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The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the largest Lutheran denomination in the U.S., just voted to allow partnered openly gay clergy to be ordained. The church already allows celibate gays and lesbians to serve as ministers. The ELCA became third in line among mainstream Protestant denominations, after the United Church of Christ and the Episcopal Church to allow ordination of gays and lesbians.

As the New York Times quotes sociology professor at Brandeis University, Wendy Cadge, “[This vote] does show, to the extent that any mainline denominations are moving, I think they’re moving slowly toward a more progressive direction.”

Some are even saying this is kind of like the Iowa of secular gay marriage. If ELCA is willing to make ordain partnered gays and lesbians, then the rest cannot possibly be too far behind. I mean, the word "Evangelical" is in the name of the denomination!

So yay for gay and straight ministers having the same standards for ordination — married/partnered or celibate. But really, I'd like to see denominations get the point where marriage, domestic partnership or celibacy are not the only options for ministers — no matter what their sexual orientation. We all know human sexuality is far more complex than those options allow. But hey, I guess we have to go one step at a time... Having grown up in the land of Lutherans, Minnesota, I know this is a huge step for my favorite church ladies famous for their "hot dish" (aka, anything hot and in a casserole dish).