Church of Norway lifts the ban!

November 23, 2007 by Pastor Dan.

I am behind on news reporting here. How did I miss this? Thanks to Elizabeth Schmitz’ blog, “Schmitz Blitz”, Lutheran Church in Norway Lifts Ban on Gay Ministers, I see that the International Herald Tribune (for those of us who are linguistically challenged and don’t read near enough of the world’s press) reported recently published as Associated Press story that the Church of Norway has taken a step similar to that of the ELCA in allowing individual bishops to decide whether gay/partnered clergy can serve congregations.

Norway is certainly more than a step ahead of the ELCA. The decision on November 16, (approved by a vote of 50 to 34 with 2 abstentions) lifted a outright ban on gay clergy. In contrast, the ELCA’s action last August (see: http://indwellingspirit.org/2007/08/25/) did not drop the odious ban, but simply gave permission to individual bishops not to enforce it.

It is never wise to leave an un-enforced law on the books. On this, I would almost have to agree with the right-wing extremists in the Lutheran fold, who cried out after the Navy Pier decision that not to enforce a rule is essentially to kill the rule. So I argue, if the ELCA now says bishops don’t have to enforce the rule, then get rid of the rule and let all God’s people serve in accordance with their gifts and not in accord with human rules.

The Norwegian church’s Synod meeting was not without its “anguish” according to the Associated Press story. One bishop said this vote would create peace in the church. Another bishop said it was a sad day for the church, and may “lead to many feeling homeless in the church.”

Thank you, Bishop Ole Hagesaeter, for putting it in those terms. That is exactly how I have felt for decades, and millions like me – we have been surrounded with grace, beauty, love, forgiveness, and the promise of abundant life, yet really denied all those things because we are a minority that the majority didn’t care about.

Now, Ole— and may I call you by your baptismal name, instead of by your title?— what you are saying is that when the church finally opens its door to a small minority of persons who have been homeless (a fraction of gay people who are clergy, and a fraction of those who are partnered), that it will push the vast majority of people out. Yeah, right.

Since you used the world “homeless,” Ole, let’s stay with that metaphor. If a homeless person is given a home, does that mean that all the people in town who have homes now must become homeless and go out into the snow? Are you saying that there is an incompatibility so profound that the love of God cannot possibly encompass both, and bridge our differences?

Or is it a human problem? Are you suggesting that the many people simply will never make peace with the fact that we are, that we are different, and that we also claim the grace of God like everyone else.

With all due respect to your office, Ole, get over it! And while you’re at it, since this decision by your churchbody focused on employment, perhaps reading Matthew 20 again would refresh your memory of how Jesus answered a very similar employment question. The owner of the vineyard says to one who was filled with resentment that the late-hires received equal wages,

“Friend, I am doing you no wrong: did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:13–15)This speech, which Jesus intends to represent the thinking of God Almighty, completely trumps our human efforts to qualify for grace and thereby exclude others who do not qualify (under the standards we set to qualify ourselves).  God is generous and gracious. The reason the church must and should and will welcome all people, including partnered lesbian and gay people, and include them in all aspects of its life of discipleship, is because none of us meets God’s qualifications (Romans 3:23), but all of us are accepted because God is generous and gracious. “For by grace you have been saved through faith,” Ole, “and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8). Get it, Ole?

—Pastor Dan Hooper, Los Angeles

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