Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) and the immediate reinstatement of Pr. Ross Merkel and Pr. Steve Sabin who were removed from the ELCA clergy roster in dispciplinary procedures. (Pr. Merkel was removed from the ELCA roster in 1994; Pr. Sabin was removed in 1998). We understand that Pr. Merkel wondered aloud if there was an ELCA-approved rite of refrocking.
Those approved for reception to the ELCA roster include Rev. Jeff Johnson, Rev. Craig Minich, Rev. Dawn Roginski, Rev. Megan Rohrer, Rev. Paul Brenner, and Rev. Sharon Stalkfleet.
A liturgy of reception will be held Sunday, July 25 (one week after the 20th anniversary of the 1990 disciplinary ruling by which St. Francis and First United were expelled by the ELCA). Time and location of the liturgy of reception have yet to be determined.
We found it instructive to read the reporting of this event by other Lutheran groups. As you might expect, Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) was first off the mark with a May 24 posting titled Sierra Pacific Synod Approves 8 LGBT Pastors on its blog. The ELM release features remarks from Pr. Jeff Johnson, ELM Co-Chair Pr. Erik Christensen, and ELM Executive Director Amalia Vagts. On May 25, an ELCA news release Two Dismissed Pastors, Others Welcomed to ELCA Clergy Roster followed with a generous quote from Pr. Steve Sabin and remarks from Bishop Mark Holmerud and bishop's associate Rev. Nancy Feniuk Nelson. We note the use of the word dismissed to refer to the Revs. Merkel and Sabin, and we wonder about the relative nuances of defrocked and dismissed.
Also on May 25, Lutherans Concerned North America (LCNA) published an abbreviated version of the ELM release.
On May 27, Lutheran CORE followed with a well-detailed blog entry ELCA approves eight more practicing LGBT pastors. The Lutheran Core report is distinctive for two things: extra ordinem ordinations are described as controversial unauthorized ordinations held in defiance of the ELCA’s previous teaching and standards, and Pr. Megan Rohrer's self-description ("the first openly transgender Lutheran pastor ordained in the United States") is quoted.
