Martin Luther, who had spent time in Rome,[3] claimed that Pope Leo X had vetoed a measure that cardinals should restrict the number of boys they kept for their pleasure, "otherwise it would have been spread throughout the world how openly and shamelessly the pope and the cardinals in Rome practice sodomy" and encouraged Germans not to spend time fighting fellow countrymen in defense of the papacy.[4]
Luther also noted:
I for my part do not enjoy dealing with this passage [Genesis 19:4-5], because so far the ears of the Germans are innocent of and uncontaminated by this monstrous depravity; for even though disgrace, like other sins, has crept in through an ungodly soldier and a lewd merchant, still the rest of the people are unaware of what is being done in secret. The Carthusian monks deserve to be hated because they were the first to bring this terrible pollution into Germany from the monasteries of Italy.[5]
Synods allowing homosexual relationships
In North America
In 1970, Strommen, et al. surveyed 4,745 Lutheran adults between the ages of 15 and 65. They were members of the American Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in America, and Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. 1% stated that they frequently had homosexual intercourse during the past year and 3% stated that they did so occasionally. 90% said that they never had homosexual intercourse during the past year, and 7% did not respond.[6]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran church body in the United States, allows for LGBTQ+ marriage and ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy. ELCA policy states that LGBTQ+ individuals are welcome and encouraged to become members and to participate in the life of the congregation. The ELCA has provided supplemental resources for the rite of marriage in Evangelical Lutheran Worship which use inclusive language and are suitable for use in LGBTQ+ marriage ceremonies.[7] The group ReconcilingWorks supports the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ members in Lutheran churches in the ELCA, and provides resources to assist ELCA congregations in becoming more welcoming communities for LGBTQ+ persons. ReconcilingWorks recognizes ELCA congregations that have committed to embracing LGBTQ+ persons as Reconciling in Christ congregations.[8]
The current policy on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the ELCA developed over a period of several years.
In 2001, a Social Statement on Sexuality was requested by the Churchwide Assembly and entrusted to a Task Force. In light of the ongoing work of that task force, the 2007 Churchwide Assembly passed a resolution asking bishops to exercise restraint in discipline of those congregations and pastors in violation of 'Vision and Expectations.'[9]
Prior to August 2009, the ELCA expected "ordained ministers who are homosexual in their self-understanding" to "abstain from homosexual sexual relationships".
The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis passed "Human Sexuality, Gift and Trust",[10] which approved more positive assessments of same-gender partnerships in the church. On 21 August 2009, the same body passed four ministry policy resolutions that opened the way for congregations to recognize and support such partnerships and for those in committed same-gender partnerships to be rostered leaders within the ELCA.[11][12] A separate motion at the same assembly recommended that a rite of blessing for same-sex unions be provided.
In 2013, Guy Erwin, who has lived in a gay partnership for 19 years, was installed in California as Bishop of the ELCA's Southwest California Synod, becoming the first openly gay person to serve as a Bishop in the ELCA.[13]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
In July 2011 Churchwide Assembly of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada passed a new sexuality statement, permitting clergy in committed same-gender partnerships and allowing the blessing of same-sex unions.[14]
In Europe
In many European Lutheran churches, open LGBT people can work as Lutheran pastors. In the United Kingdom, the Lutheran Church in Great Britain allows the ordination of LGBT people and permits same-sex marriage.[15][16]
EKD in Germany
Ecumenical worship service at the Emmaus Church in Berlin, Germany.Churches in the German EKD, where blessings of same-sex marriages were allowed in 2020 (dark purple); churches with blessings of same-sex unions (in light purple).
In the year 2000, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) passed the resolution Verantwortung und Verlässlichkeit stärken, in which same-gender partnerships are supported.[17] In November 2010, EKD passed a new right for LGBT ordination of homosexual ministers, who live in civil unions.[18]
All churches within the EKD allowed blessing of same-sex marriages.[19]
The Church of Iceland allows same-sex marriage.[54]
The Church of Sweden has permitted the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of partnered gays and lesbians since 2006. Starting in November 2009, the church officiates same-sex marriage, after the Riksdag allowed same-sex marriage starting 1 May 2009 – however, individual priests can choose not to perform marriages for couples of the same gender. The Church of Denmark also provides for such blessings, as does the Church of Norway, which also ordains gays and lesbians.[55]
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the largest Lutheran church in Europe that does not permit blessing of same-sex unions – despite ongoing controversy. As of October 2010 the Church of Finland allows priests to pray for same-sex couples: For registered partnerships, the church says that "the [same-sex] couple may organise prayers with a priest or other church workers and invited guests".[56] Additionally, Archbishop Kari Mäkinen expressed his support for the new law permitting same-gender marriages.[57] In 2016, although the bishops in Finland did not agree to perform same-sex marriages, "bishops have taken the position that it is possible to hold prayer services to bless same-sex couples".[58] Tens of thousands of Finns have resigned from the church during the 2010s due to comments made by church officials either supporting or condemning same sex marriages and relations.[59][60] in 2018 59 members of church's synod voted against homosexual marriage and 49 supported it.[61]
South America
Argentina and Uruguay
The Evangelical Church of the River Plate, which includes Lutherans and Waldensians, and the United Lutheran Church have supported civil unions and same-sex marriages.[62]
Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
In 2011, the church released a pastoral letter accepting the Supreme Court's decision to allow same-sex marriage in Brazil, and supported the families of same-sex couples.[63]
^"A Statement from the International Lutheran Council". International Lutheran Council. August 31, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2018. Rooted in the Bible's witness and in keeping with Christian teaching through 2000 years, we continue to believe that the practice of homosexuality—in any and all situations—violates the will of the Creator God and must be recognized as sin.
^Wilson 2007, p. 282; This allegation (made in the pamphlet Warnunge D. Martini Luther/ An seine lieben Deudschen, Wittenberg, 1531) is in stark contrast to Luther's earlier praise of Leo's "blameless life" in a conciliatory letter of his to the pope dated 6 September 1520 and published as a preface to his Freedom of a Christian. See on this, Hillerbrand 2007, p. 53.
^"Legislative summary 4 & 5"(PDF). Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. August 19, 2009. Archived from the original(PDF) on August 24, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
^"Legislative summary 8 & 9"(PDF). Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. August 21, 2009. Archived from the original(PDF) on August 24, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
^For an example of a classic Missourian doctrinal text mentioning homosexuality, see Graebner, Augustus Lawrence (1910). Outlines Of Doctrinal Theology. Saint Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House. pp. 79ff. Archived from the original on 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2009-03-16. "The Law condemns every one who carnally knows himself, or a brute, or another person of the same sex, or a person of the other sex with whom he is not or, because of a prohibited degree of consanguinity or affinity, or because of an existing marriage of either party with a third person, cannot be joined in lawful wedlock, or who, without a sufficient cause, refuses to live with or to love and honor his lawful spouse, or who annuls a valid betrothal, or who, by any manner of lewdness or indecency in deed word, or desire, defiles his body or soul."
^Stanovisko Slezské církve evangelické a.v. k lidem s homosexuální orientací (2003); Stanovisko Slezské církve evangelické a.v. k otázce homosexuality (2006)
^"Ist Homosexualität Sünde?". Evangelische-Lutherische Freikirche (in German). January 12, 2013. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
^"Homepage". IELA (in Spanish). Retrieved May 4, 2021.
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